How close were the Benitez-Cervantes, Palomino fights?

Thats possible but the story that hit the papers, and what Don Dunphy says ringside, is that Duran had the flu.

 

alenas,,,,,,,,

Nice stuff, and great fact finding.....
I had the opportunity to see Wilfred Benetiz fight at Madison Square Garden,
the Benetiz-Curry I fight.

His career was guided pretty well, up until 1983.
There was no need for those other difficult fights.
147 lbs. was there waiting,,,,,if he only took training seriously.
Things were a little too easy there for awhile.

 

Wait a second.........I was there.

Got tickets for that fight about a 2 weeks ahead of time.
Bruce Curry was definitely brought in, as a replacement.

It was originally posted as WBA Light Welterweight Champion Wilfred Benetiz in
a 10-Round non-title fight versus California Light Welterweight Champion and
#6 Ranked Monroe Brooks.

 

I got that from an AP report the day of the fight, which hit all the papers. Although I'm not surprised of the flu story that Dunphy had. Didn't the Duran camp play the same flu story for the Carlos Ortiz fight? I heard in Duran's book he states Carlos Eleta just didn't like that fight and pulled him out claiming the flu. Maybe just to save face rather than say Don King barred the match, they used it again.

Scartissue

 

Il Duce, I'll try to research this a little more tomorrow.

Scartissue

 

I would think it bizarre, that a Light Welterweight Champion would fight an over the
weight bout 140 + 'non-title' bout against the Lightweight Champion, who in
2 months would be fighting at 135 lbs., in his one of his biggest money fights.

Especially a Puerto Rican fighter in Madison Square Garden, for how much money,,
not $100,000.

 

The AP report I have for the fight being called off due to the flu was from early November, around the 1st I think. The fight was signed in late Sept I believe. Not long after he defeated Viruet.

 

KL,,,,,

I have some information, that I'm digging up from the New York Daily News, and Dick Young, the head sports writer.

From what I have gathered, Teddy Brenner (MSG Boxing Promoter) offered
Roberto Duran $100,000 back in January 1977, to fight Wilfred Benetiz in
Madison Square Garden, sometime in 1977, for the WBA Light Welterweight Title.

Roberto Duran was, at the time the WBA Lightweight Champion. Of course, there
was the issue of the Antonio Cervantes rematch agreement.
Whether the WBA got involved, may be another question.
But the WBA stripped Wilfred Benetiz of the WBA title sometime in March 1977.

Of course, Antonio Cervantes fought for the vacant WBA title in June 1977.
So cancel out Cervantes.

Teddy Brenner in trying to promote or salvage a Benetiz vs. Duran fight, gets the
New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) to sanction a bogus 'lineal championship' for the World's Light Welterweight Championship.

Of course, its held in Madison Square Garden, and the NYSAC gets a sanctioning fee.

From what I can find, Teddy Brenner offered the NYSAC Title fight to Duran, sometime in May, to fight for the vacant
title against Benetiz in August. I cannot find out what transpired.

 

From what I recall: Benitez beat Cervantes clearly and comfortably. Not a shut-out by any means, but a clean performance. The most poised I've ever seen from a fighter of that age. The Palomino bout, while closer on the cards, was also a clean performance in my eyes. Benitez boxed beautifully in both, showing his true class.

 

Interesting

 

More information,,,,,,,,,,,

With the WBA Light Welterweight Title gone, and Roberto Duran signed to fight
#1 Edwin Viruet in September, in defense of his WBA Lightweight Title.

Teddy Brenner sets up a fight for Wilfred Benetiz, on August 3, 1977.
Its the bogus 'NYSAC World Light Welterweight Title.
Wilfred Benetiz is recognized as champion.
His opponent, Ray Chavez Guerrero

Guerrero is a 26 year-old, Venezuelan-born fighter, living in Montreal, Canada.
With a record of 29-6-3 (15 KO's), he is somehow ranked #1 by the NYSAC, in the Light Welterweight division.
How did he get there. In his last fight (3/12/77) he won by a TKO 11 over veteran
Clyde Gray, to capture the Canada Welterweight Title.
It wasn't like Ray Guerrero dominated Clyde Gray. To the contrary, Clyde Gray was winning by a mile on points, but suffered a severe eye-cut, and the bout was soon stopped in the 11th round.

Enter Ray Chavez Guerrero, #1 Light Welterweight Contender by the NYSAC.

It appears, that Teddy Breener and Madison Square Garden had a 'quiet contract'
with Gregorio Benetiz, in making Wilfred the 'so-called house fighter'.
When Wilfred Benetiz fought, the 'Garden' would be an easy sell-out with the
large based Puerto Rican community, in the NYC area.

 

On August 3, 1977

* Wilfred Benetiz (31-0-1) KO 15 #1 Ray Chavez Guerrero (29-6-3)
In defense of his NYSAC Light Welterweight Championship

With a Friday, November 18, 1977 open date at Madison Square Garden, Teddy Brenner
begins to promote a Roberto Duran fight.
WOR-TV, Channel 9 in NYC has the broadcast rights for that date.

Brenner offers Duran, $100,000 to fight Wilfred Benetiz, or less money for non-title fights with other fighters.
After Roberto Duran defeats Edwin Viruet, on September 17 in Philadelphia, Brenner offers up Edwins brother
Adolpho Viruet, as their is 'bad blood' between the Viruet family and Duran.
Also, California Light Welterweight Monroe Brooks is considered.

 

More details,

The Friday Night, November 18, 1977 date, at Madison Square Garden, was
supposed to be a Roberto Duran over-the-weight 135 lb. fight.

But not against Wilfed Benetiz. At first it was to be a no-name Light Welterweight.
Then Adolph Viruet was thrown in, but he was rejected by the Duran camp
Then Monroe Brooks was added, but he to was rejected by the Duran camp.

 

It was supposed to be Benitez. The Newspapers are very clear about that. The fight was signed a week or two after his fight with Edwin Viruet. It was talked of several times. About the 1st of November Duran's camp announced that he would not be fighting Benitez as he had the flu. Bruce Curry was immediately substituted. Go back and read the newspapers then watch the fight. Don Dunphy says all of this during the commentary.

 

klompton,

The fight on you tube, listen to it.
It is the one with John Condon from Madison Square Garden Network broadcast.

In Round 8, Roberto Duran's name was mentioned, as being scheduled to fight tonight,
but he was not mentioned as fighting Wilfred Benetiz.

Like, I said, I was there. And Roberto Duran was forgotten as an opponent.
This may have been one of Teddy Brenners 'promotional snafus',,,,,,,,

I'm not sure just what title Roberto Duran would have been fighting for.
The NYSAC Light Welterweight Title,,,,,??