How close were the Benitez-Cervantes, Palomino fights?

I think its pretty obvious if the newspapers report in Sept. that on Nov 18 Duran will fight Benitez. Then in early Nov. it is reported that Duran pulled out of the Benitez fight and Curry is subbed. then on fight night Benitez is fighting Curry and the announcer states that Duran was supposed to be fighting tonight its not a major leap of faith to figure out who Duran was supposed to be fighting.

 

Ok, after doing more research on this, here is the timeline. On Oct. 21, 1977 it is announced that Roberto Duran and Esteban DeJesus will be fighting to unify the title in Vegas in January of '78. Several days later, the Garden announces a non-title bout between Roberto Duran and Wilfredo Benitez for Nov. 18, 1997 with Duran to receive in excess of $100,000 for the fight. Suddenly, on Nov. 1st, Carlos Eleta announces that Duran has the flu and will not be fighting on Nov. 18th. On Nov. 17th in a NY Times article by Dave Andersen he points out that boxing people have been talking that it was Don King all along that pulled him out of that fight because of the 3rd DeJesus fight scheduled for January. He even quoted Teddy Brenner as saying, "Yeah, Duran pulled out with the flu. Spell that f-l-e-w." I totally believe this version that King did not want his promotion jeapordised by a Garden promotion that he would not gain from and could possibly lose on.

Scartissue

 

All makes sense to me.

 

Yeah, and I have say it again, that it was a monumental feat for a 17 year old...Benitez was just brilliant. This was just about unheard of as an accomplishment.

 

The announcers exact words were: "Originally tonight Benitez was supposed to fight Roberto Duran. Duran, as you know, had to pull out because he got the flu..."

 

Good Recap,,,,,,,,,

I will listen to the fight again.
What I remember back in November 1977, about 2 weels before the
November 18, 1977 fight, I got tickets at Ticketron, right near Grand Central Station.

Now, I know Duran wasn't fighting, and he wasn't listed on the 'fightbill'.
It was listed as the California Light Welterweight Champion.

 

Benitez has always been one of my favorite fighters..what a genius he was.

 

I had to check the fight card,, here goes.

November 18, 1977

World Championship Title Fight '15 Rounds'

Wilfred Benetiz 'World Light Welterweight Champion'
32-0-1 (24 KO's)
vs.
'The California Light Welterweight Champion'

In a Madison Square Garden Promotion

Also Featuring;
2-Time Golden Gloves Champion, Heavyweight 'Gentleman' Gerry Cooney
New York Middleweight, 'Hard-Hitting' John John LoCicero
and 2-Time Golden Gloves Champion, undefeated Welterweight, New York's Luis Resto

Note, They did not mention the California Light Welter Champion by name???

 

Bruce Curry was the California LWW champ.

 

Yes,,,,but Monroe Brooks was the bigger west coast name.
Rated #6 by the WBA, and #1 by the NABF.
He was offered the bout first, but when he found out it wasn't going to
be a form of a Light Welterweight Championship, he declined.

Brooks was only interested in a Championship fight, not an over-the-weight
non-title fight for small change.

He opted for the NABF Light Welterweight Title instead, for nearly same amount of
money, and in his home state of California, set for December 1, 1977.

Bruce Curry was the second choice. He was from Texas, but had been bouncing between
California and Japan.

I'm not sure if Bruce Curry was the California State Light Welterweight Champion.
He was rated #8 by the WBA, and #2 by the NABF.

Bruce Curry did knock-out Julio Gomez in Stockton, California on 10/19/77 for some
kind of title.

Whatever, Bruce Curry came in at 142 1/2 lbs., and there was nothing at stake, other than Bruce Curry in making some noise for himself, and getting a half-decent pay day.
At 14-0-0 (7 KO's), the biggest name on his ledger was a knock-out win over
#10 WBA Lion Furuyama in Japan, back on 7/17/77.

Wilfred Benetiz came in at 144 1/2.

 

Regardless, its pretty well established at this point by numerous sources that Duran was scheduled to face Benitez and pulled to be subbed by Curry.

Curry was from Texas but upon turning pro he fought out of California. There are numerous references to this in the newspaper articles and magazine articles of the day and its mentioned several times during the Benitez-Curry fight. The announcer continually says things like "they know him well in california but hes making a lot of friends in new york tonight" and "they have a lot of nice things to say about this boy in california" etc.

 

KL,

I've found something.
Not that it matters, it all 'fun-n-games' now!!

Bruce Curry moved from Texas, to Los Angeles, California in April 1971.
His room-mate, Monroe Brooks.
He moved in with Brooksey.
Bruce Curry only had (2) fights in California.
5/25/77;,,,,, KO 8 Rudy Barro
10/19/77;,,, KO 3 Julio Gomez

Both fights were over 140 lbs. They were for nothing special.

Monroe Brooks was the USA California State Light Welterweight Champion at that time.
He was offered the bout with Wilfred Benetiz first, by Teddy Brenner.
He agreed in principal at first, because of a 'World Title Fight'.
But turned it down, due to money and no 'so-called' Title being at stake,
as well as the 'local' judges who would be scoring the fight.

It was Monroe Brooks who suggested Bruce Curry 14-0-0 (7 KO's).
Who just happened to get a #8 WBA rating, following his Knock-out over
Japans Lion Furuyama, in July 1977.
As well, as needing some decent money.

I did replay the Benetiz vs. Curry I fight.
Yes, John Condon (MSG Announcer) did say Roberto Duran had been scheduled to fight Benetiz tonight.
But, I think that would have been a 140 lb. weight fight, at maximum.
Wilfred Benetiz was 144 1/2 lbs. vs Bruce Curry.

 

The Benetiz vs. Curry I fight was broadcast in New York, through MSG and on
WOR-TV Channel 9.

Later that night, out in Las Vegas, in Caesars Palace, Leon Spinks vs. Alfio Righetti
was broadcast on CBS-Sports, live TV 11:30 E.S.T.

 

Thanks for digging out your card mate. We differ on a few rounds: 1 (had it for Benitez), 3 (had it for Benitez), 5 (had it for Benitez), 7 (had it for Cervantes), 12 (had it for Benitez), 14 (had it for Cervantes) and 15 (had it for Cervantes).

I can't remember the fight all to well to account for my scorecard, but the scoring dilemma as you describe it sounds fitting for the fight. That said, I'm not sure either guy did much in the way of clean, effective punching but of course it's relative to what they were each doing I suppose...

 

It was definitely a 'Chess Game'. No one got hurt,,,,,,,,,,:good