How close were the Benitez-Cervantes, Palomino fights?

I actually thought the Benitez-Cervantes fight was very close. So many close rounds. I saw Cervantes scoring with real flush jabs often, and the crowd were cheering Benitez even when he missed his punches. That wasn't the story of the entire fight but it was a common theme throughout. This fight needs studying closely to score properly. Superb boxing from both men. Not sure why they never fought each other again.

 

Didn't benitez get hepatitis and crash a car? And then he outgrew the division. Or something.

 

Someone wrote in a thread last month that Benitez basically ducked the rematch. Claimed that he couldn't fight because of the crash but then eventually made a fight with a lesser opponent instead of rescheduling the match. Ended up vacating his title.

 

Yeah, some judges and fans seem to give the "harder hitters" way too much credit in scoring fights. Unless they have thudding Foreman or even Golovkin power, even hard hitters need to get leverage on their punches and land them cleanly to do real damage.

 

Neither fight was very close, but the Cervantes fight was closer.

Benitez beat Palomino by a mile.

 

Bruce Curry only got 3 or 4 k for the fight per the announcer.

 

"Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore, riding through the night...……."

 

Benitez now that i looked back at alot of his old fights was advanced for his age but I think was very over rated. I think he was beating Leonard despite the judges cards and a Benitez got jobbed by the ref and I think it was obvious the fix was in for Leonard. If Leonard lost they would have lost alot of interest and money On Duran Leonard. As for the day of the Curry fight if Duran fought Benitez that night,Benitez wouldn't have lasted 5 rounds. Benitez was clearly off his game that night.

 

You really had Benitez beating Leonard at the time of the stoppage? You are literally the only person that has ever said that in the history of the world.

 

Well Cervantes was a WBA favorite son. Where was the judge from that voted for him?

Zack Clayton was the judge who voted for Palomino. Good ref, not so good judge. He quipped explaining is vote for Palomino, "The sun was in my eye."

I thought Benitez deserved both wins. He don't dominate but he was virtually unhittable without running. He landed enough IMHO to win both fights.

Both were in Benitez's home country but didn't look like hometown decisions.

 

If you believe that you have to decisively beat the champion than its a loss for Leonard. Of course Im sure most Puerto Ricans as well have said it in some internet forum. Leonard was a media creation and in my opinion a man who had fixed fights. just the way people fought him looked suspicious. Hearns who attacked Duran and Hagler who hit much harder than Leonard was treated as if he was Ivan Drago. if Hearns simply went for broke like Hagler and Duran,Ray wouldn't last 4 rds. In the second fight which leonard clearly lost. On the telecast i watched Emmanuel stewart keeps telling Hearns just go after him and knock him out which Hearns never did for long. Hagler suddenly forgets how to cut off the ring and throws pity pat punches like one of those punching puppet dolls and still beat him while getting jobbed. Duran quits for no apparent reason in the second fight and the third follows him around the ring like hes Rays Jogging partner. He attacks him in the last minute or so causing some damage.

 

Awesome. Another tin foil hat for us all to enjoy.