JAN 30, 1982 BENITEZ VS. DURAN AND THE AFTERMATH

Benitez was lucky that Duran didn't turn up that night. Duran>Benitez.

 

I agree Morlocks.

I also think the damage of his boxing career, and the disgusting early age 'training' from his piece of **** father Gregorio, contributed greatly and was catching up to him. Wilfredo was also never a disciplined fighter and wouldn't have held on for longer anyway.

'The flame that burns twice as bright burns half as long'.

 

Benitez was the first guy I believe that taught me age has little to do with being shot as a fighter. Age could be part of it. There are so many variables to that condition. Lifestyle, punishment, # of fights, style, weight fluctuations.
If I remember correctly Benitez was a shot fighter at 25.
I think If Wilfredo had rematched Duran in 84-86. Duran probably knocks him out.

 

Excellent post @The Morlocks.

Of course, 1982 was probably the worst year of Duran's career and had he just lost to Benitez but then edged past Kirkland Laing, it would have looked a better win for Benitez than it did that year. But the Laing defeat and then coming in fat and uninspired on the Pryor-Arguello undercard made everybody think that Duran was done. Not sure whether people believed Duran was back when he beat Cuevas either. Regardless of Duran's mental state, though, Benitez deserves all the credit in the world for that win.

But Benitez went the other way at the same time Duran came back - he could have got a shot at Hagler but lost to Hamsho, although middleweight was a step too far for him anyway. Still, the decline was shocking. He was a great fighter but had a very short prime and paid a hell of a price for that.

Why did it happen? My understanding is that Benitez pretty much relied on his natural talent, didn't train for many of the biggest fights of his career (including the Leonard fight) and was rebelling against (to put it politely) a disciplinarian father who didn't look after his best interests. He was matched hard throughout his career (Cervantes, Palomino, Leonard, Duran, Hearns) and got fed up with the control his father had and just let his talent slide.

 

Benitez looked good in the Hearns fight 11 months later, he was just outdone by Thomas's height and reach. He didn't have the chin to attack Hearn's in a kamikaze fashion a la Hagler and Barkley.

The beginning of the downfall was taking on Hamsho, who was just way too physically strong for the naturally 154 lb. Benitez. He absorbed a lot of punishment and was never the same physically after that fight. Still, he exhibited sublime radar after being dropped and suffering a broken ankle against Moore in 1984.

As others have said, the blows Benitez suffered in sparring at such a young age may have caught up with him and burned him out early.

I don't think it was a matter of Benitez not caring after beating Duran.

 

It’s not how old the tire is, it’s how much wear and tear in the tread. And what the tire is made of.

 

Maybe Benitez was the reason why. Duran fans have a tough time dealing with what happened in the ring when he lost. Roberto didn't do well vs fast handed guys with skills.

 

Benitez's last great win. Then a good performance in a loss to Hearns, and straight downhill from there. Duran would have destroyed him in a rematch, but that's not really saying much because he was completely shot not much more than a year after their fight and should have retired.

 

Fast handed guys with skills? Not sure who you mean.
Sugar Ray Leonard?
Esteban DeJesus?
Ken Buchanon?
Edwin Viruet?


I would agree that he couldnt match up with the taller, rangy fast guys as well once he got past Welterweight and north of 30 years old. At that point he needed guys who would trade with him.

 

" Roberto didn't do well vs fast handed guys with skills" you mean like Sugar Ray Leonard in Montreal?
Also this is reminiscent of the oft overused cliché when critiquing a fighter,," he has trouble with slick boxers"
Who in the world doesn't?

 

If I were to act like a Duran fan he’s lucky Leonard didn’t have fast hands that night.

Okay Duran did best some fighters with fast hands, but he seemed to be the better fighter in some cases and lost to these type of fighters.

 

As ETM pointed out, it was past the age of 30 and 20 pounds over his prime weight