Leonard-Benitez - I had Benitez winning entering the final round

I watched this fight over the summer for the second time and I have to agree with El Bujia that Leonard put on a superb display. If I remember correctly Leonard's jab was absolutely top class and won him the fight

 

Benitez fought about as well as he could, but Leonard, as Bujia said, tended to land the cleaner shots in most of the rounds, especially with the jab and displayed a defensive ability that was just about on par with El Radar's that night. That allowed him to earn at least a split of the first twelve rounds, and have a lead of at least one point going into the championship rounds on my card. Benitez certainly increased his level of aggression, and did carry a number of the middle rounds, but Leonard's championship rounds surge meant that he had a clear lead going into the final round. Plus, he definitely was going to win that last round, anyway, by a margin of 10-8, so he was probably going to win the fight on everyone's card anyway.

 

I love this fight and have watched it a lot of times, and I do think Leonard established his superiority.

It was a master class in getting off first, whether it be due to Leonard's hand speed, or the fact Benitez was constantly waiting to counter ratehr than popping his own jab, to controll the 'first' (as I think) is irrelevant.

Leonard showed some lovely boxing, and afterwards he would mention he did not feel like he boxed his best in this fight and it was not the real 'Sugar Ray Leonard'. I find this stupid as this is probably my favourite Leonard performance and he shows a very well rounded boxing skill set.

 

Never did a rd by rd but tbh its really not needed in this fight, Leonard dominated the majority of the fight & its baffling how anyone can see anything different... I really dont know what fight you were watching.

 

I had the fight even going into the fight years ago. This was a tough fight for both guys, and Ray couldn't even go to his post fight party. Ray said later Benitez was almost his mirror image.

 

I saw it live,,,oh for the days of free boxing tv! There were a number of close rounds I gave to Benitez where it came down to several jabs thrown and landed by him over a volumn of punches missing by Ray. This is what some call Ray being in charge, but allot of it was just hitting air. I've always used Arthur Mercantes method of scoring in breaking a round into three seperate parts score wise.

 

Yeah, same here...I save the Tyson fights for the nonboxing "sports fans"...it's like fine jazz or classical music to put em through an affair like Benitez-Leonard. Benitez especially is not easily understood by a novice.

 

135-130 Leonard

Benitez: 5,6,7,10 & 12
Leonard the rest, with a 10-8 round in the 3rd

That's wanting to give rounds to Benitez. I doubt even redrooster had Leonard only up a point at the time of the stoppage.

 

Exactly:yep

 

Yeah I alway try to say boxing or bout instead of fighting. Need to watch more of Benitez.

 

x2

 

No, he had Benitez clearly ahead, only for the ref to rob him of his deserved victory with a bull**** stoppage.

I don't think I had Benitez winning more than 4 rds max. Nothing strange about it.

 

I had this score exactly, but I had Leonard taking the 10th by a hair.

The action was tight and close, but, in my mind, the fight wasn't especially.