Let's watch (score) a fight together: Benitez vs Cervantes

Round 11: the best round of the fight they just went at it and Benitezs skill was just edging it for me then he pinned Cervantez on the ropes and that sealed it for me

Round 12: Cervantez established his right hand and used it brilliantly winning the round

Round 13: Cervantezs jab coupled with his right hand was effective in this round as he used his reach

Round 14: Cervantez just looked stronger than Benitez not surprisingly as Benitez was only a kid.

Round 15: Benitez was masterful in this round he controlled the distance perfectly and landed his own shots and took few in return one of the most 1 sided rounds of teh fight.

My Scorecard

Benitez: 1,2,4,5,6,7,8,11,15
Cervantez:3,9,10,12,13,14
Total: 144-141 Benitez

 

I found this to be one of the more difficult fights to score, largely because there is always a fine line on what one looks for in a fight. Cleaner punches or harder punches. In this fight the parameters are drawn even closer as they were both tapping away at a good clip with Benitez scoring more but Cervantes harder in a good competitive fight. I scored the fight 145-143 for Benitez giving Wilfredo the nod 7-5-3 in rounds and I rarely score that many even, which will tell you how tight I found this fight.

Scartissue

 

some rounds were very close as you say

when your scoring a fight what do you look for

 

Cervantes always looks so big. It's hard to believe he weighed only 140 lbs. Did he have hollow bones or something?

 

I look for clean punching. In this bout Benitez was doing some nice boxing but Cervantes' blows had some real authority, thus the fine line. Incidentally, there was a question of why there was no rematch in this bout. Here is the story. There was a rematch clause in this bout and the WBA decreed Benitez had to grant Cervantes the rematch by August of '76, but Benitez appealed saying he was in a car accident and needed more time. The WBA agreed but then Benitez signs to fight Tony Petronelli in October. The WBA then stated he must fight Cervantes in December and Benitez again ignored the edict. The WBA vacated the title with Benitez' constant refusals and Cervantes won the vacant title in June of '77. Benitez was not having difficulty with the weight which was offered by many because he still defended his title against Ray Chavez 2 months after the Cervantes-Carlos Gimenez vacant title match (Benitez was defending some NY version of the junior welter title). This was the same Ray Chavez that Cervantes KO'd in 2 rounds a couple of years before. So, there was no reason why Benitez or Benitez people couldn't make the match, they obviously just didn't want to. IMO, I think a better prepared Cervantes would have taken the rematch, which could have set up a 3rd matchup between these two. Our loss.

Scartissue

 

I never read any dialogue between the parties (Benitez, Cervantes, WBA, promoters, etc.) only the constant delays and what the WBA must have seen in being snubbed. It makes you wonder what went on behind closed doors. Of course, one of the main obstacles had to be Gregorio Benitez. Don't forget that not only was he Wilfredo's manager (and alleged Father) but also the manager of Esteban DeJesus, who received a real ass-thumping from an in-form Cervantes. So I guess we could all speculate, but at the end of the day...it didn't happen.

Scartissue

 

he is a huge 140lber probably the biggest and he is real rangy and relies on his jab and thats how Benitez won

i look for cean punching also how do you score defence/aggresion i favour defence overwhelmingly

really i think Benitez improved after this i dont see him having as uch trouble

Gregario Benitez only cared about money obviously it wasnt there

 

Makes you appreciate Aaron Pryor coming out smoking and taking Cervantes out of there in 4 rds.