what i love so much About this matchup are the subplots. both were Idols in their respective countries. but thats were the similarities end. benvenuti was an olympic Gold medalist, awarded the baker Trophy as the outstanding boxer (ali also won Gold in the same Olympics) and some Reports say his Amateur record was 120 and O!! he was tall, elegant with a solid Punch and classic skills. cerdan was Born in algeria to French parents in a town were the French foreign legion was stationed…...on the fringes of the French empire. he turned pro at 18 and fought his way out of the North african villages, to finally become a star in casablanca……..and finally of Course, paris and the rest of the world. he was the polar opposite to benvenuti: short (listed at 5´8 in boxrec but i have other Sources that have him at 5´6.), ruggedly handsome, with caveman-like physique, complete with mats of hair on shoulders and back that would make a Gorilla proud. and he fought like one too…….like a minature marciano, slam bang thank you mam! to me, this has everything to be a real classic. benvenuti has the stronger resume Name wise, but not by much. head to head, i think cerdan was just too rugged. on neutral Ground, say, in new York, i´d pick him by late stoppage. in rome, cerdan would get disqualified real quick.
