Mike McCallum vs Wilfredo Benitez at 154lbs

I am not sure Wilfred was on the outskirts of the four kings. Mike never fought any of them so that definetly makes him not a king, but Wilfred did fight 3 of 4. He fought Leonard,Duran and Hearns all in title fights. He lost to Ray and then beat Duran in 1982, and fought Hearns at the end of the year and was beaten when he only had one loss. He fought everyone except Hagler. The only thing he was not is recognized as one of the kings, although he probably was the 5th if the book was named that. I think Wilfred from 1982 outboxes Mike from 1984. He was great at 154 pounds. He should have never made the jump to 160..

 

McCallum picks his shots well in outworking Benitez, Benitez can slip the head shots and maybe win a few early rounds but McCallum will do lots of good bodywork get some sneaky shots in as he had such good timing and shot choice, he can make it very rough for Benitez. I fancy McCallum to stop him late, just too strong and good at the weight for Benitez

 

I think McCallum edges Benitez in a split decision.His body work and competition at 154 help him against the talented but erratic Benitez.

 

Benitez would have been too slick for McCallum..I believe he would have stolen a close decision over Mike. He would have done what he did so well in slipping McCallum's best shots and would have countered accurately in a very good, closely contested bout. Who knows, it may have led to a rematch or a trilogy..

 

McCallum quite comfortably. Benitez is slick but not nearly as fast at these higher weights. Wilfred might go the distance, but the body punches from the bigger, stronger McCallum would clearly be the difference. Body Snatcher by UD.

 

i think this fight could go either way i am really not sure ,if mccallum was not such a good body puncher i would pick a focused benitez happily, but the body work could be a huge factor here even against a focused benitez, i will go with mccallum's body work to work its magic and thus allow mccallum to take most of the rounds from the 10th to the 15th to gain a close decision win

 

I like Benitez to outslick him overall and take a decision. He will have to put out however.

 

Gotta go with Mike.........:good He was just too big and natural there.....:yep

MR.BILL

 

:goodits a good match-up greg.i can't pick a winner

 

Curry also got his ass handed to him in the 5th round!

I think it would be a great fight. Benitez could do all things well, he wasn't as dynamic as Curry could be though. Not saying Curry was better, he wasn't... they just had different styles, Curry was the "flashier" fighter.

I think McCallum is able to deal with Benitez's best shots quite well. McCallum wasn't down until his 52nd pro fight, age 38 1/2. Benitez would have problems shaking off McCallums best shots though. Mike is the bigger, stronger, and more durable man and McCallum would make that matter in this fight. 1 1/2" taller, 8" longer reach... he fought as high as CW, won World title at LHW and was never stopped.

McCallum by split-decision.

 

While I think Benitez was the better fighter overall, I think McCallum´s size and strength combined with his bodyattack would see him edge this. Close, probably a MD or SD.