More impressive wonderkid Benitez or Cuevas?

It all depends what kind of fighter you are drawn to. If one prefers a good punchfest like me, Cuevas is the most logical choice. While "breaking someone's face" is generally figurative, Pipino literally did it.

 

Benitez. I think he fought the more credible opponent, and in the long run, proved to be the better fighter.

 

Good Q, I hae to go with Benitez being a kid who was 1 of the greatest master boxers of all time but Cuevas was 1 serious man child

 

I would lean with Pipino Cuevas.
Was not a 'protected' fighter, and was thrown in with some tough fighters
early in his career.
Came out of nowhere, to flatten a guy who had never been down, and literally destroyed him (Angel Espada).

Wilfred, somewhat 'protected', and Cervantes though excellent, was on the
down-side of the mountain.
And the decison was debate-able,,,,,,

Wilfred,,,,,,,,,still a 'Wunderkind'

 

How was Benitez protected? Cervantes, Palomino, Curryx2, Leonard between the ages of 17 and 21

 

Double 'P',

Somewhat protected,,,,,,,,,not PROTECTED.

all those early bouts, versus Easy Boy Lake,, etc..
Up to his bout with Antonio Cervantes, who on his conquer list was really
formidable.
Not even a Saoul Mamby or Nani Marrero or Hector Matta, all good boxers but
weak-hitting Light Welterweights.

How about,,,,,,,a carefully guided early-career.

Prior to his Championship bout with Cervantes,
Wilfred Benetiz 26-0-0 (21 KO's) most impressive wins;
* 26th bout,,,,12/13/75,,,,W DEC 10,,,Chris Fernandez 26-11-4 (5 KO's)
* 18th bout,,,,,5/5/75,,,,,,W Dec 10,,,,Santos Solis 6-0-0 (2 KO's)
* 13th bout,,,,12/2/74,,,,,,W Dec 8,,,,,Lawrence Hafey 37-10-3 (12 KO's)

Note; Chris Fernandez, once a top prospect, had gone 6-9-0 (0 KO's) in his last 15-bouts.
Note; Santos Solis was KO'd in 2-Rounds by Ray Chavez Guerrero in his next fight.
Note; Lawrence Hafey, a Canadien club-fighter, had gone 14-0-1 (4 KO's) in his last 15-bouts, but all versus
Ham-N-Eggers. Lawrence Hafey was rated #38 in the Welterweight Division.

Note; Prior to his March 1976 bout with Antonio Cervantes, Wilfred was not even posted in the Top-10 of
the Light Welterweight Division in Ring Magazine (1975 year-end rankings).

 

Nick,

After the victory over Antonio Cervantes,
Wilfred Benetiz did defeat in title defenses.
* W Dec 15,,, Emiliano Villa
* KO 3,,,,,,,, Tony Petronelli

The Emiliano Villa fight was basically a 'chess-match', with Benetiz winning 13 of the 15 rounds.
The Tony Petronelli fight, Wilfred just 'steam-rolled' over him.

 

Benitez completely outclassed, arguably, the best Light-Welterweight champion ever.

Cuevas beat a talented but not spectacular champion. Ok, he came from nowhere to do it, but what is more impressive?

I have to plump with Benitez. He showed such a brilliant grasp of technical skills at such a young age.

 

Even steven, one for boxing excellence, one for punching power. Cuevas never gets much mention, too bad cause he was one bone-breaking son of a *****.

 

I thought the Villa fight was quite a bit closer than the Cervantes one actually.Tough to score.

 

This ! Enough said.......

 

Emiliano Villa was a pretty good fighter, with a great amateur back-ground,
at 139 lbs. (Light Welterweight)

At 25-2-1 (13 KO"s) was considered a good, but-risky challenger.

Benetiz vs Villa fight scoring;
150 - 138 (12-0-3 in Rounds) Wilfred Benetiz
149 - 137 (13-1-1 in Rounds) Wilfred Benetiz
148 - 137 (13-2-0 in Rounds) Wilfred Benetiz

The fight was closer than the scoring, as there were many rounds that were very close.

 

Its funny that someone would actually call throwing a 17 year old boy in with one of the greatest boxer/punchers of the 140 division, EVER, protected.