Pernell Whitaker vs Sugar Ray Leonard

Or Whitaker would win and the judges would call it a draw.

 

Leonard fought Benitez, one of the most skilled, underrated and defensive specialists of all time.

 

So in essence you are criticising Leonard even tho

A. He won every round + on two cards.

B. Is coming off a great emotional high over Duran and is taking an easy defense that would obviously be hard to rise for.

C. Only stopped Bonds after 10.

Your comment that Ray would have taken out Bonds in 1/3 of the time if he was orthodox is sheer speculation and has no factual foundation.

Leonard was a past prime fighter who hadn't fought for years and was taking on the P4P king (who just happened to be far bigger naturally) with no warmup. That he even lasted the distance let alone outboxed Hagler is astonishing.

It's funny, in all of this you make no mention of the hurdle (bigger man, better chin, just as fast yada yada) Whitaker is facing, we only hear about Ray's fantacised and magnified weaknesses. The challenge here is with Whitaker, not SRL.

If he dematerialized it's a SRL stoppage for sure. I make the point of Duran to let you know that tho Duran beat Leonard from 135, Pernell doesn't have the same tools to beat him that way. So he's left to outbox the bigger, stronger, more durable and just as fast and talented guy.

As i explained, Whitaker ain't no Duran and cannot beat him in similar vein. Blind Freddy wouldn't debate that one.

 

Benitez gets a bit of short thrift nowadays too, back in the day he was a master boxer who excelled at counterpunching and was a defensive wizard. I think Whitaker matches him for defense, which is some praise. Benitez was pretty much all slipping where Pernell is great at both. I'd see Benitez as prolly the slightly stronger fighter at 147, he grew into a very well proportioned 154. The Leonard win over Benitez was a great one, regardless of age etc Benitez was definitely the more experienced warrior and would beat many great names at 147 historically. Leonard and Dundee came in with an absolutely brilliant gameplan based on taking away some of Wilfred's strengths.

 

When you think of Leonard, its his fights with Duran, Hearns, and Hagler. The Benitez win gets overlooked sometimes. Benitez was a more experienced fighter at championship level. He'd been in with Cervantes and Palamino. I'm pretty sure Benitez was 25 at the time he fought Leonard, with Leonard 23. I might be wrong.

 

Benitez winning a world title at 17 is a truely remarkable achievement. Some records in boxing are there for the taking, but I'm not too sure that particular one shall be broken in my lifetime. A geniune world title against an excellent fighter, Antonio Cervantes.

Fighters are doing well winning world titles at 22-23 years of age these days.

 

Leonard by ko. Too big too fast too good. The proverbial anything he can do Leonard n do better

 

I'd take Benitez over Whit any day. I watch Bens career set and his fights at msg and am amazed. He destroyed Shields after playing with him. Benitez is an ultra great fighter and LEONARD won easily.

 

Benitez is naturally heavier than Whitaker. At 140 it would be a chess match and pretty hard to choose. Benitez had his problems too - not all his efforts were sterling that's for sure. Whitaker dominated during his best years he was something else. At 147 Benitez would be plenty more natural at the weight and Whitaker was on the down.

It would make a good forum topic actually.

 

It could be similar to the Leonard vs Benitez fight. Pernell of course much smaller than Wilfred, but IMO trickier.
Pernell always made his opponents look awkward. If Duran could make Leonard miss, you know Pernell could.
Pernell could conceivably win a decision if he can go the distance, and Leonard would have to go for the KO.

 

Pea working way to hard in this fight ,, Ray UD

 

JT, your so on point with this I have absolutely nothing to add.

 

Cheers. Whitaker as great as he was cannot win this one. Could he be awkward? For sure.