Thomas Hearns W 15 Wilfredo Benitez

One of Hearns greatest wins. Benitez had found red hot form at 154 and was the favorite in this, i believe 7-5. Hearns showed his pure boxer side and despite breaking his right hand mid rounds still feinted and boxed Benitez out of the show. The two skillsets on display were insane.

 

Hearns showed incredible discipline to not engage El Radar when he backed up to the ropes. Benitez was a surgeon when he countered off the ropes and Tommy wouldn’t take the bait.

In the middle of the ring, Hit Man was a sweet scientist who used his skill to outpoint one of the best technicians of any era.

 

Many of us also love to watch mad skills as well as big action. The skill level on display was rather impressive to say the least.

 

This fight was originally scheduled to have been at WW where Wilfred probably was more equally matched physically.

 

Mustafa Hamsho would prove 7 months later that all the skill a prime Benitez had in the world amounted to squat vwhen confronted with the brute force cybernetics of someone who can walk through you best shots. LONG LIVE THE SYRIAN BUZZSAW##!!!!!!

 

For sure but that bout was a war above all else. Gomez by this point was probably just starting to decline a tad and had shelved much of his boxing skill for a much more brutal approach.

 

I loved him in his consummate boxer/puncher days. Slipping punches effortlessly while mixing between offense and defense seamlessly and displaying his full repertoire of skills. It's a shame the division was a bit weak during his peak as it would have been really something to see him pushed and mixing it with other great fighters.

 

Good performance from Hearns.
Benitez is a bit disapponting though.

 

lucky Hearns broke his hand in a way.. Had he fought more aggressively he could have lost. Benitez fought great in those years, might have been his best boxing time.

 

I thought so also. They were picking shots and trying to find opening, and both guys being fast couldn't do much without the other one countering. Evenly matched.

 

I believe he caught it on Benitez' elbow?

 

Head i believe.

 

Hearns would have been fine. The fight was half over and he had showed great patience and skill and was well in control before the hand injury.

 

maybe you are right, but his biggest weakness was almost his own doing. Trying to please the crowd and get a knockout. he would take chances and get tired,when all he had to do sometimes was stick the jab out and win working the guy to the head and body occasionally throwing the right... He is a fighter who caused his own problems by being too much of a showman.. or he just liked to knock guys out.