What was it about Benitez that gave Duran so much trouble?

In his book "Hands of Stone" It is said that Duran prepared well and was in good shape but just lost to a bigger and very talented fighter at his best and im inclined to agree

 

From wat i read he was sent to a prison island or watnot to train and he hated it. Couldnt sleep ect ect. Seemed stale or overtrained and clearly lacked desire.
I would have picked Duran if they fought again

 

Duran, as fabled and thought of as highly as he is, was not unbeatable, ...and I think Benitez simply had his number. Wilfred was still command of his "radar"...he still had his unique gifts at that time, and that was sufficient to beat Roberto. Benitez, Laing, Leonard in fights 2 & 3, they all employed a sensible style versus him....unlike the Palominos, Moores, Barkleys, et al. Above lightweight, Duran could be beaten, that's all.

 

Benitez also would have schooled the version that beat Moore at 154. Above 135 Duran could be bothered by speed and movement. At times he was also uninspired but that did not cost him here imo. Benitez i believe peaked at 154 and this is him at his absolute zenith for minet. Whilst he doesn't utilise that much movement in this fight he was the finest defensive fighter on the planet at this time and is extremely slick and fast. Duran had no answer and couldn't get into the fight much at all. Benitez too good.

I would have loved to have seen him against SRL at 154. I think Benitez would have given a great account of himself and been even harder to get past than in the first fight. I reckon he was a bit more robust at 154 and you can see the confidence and assurance oozing out of him in this fight. In his last truly notable fight Hearns height and reach advantage matched up to a flawless game plan saw him take Wilfred's title in a chessmatch. Even then he was awkward as heck and Hearns had all the advantages.

 

What is the opinion of why Benitez fell apart almost over night?
So good defensively maybe the best ever.
Started too young maybe?

 

There was an old thread on this, i'll re-read later.


https://www.boxingforum24.com/threads/what-caused-wilfred-benitez-to-decline-so-sharply.279343/

 

Benitez was a better fighter at that time in their respective careers. At 154 lbs Duran was good, very good but beatable especially against a guy with the kind of defense Benitez had. I believe Wilfredo peaked around this time in his career. Duran would have had his hands full with El Radar even at his very best.

Oddly Duran probably beats Benitez anytime after `85. WB career fell off a cliff.

 

I don't believe he had the dedication and discipline to last very long. He had God Given ability and sometimes didn't train as hard as he should have to be honest.

 

Well ,fact is the last time anyone really saw a motivated hell bent for leather Duran was in Montreal. After that fight it was a toss up what you'd see whenever he fought.

 

Yes, and I don't think WB had a damned thing to be embarrassed or ashamed of in this fight. It was clearly Hearns' physical advantages that ultimately decided this fight IMO.

 

This is a great post JT.

 

What was it about him?

Radar.

 

For sure. Big height behind a long snapping jab delivered with great speed and the threat of enormous power behind it. Just as importantly patience. Benitez was like a ghost in there and tho he seemed right there to hit he simply wasn't and you would waste precious energy thinking otherwise. I think this win is grossly underrated on Hearns resume.

 

Cheers Red.