Wilfred Benitez and Felix Trinidad...Who do you rank higher...

Why? It would have been easy enough for Leonard to say one of the other three but that's what he said.He may well have been talking natural gifts because when he went on to explain he did concentrate a lot on Benitez's natural ability and moves.

 

He was a fine boxing athlete in my view, his footwork and the way he steps into his punches are a fine use of his great athleticism, the way he can lead with quick left hooks and rights (not as quick as a speedster but quick for a puncher). Great stamina that made him a punching machine

 

He struggled with the other two though. And they're more obvious answers.

Perhaps, but that's a different question.

 

I always thought Leonard maintained that he thought Benitez was the most gifted/talented, even if Hearns had greater physical attributes and power while Duran and Hagler were more well rounded than Benitez. And honestly, doing what Benitez did at such a young age does give him a case for being the most gifted/talented.

Although, I'd argue that it also has to do with Benitez being Leonard's first superfight of sorts. So obviously there's going to be a bit of nostalgia and bias there, that, in his first 15-rounder ever, he managed to defeat "the most gifted/talented" opponent.

 

Your earlier post is correct:yep

Leonards always maintained that Benitez was the best fighter he ever fought & technically better than him due to Benitez's exceptional defensive capabilities & ring craft as you only have to study Leonards face in that fight to see the super-intence concentration & the amount of times Benitez made Leonard miss is incredible.

Leonard said that for comparison of speed & reflexes Benitez made me appear at times as if i was fighting under water & my fight stratergy was to keep close & make a fight of it & get him into exchanges as often as possible & make him fight my fight as i was terrified of making a chump of myself as i was known as the speedster/slickster & here i was going up against someone who i knew had a bit more to his game in some ways than myself & i knew going into this fight it was a 50/50 issue unlike the 1st Duran fight where i was absolutly & totaly convinced i could win & would win being faster/stronger/younger & more technically gifted as i had more dimension's to my game than Duran.......or so i thought... then he beats me up....such is the arrogance of youth:smoke

 

I think he says Benitez because he doesn't want to give Hearns, Duran or Hagler any credit.

 

That battering that Duran put on him haunts him till this day