Wilfred Benitez vs Buddy McGirt

Vintage Benitez out slicks McGirt pretty much as Whitaker twice did, only in "El Radar's" own unique way.

 

Would've been a very interesting fight style-wise.

 

McGirt proved his skills against a fighter of Benitez's caliber in the first Whitaker fight in one of the best WW matches in modern times. I think you underrate him. I'd probably favor Benitez, but stylistically, given the slickness, boxing skills, and unorthodoxy of both men, it would be a very interesting boxing match.

 

Pea was very much on his A game, it was Buddy who wasn't on his A game in the rematch, as he was past his prime. Both looked as good as I'd ever seen them at WW in their first fight. As for Benitez being better than Pea, I'd say they were pretty much on the same level at 147. I think Whitaker would've probably done better against Leonard, though he'd have lost as well.

Benitez wasn't as quick with his hands as Taylor, which is what gave McGirt so much trouble. Taylor also fights absolutely nothing even remotely like Benitez, so the comparison doesn't hold much merit. Benitez was the better boxer, which is why I give him the edge in the matchup. He wasn't really much faster though, other than with his head movement.

True, the Cervantes and Palomino fights were clear wins(and impressive ones at that), but they weren't routs IMO. The Duran win was obviously impressive, but it has to be said, Duran was simply not at his best.

Either way it's beside the point, looking at styles this would be an interesting fight, with Benitez getting the better of it due to his defensive advantages and better technical skills, but you seem to underrate McGirt.

 

Duran wasnt at his best in any of his losses, there's an excuse for all 16 losses.

 

Basically.

 

Benitez was better at 154 pounds than Duran, Duran was past his best by that point considering he was no longer near his prime weight. He was really past his prime post Leonard I, but he was able to get up for certain fights and perform a lot better than in others afterwards. He was overall pretty inconsistent in those years. Either way, whether or not he was fully motivated for Benitez(nothing to suggest that he wasn't), he was clearly not in his prime anymore anyway. Benitez vs the Duran of the Moore fight would've been better, but Benitez may have always had his number at that weight. 147 and under I give Duran the edge.

 

Interesting fight. McGirt is very underrated by many and would put up a competitive showing but I'd expect Benitez to win over the distance, by virtue that he'd connect on Buddy more than Buddy would connect on him.

 

I give the edge to Benitez ,a great fighter beats a very very good one here ,imo.

 

I agree with the comments Sweet Pea made in connection to this.

McGirt was not beaten one sidedly by Taylor. Buddy took 3 rounds on my card and I had another one even going into the 12th. Taylor was getting the best of it, but it wasn't the one sided route the commentators were making it out to be. McGirt was landing a lot of good shots as well. And that was a McGirt who was effected by an inner ear infection. I don't think he ever beats a prime Meldrick, it's just a bad matchup for him, but he'd have made it even closer if he himself was at his best that night.

Benitez was not quicker by hand than McGirt. His movement and reflexes were better though and they would make him take out the fight more than any edges in his offensive ability would. I also think Benitez stamina would be a factor, especially over 15 rounds. Buddy liked an even pace and didn't take too well when he had to fight 3 minutes of every round. If Benitez makes him fight all three minutes, he inifinitely increases his chances of winning lopsidedly. If he fights at a pace McGirt likes, then the fight becomes inifnitely more complex.

He in no shape or form put on a clinic against Palomino. That fight was close and I infact had Benitez taking it by a solitary point. He clearly beat Cervantes, but again, that wasn't a total clinic. Cervantes came back in the second half of the fight and made the scorecards close. I believe I had it 9-6 or so for Benitez. The Duran fight was a whitewash, but trully, that Duran was no better a lightmiddle than Brown was a welter and both McGirt's fight with Brown and Wilfred's with Duran were one sided exhibitions.