Wilfred Benitez vs Julian Jackson At 154

Personally I think Benitez get way too much credit at 154 here. Yes, he looked tremendous against Duran, but I don't think Roberto was all that much at 154. Good, but not near what he had been.

 

Light hitting Bruce Curry 140lbs knocked down Benitez 3 times in controversial 10 round decision loss .
If BC could hurt WB imagine what JJ would do !! JJ had quick hands and hurt iron chinned McCallum
a couple of occasions in first round and pulverized another speedster Terry Norris in 2 rounds and
decapitated another defensive wizard Herol Graham in 4 rounds. WB was not a natural junior
middleweight the Hawk in 2 rounds.

 

At his best, Benitez by very clear UD. I don't believe a motivated in form Benitez would allow happen what Graham did.

 

Benitez was the greatest defensive fighter of his era, he was insanely hard to hit let alone hit clean.

 

If Benitez could make Hearns,Leonard , and Duran miss consistently, I don't see him having much of a problem making Jackson miss. If Benitez is right mentally I see a pretty easy fight for him, Esp at Jr.Middle over 12rds. If Jackson hits an Ox cleanly he probably knocks out the ox. But Benitez in his prime and right frame of mind avoided the best combinations of R.Leonard and T.Hearns when both fighters were in their primes. Could Jackson land any better then those 2 fighters? Not in my mind, I see Benitez winning a clear dec, perhaps even a late stoppage, because Jacksons chin was average at best.

 

There's quite a difference between Duran at 154 and below. Mainly the foot speed. Against Palomino and Leonard, Duran was very quick of feet (and hands too). Duran was noticeably slower at 154 and this showed in some of his fights against mobile fighters.

He was able to fall back on his many strengths as he was aging and small at 154 and above.

It's a tough pick, usually I pick "the boxer over the puncher", but it isn't that simple. Saying Jackson is a good puncher is like saying "Steph Curry is a good 3 point shooter" or "Magic Johnson was a good passer". Jackson is physically larger, and had pretty good skills. Benitez had great skills, super slick, but an average chin.

I favor Benitez 51/49.

 

Jackson. He didn't throw looping punches. His were quick straight punches and he had one punch power.
For all the skill Benitez has somewhere in the fight when he gets caught he's going to go down.
People point out he went the distance with Hearns-they forget that Hearns injured his right hand in that fight.

 

That's exactly my thoughts, Benitez never looked better than the Duran fight.

 

That was a Benitez who was still growing and was just moving up from 140 lbs to 147 lbs.

That fight gets overblown in significance

Basically, Benitez was overconfident and decided to slug with Curry and walked right into a huge shot and was hurt.

He fought smartly in the rematch and had little trouble beating Curry.

Oh, and "Light Hitting Bruce Curry." You're thinking of the faded Curry who was 140 lb. champ in the early '80s.

Here's prime Curry destroying the usually rugged Monroe Brooks with one
punch not long after the two Benitez fights.

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We're talking prime 154 lb Benitez here.

True, Benitez was too small to handle a huge 160 lb unorthidox strongman like Hamsho.

I think he'd be strong enough against a more orthodox guy like Jackson.

I just think Benitez would see Jackson's shots coming and slip and counter effectively.

 

Benitez takes him deep and drowns him

 

Is there a fight Hearns doesnt injure his hand in?