I say that Wilfred Benitez who outpointed Antonio Kid Pamble Cervantes to win the WBA Junior Welterweight Title in 1976 at the age of 17, would do the same to Meldrick Taylor. Benitez does not have the punch that Julio Caesar Chavez did ln knocking out Taylor late in the fight in 1990. But Wilfred is not called El Radar for nothing and would force Taylor to be the aggressor, which is not his specialty. Benitez will fight and counter off the ropes as he did against Carlos Palomino in 1979. Wilfred Benitez by unanimous 15 round decision. Meldrick has fast hands, but what is the use when you miss trying to hit a target that constantly moves, making you miss the intended target.
The problem with Taylor wasn't his speed, but that he had the tendency to wait around for the receipt. He was easy to hit for a fighter with his type of talent. That's were Benitez wins this fight, he would counter Taylor with impunity, safe with the thought he wasn't a puncher like Hearns, Cervantes, Palomino or Leonard. Benitez also would have a 4" reach and 3" height advantage. This advantage would force Taylor to try to get closer, making it that much easier for Benitez's counters. The " Bible of Boxing" by unanimous dec. Easier than than we may think.
That comes from a lack of defensive reflexes, on Taylor I mean. There's been other guys who had blazing handspeed, but didn't see punches coming: I.E. Mosley. Difference being, Mosley had a granite chin and power. Taylor had neither.
Exactly. Mosely biggest issue was if plan A was taken from him, he usually didn't have a plan B. One can literally see him thinking about what next to do, (He would get that deere in the headlights look) his opponent would continue fighting, win the dec.
Benítez, to be honest he'd be taking him to school by the end of it. I completely agree with @Richard M Murrieta's assessment.
Wilfred didn’t tend to dominate, left a lot of decisions closer than they needed to be, especially before the Leonard fight. Taylor would land but not enough. Benitez coasts a bit and wins narrowly.
That one, Palomino too. He had another gear — Maurice Hope found that out — but didn’t always tap into it.
Man did he kayo Hope with that one right hand, Maurice was out of it. I saw that fight live on the CBS Sports Spectacular in 1981. Benitez had power at 154.
