Wilfred Benitez vs. Mustapha Hamsho 'Middleweight Mistake'

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Senor Pepe', Nov 4, 2012.


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  1. SLAKKA

    SLAKKA Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I’ll never forget the look on poor Wilfred’s face
    Syrian buzzaw indeed
     
    SLAKKA, Nov 5, 2012
    SLAKKA, Nov 5, 2012
    #16
  2. Senor Pepe'

    Senor Pepe' Boxing Junkie banned

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    If Wilfred's - trainer Victor Machado didn't pop the ammonia capsule under
    Wilfred's nose after Round 3, Mustapha would have devoured him in Round 4.

    Victor Machado later said, Wilfred was out of it in the corner after Round 3.

    As you can see here in Round 3, Mustapha just mauled Wilfred, and at the
    0:53 Mark, he pushes Wilfred's head under the top rope strand, and cuffs him
    'twice' with chopping left hands to the head.

    Wilfred tries to grab Mustapha and falls to the canvas. When Wilfred got up,
    he was wobbling on 'unsteady pins'. Wilfred would fall to the canvas '5' more
    times from push-punches from Mustapha.

    Hard to believe, Wilfred was anywhere from a 2-1 to 5-2 Betting-Favorite
    in Las Vegas.

    [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wl23RzKh5CE&feature=player_detailpage[/ame]
     
    Senor Pepe', Nov 5, 2012
    Senor Pepe', Nov 5, 2012
    #17
  3. Senor Pepe'

    Senor Pepe' Boxing Junkie banned

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    Wilfred's Manager, Victor Machado on his fighter.

    Wilfred was not a shot fighter, but his ability to take a good punch from
    a hard hitting Middleweight was poor.

    He took good punches from a 154 lb. Thomas Hearns, and still went 15-Rounds in 1982.

    He did his roadwork, and trained hard. He still had good legs, but something happened
    with his ability to take a good punch in 1983.

    Victor Machado believed it was nothing more than facing bigger men. He believed Wilfred
    always carried a weak-chin. And he could fight at 154 lbs., as long as they were not against 'big' punchers.
     
    Senor Pepe', Nov 5, 2012
    Senor Pepe', Nov 5, 2012
    #18
  4. zadfrak

    zadfrak Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I got in early and had Hamsho at 4-1 underdog. They just don't like the crude type guys and love the cutie pie's when it comes to boxing odds. But I was planning on free money because I saw no way a former jr welter with depleting legs was ever going to hold off a strong guy like Hamsho at middle. He'd turn it into a gruelling fight immediately and the other big advantage he had was superior conditioning.
     
    zadfrak, Nov 6, 2012
    zadfrak, Nov 6, 2012
    #19
  5. Senor Pepe'

    Senor Pepe' Boxing Junkie banned

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    Zad,

    You could see in Round 2, that Mustapha's 'bull-rushes' were taking their toll
    on Wilfred's legs.

    At the start of Round 3, in the corner, you could see Wilfred trying to shake the
    'needles and pins' out of them, beforehe comes out at the start of the round.

    How the Las Vegas 'odds-makers' had Wilfred the favorite.......boggles the mind.

    Wilfred's Manager - Jimmy Jacobs took a long-shot on taking $150,000 to fight
    Mustapha Hamsho in July 1983.

    He could have had 3-fights with ABC-TV - for $125,000 per fight with Wilfred facing
    A) Donald King..........(May)
    B) Nino Gonzalez.......(July)
    C) Sean Mannion.....(September)
     
    Senor Pepe', Nov 6, 2012
    Senor Pepe', Nov 6, 2012
    #20
  6. zadfrak

    zadfrak Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Well, like I said, I saw no way in the world for Benetiz w/o good legs handling this guy. Those legs had been gone for awhile and he was getting by on savvy and smarts but a guy like Hamsho is not playing that game or falling for it.

    A Sean Mannion is even a stern test for Wilfred, but at least he's a guy that fell for feints and was not the most physical of fighters. I think Gonzalez went on to fight a prime Mugabi and got slaughtered in less than a round, if memory serves.

    But it goes back to guys like Hamsho never getting anything close to a realistic--in my view--barometer of their fights odds wise. Just not flashy enough. Another fight of Hamsho's that fit the bill was Czyz. I never bought into that guy much and thought he was another guy in that Duva stable that benefitted greatly from that Lou Duva hyperbole for his fighters. Did he ever have a guy that was not great? About the only guy he didn't over sell was Bramble.

    Why they thought Bobby Czyz and his style could fight and handle Hamsho, I'll never know. They must have thought Mustapha had too much scar tissue and would bust up maybe.
     
    zadfrak, Nov 7, 2012
    zadfrak, Nov 7, 2012
    #21
  7. Senor Pepe'

    Senor Pepe' Boxing Junkie banned

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    Wilfred's muscular legs, looked like they didn't work anymore.

    After that July 1983 bout with Mustapha Hamsho, Wilfred took another
    7-months off.

    He returned on February 11, 1984 in Detroit, on the undercard of the
    Thomas Hearns vs. Luigi Minchillo bout.

    Wilfred looked heavy-legged winning a 10-Round Decision over
    Stacey McSwain.

    The term..........'spraddle-legged'.
     
    Senor Pepe', Nov 7, 2012
    Senor Pepe', Nov 7, 2012
    #22
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