I found a book the other day, it has quite a bit of history of many of puerto rico's world champions, it is very interesting. for those who understand spanish it's called "Puerto Rico, Cuna de campeones". Anyway, I had always wondered why wilferd benitez's health is so bad and how he got like that so young, even when he was a defensive wizard. In the book there are quotes of some ex-boxers, family members and friends, that say that benitez was sparring and getting into wars with estaban de jesus,among other adult boxers, since he was 13 years old! thats a man against a kid, and vita could punch like a freaking beast, i mean he put duran on the canvas TWICE, and you put your teenager kid to go at it with him? even wilfred's mom said that it was the sparring that made him as he is today. I think his father saw so much potential in him that rush him too damn much. Wilfred's story is nothing short of tragic, he's broke, sick, and his mom, that was the only one who took care of him died a few months ago. it's a sad fate for one of the best fighters to ever lace'em up. BTW: I don't know if this belongs to the classic section, but if it does, sorry mods.
Wether the classic section or here, what happened to Wilfred is sad. It's a good topic, if what you say is accurate, then no wonder he burned out so young. May want to post this in the classic section, as many there are Benitez Fans, may get some different responses. What a great talent he was.
It's terrible the condition he's in today, but what a master in his prime, just a step below the Hearn's and Leonard's in that department.
Add in the fact that he got into drugs and that towards the end of his career he took some pretty bad beatings, and that accellerates the killing of brain cells.
