Need help finding the "Wunderkind's" fight purse amounts. Total amount from Fight Purse Fee's in Wilfred's career...$7,200,000 * November 22, 1973...... vs. Hiram Santiago.................$100 * March 6, 1976............. vs. Antonio Cervantes...........$7500 * November 19, 1977...... vs. Bruce Curry I................$40,000 * February 4, 1978......... vs. Bruce Curry II...............$40,000 * January 14, 1979......... vs. Carlos Palomino.............$90,000 * March 25, 1979........... vs. Harold Weston Jr. II.....$140,000 * November 30, 1979...... vs. Ray Leonard.............$1,200,000 * May 23, 1981.............. vs. Maurice Hope..............$175,000 * January 30, 1982......... vs. Roberto Duran..........$1,400,000 * December 3, 1982........ vs. Thomas Hearns.........$1,350,000 * May 18, 1983.............. vs. Tony Cerda..................$40,000 * July 16, 1983.............. vs. Mustafa Hamsho..........$150,000 * July 14, 1984.............. vs. Davey Moore................$60,000 * November 28, 1986...... vs. Carlos de Valle Herrera...$15,000
Wilfred was the WBC Light-Middleweight Champion, so he should have received the larger 'fight purse'. But both Wilfred Benitez and Thomas Hearns each received $1,350,000. The December 3, 1982 bout was held at The Superdome, in front of 40,000 in attendance. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Following the loss to Thomas Hearns in December 1982, Wilfred more-or-less drifted from the boxing circles for several months. Still managed by Jim Jacobs, the 24 year-old Wilfred seemed to lose interest in boxing, and turned down several offers for TV-bouts on CBS and NBC - in March and early-April. Finally, in mid-April 1983, a previously un-inspired Wilfred agreed to a Middleweight fight in Las Vegas. With 4-weeks to get ready for the bout, Wilfred prepared for the bout with new trainer Victor Machado. Working very had with his new trainer, in New York - the 24 year-old Wilfred came to Las Vegas at a 'rock-hard' 158 lbs., and looked in 'great physical condition'. Wilfred Benitez was fighting on the under-card of the WBC Light-Welterweight Championship between Champion Leroy Haley and Challenger Bruce Curry. The bout was on televised on ESPN on Wednesday, May 18 at The Dunes Hotel and Country Club in Las Vegas. Wilfred, now fighting at 158 lbs. took on California Middleweight Tony Cerda 18-2-3 (11 KO's). Tony Cerda was a one-time prospect, with big expectations. But the 6' 0" (160 3/4 lbs.) Middleweight had gone 2-2-3 (0 KO's) in his previous '7' bouts, and was bordering on 'club-fighter' status. The Promoter, Don King - had signed Wilfred to fight for $40,000 - and also purchased a red Tuxedo boxing robe for Wilfred to enter into the ring with. In the first '2' Rounds, Tony Cerda 'a pretty good banger' pressured Wilfred, and scored with some good hard shots, including a right upper-cut near the end of 'Round 2', which rocked Benitez. Wilfred, then got it together in Round 4, with 'smart boxing' and took control, scoring with his usual assortment of left-hands, right-leads and inside punching. It was a 'good performance' overall, as Wilfred was strong down the stretch. Scorecards; * Jerry Roth......97-93 * Lou Tabat......96-95 * Paul Smith.....99-91
Wilfred need that 154 pound title and being at that weight to fight well. After that he did lose focus.
MAG, Correct on the 154 lbs. Wilfred belonged at the Light-Middleweight limit. In early-1983, he turned down 'winnable bouts' with the following 154 lb. fighters. * Earl Hargrove........ (NBC Fight) * Sean Mannion....... (NBC Fight) * Mark McPherson.... (NBC Fight) * Kirkland Laing........ (HBO Fight) Even an April 5, 1983 ESPN bout versus upstate New York's "Rocky Fratto", out of Syracuse. Talk about an 'easy' walk-in-the-park fight.
he would have beaten all those guys. Everytime he lost he took a little time to regroup and win the title again. Moving up to middleweight was a big mistake. Hearns was actually only his 2nd loss which was amazing.
Earl 'The Pearl' Hargrove may have provided Wilfred with some danger, early in the bout, but down the stretch Wilfred would have out-boxed the 'knockout artist'. Wilfred verus Kirkland Laing (who had defeated Roberto Duran in September 1982), now that would have been a good fight at 154 lbs. HBO wanted it for February or March 1983.
Bruce Curry did it b4 Hearns did and much more convincingly . Ignoring it is very casual fan like , even if popular .
Didn't Wilfred pick up a cool million for not fighting to let Leonard fight Hearns instead? I seem to remember a rematch clause that was negotiated that either gave Benitez a rematch with Leonard if he lost OR a million to drop the rematch.
Saint-Pat, There was no 'rematch clause', not with Mike Trainer (Ray Leonard's manager) involved. After Wilfred lost to Ray Leonard for the WBC Welterweight Championship in November 1979, he was dropped to the #3 WBA and #3 WBC Welterweight. On Sunday March 16, 1980 - he fought the #16 Welterweight - 'Irish' Johnny Turner 34-3-1 (26 KO's) on a Sunday CBS Sports Fight. Both Dick Stockton and Angelo Dundee were the boxing announcers. Wilfred was fighting at 150 lbs., and there were discussions about Wilfred's inability to get down to 147 lbs., as he was only 20 and still growing. The assumption was, that eventually Wilfred Benitez and Ray Leonard would fight for the Light-Middleweight Championship in the future. Good question though... According to the Miami Newspapers, Wilfred, after scoring an impressive (TKO 9) received a fight purse of $80,000.
what i try 2 get through 4 a while , again . Benitez was drained vs Leonard and never fought again @ 147 . i m sure Dundee and/or Leonard's management were aware of it or otherwise no fight . Same with Hearns @ 147 , same with Duran #2 @ 147 , same even with Hearns #2 (in which Leonard still got a gift draw) almost d same with Hagler and i even think i could dig another Xample 2 it . Leonard's career and legacy a hypejob . His best opponent whom was not drained was a bulimic lightweight that beat him . IDK how 1 can b regarded #2 @ his division of all times when that 1 lost 2 a man whom was not even d consensus #1 (by all time standards) 2 divisions lower .
R/T,, According to Jose Luis Vellon,,,,,,, 'Papa' Benitez raided the 'cookie jar'. In just the Bank of San Juan alone, the $250,000 Trust Fund set up for Wilfred Benitez after the Roberto Duran fight (January 30, 1982), was 'sucked dry' by the father in 1983. First to use as 'gambling money', which was lost in St. Marteen Casino's. Then to foolishy buy a 'thoroughbred race horse', which Papa Benitez lost 'thousands of dollars' on trying to race - only to realize he was scammed into buying an average race horse, and not one of a 'winning breed'.
r/T, It was Jimmy Jacobs and Bill Cayton who pushed Wilfred into that 'foolish bout' with 'Middleweight' Mustapha Hamsho. Wilfred also had a new trainer, Victor Machado. They took the short money ($150,000) for that NBC-TV fight in July 1973.