Wilfredo Benitez

It seemed like his decline began at an early age of 25 years. He had already fought for a decade as a professional at that point which is incredible.

Supposedly one of his brothers who never boxed suffers from similar problems so it may have been due to his genetics.

 

According to reliable sources outta Rico, Wilfred Benitez was lacing up the gloves by age 3 or 4 and being put in the ring by his father to fight older boys with more experience. Thus, young Wilfred took many a beating while growing up and learning his trade.. When W.B. won the 140 lb. title in 1976 at age 17, he was actually a seasoned boxer by that point... His youthful age was deceiving... SO! That is KINDA' why he was slipping or looking as if he were shot by age 23 or so..... Truth is, he was really burnt out after he lost his 154 lb. title to Tommy Hearns in 1982..... After 1982, W.B. moved up to 160 and fought aimlessly there in winning and losing from that point onward........ So, in reality, it isn't really all that hard to digest the fact that he now suffers from dementia.... Cheers...

MR.BILL

 

Boxing I have little doubt contributed to Benitez tragic illness, but I think your genes also contribute to getting the illness so young.

But that is not to excuse Benitez's dad, I have no doubt Benitez Snr pimped every dollar he could out of El Radar, and greatly helped ruin him as a fighter by the time he was 25, and a lot worse still, contributed to what Wilfred Benitez is today.

 

Gregorio Benitez was a gambling degenerate.....The elder Benitez pissed away young Wilfred's ring earnings to the casinos' wherever their was action... Wilfred Benitez is not really that bright in an academic sense... He was loyal to his family and friends.... Thus, he was takin' for a long joy ride....

Lesson # 1: Never allow a gambler to be your manager..... Never allow a gambler to be your tax man, neither........

MR.BILL

 

I think his condition is due to something else besides boxing. He never took much punishment.

 

Oh, that is where I have being going wrong!

But seriously you are right MR BILL, sadly though Wilfred was too young to take that advice.

 

His defense was great, but his punch resistance not so much. He suffered a fair amount of knockdowns in his career, and a few beatings and brutal KOs later on (ie: vs. Davey Moore, Matt Hilton).

As said, his reflexes probably started to slow down around the age of 25, and by the age of 28 (when he fought Hilton) he was generally considered used up, but still fought on and lost a few more fights.

 

I have read that he was very slow or even slightly ******ed from the start ... it may add some insight as to his ridiculous behavior regarding poor training habits for big fights when he was still a top fighter ...

 

Gambling managers have been screwing their boys over for yrs....... Jack "Doc" Kearns was reaming Dempsey early on in the 1920s.... Luckily, Dempsey saw the light and smelled the coffee and he told Kearns to take a walk.....:hey

SR.BILLARDO:bbb

 

Willie Benitez is not ******ed..... He just has a 2nd. or 3rd. grade education at best..... His real education was boxing in the gym....:deal

MR.BILL:yikes

 

I guess we will never really know, if it was genetic or the boxing. Certainly taking punches at an early age wouldn't have helped regardless.

Surely burned out at an early age, and no clear education other than boxing that we know of. So dad pimped him without thought or knowledge of the long term effects.

It doesn't take many concussions to screw up your brain in allot of cases. We know that from so many other fighters and football players. So that certainly didn't help, if not cause Wilfred's problems

 

The worst beating that benitez ever took was at the hands of matthew hilton. The knockout was brutal and just the fact that he lasted 9 rounds is a testimony to his courage, truly the heart of a champion.

 

Yes, I've read how Wilfred Benitez is today. Really, really saddening. His mother was caring for him, and now she's dead. Which means that he may end up on the street.

I surely hope this will not be the case. Wilfred deserves to go out with dignity.

 

Definitely, boxing has too many sad stories.