Wilfredo Benitez

Wilfredo Benitez was a highly gifted fighter and great perhaps the most gifted ti come out of the great nation of Puerto Rico. 3 Division world champion winning his first world title at age 17. He is someone we don’t debate enough. Check out his knockout of Maurice Hope to win the Junior Middleweight world title.

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Won’t be much in it either way. He was that good.

 

That’s your view others may think differently. Benitez was an awesome attacking fighter with great Defence and Mayweather an awesome defensive fighter with great attack. Both very complete fighters no one more Skillful than these two.

 

Both would feel they are looking in the mirror facing each other. However one key difference is Floyd was more professional than Benitez who did not always train properly which caught up with him in his later years.

 

So did Floyd.

 

The only division where he did not fight the very best was Light Welterweight so I will partially agree to that but let’s put it in proper context. In that division he had 4 fights against Harry Brussels, Sharmba Mitchell, DeMarcus “chop chop” Corley and Arturo “Thunder” Gatti. These guys were top Light Welterweight contenders and 3 of the 4 were Light Welterweight world champions former or current. When he was in this division for a brief while the great Kostya Tyzu was injured for most of that period so the fight could not be made. When Floyd moved up to Welterweight Ricky “Hitman” Hatton beat Tyzu. An unbeaten Hatton later moved up in weight and got his ass kicking from Floyd to prove who was pound for pound a better fighter.

At the light Middleweight division Floyd never himself a Light Middleweight beat the best in the division 3 times, Oscar De La Hoya, Miguel Cotto and Canelo Alvarez. Canelo was not drained he just got taken to school. No excuses Canelo did not make excuses. People like to forget that it was Canelo and his team who offered to take the fight at 152 pounds because frankly they were idiots. Floyd was not going to do this but Leonard Ellerbe called Team Canelo’s bluff taking advantage of them and their stupidity. Floyd taught him a lesson and improved Canelo as a fighter.

Wilfredo Benitez is my guy and I make no apologies for that. I can wax lyrical about him. He fought and beat an outstanding level of competition. Part of the reason Hearns and Leonard are so great is that they were able to beat Benitez who was even better them more skillful. Hearns proved he was a master boxer to get a decision over Benitez something he did to Virgil Hill at Light Heavyweight. He also beat Duran did Benitez. How the hell does a 17 year old even a man child beat the great Cervantes for ****s sake?

We can compare because honestly these 2 along with Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whittaker are the most skillful boxers I may ever have seen live. More skillful than Sugar Ray Leonard and Don Curry, better defensively than even Marlon Starling, maybe not quite as athletic as Roy Jones but better fundamentals.

Lufcrazy great debate thank you Sir.

 

You won’t get complaints from me about Benitez’s talent or competition. One point I will make on your previous comments was the ranking of Cory Spinks and Karmazin above De La Hoya. Let’s remember Floyd spanked a peak Zab Judah who had beaten Cory Spinks at Welterweight and Karmazin respectable enough but really. I really have no issues with the level of competition both faced to be honest.