By Mark Vester
Several boxing figures from Puerto Rico gave their thoughts during a friendly debate with Primera Hora on the subject of "who should be considered as the best Puerto Rican fighter at the welterweight limit of 147-pounds."
"[Felix] Trinidad was a monster at 147-pounds. He went through his opposition", said Francisco "Paco" Varcárcel, president of the WBO. "You would have to rank Wilfredo Benitez at number two because he beat Roberto Duran and the epic bouts against Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns. Benítez fought in an era when the welterweight division was a lot stronger. They were truly pedigrees."
"For Miguel Cotto, it depends not only on whether he beats Antonio Margarito, but how he does it. If he dominates Margarito, he then merits to be above Benitez."
Regarding Varcárcel's comments, it should be noted that Benitez beat Duran at junior middleweight, not welterweight, and also fought Hearns at 154.
José "Toto" Peñagarícano, president of the Boxing Commission in Puerto Rico, feels that if Cotto is able to beat Margarito, he should be ranked in the number-one spot.
"Cotto would have to be elevated to number-one beause he has been a savage at that weight. The one opponent who showed us just how good he is has been Alfonso Gomez. Already he fought the likes of Zab Judah, Carlos Quintana, Shane Mosley and all that remains for him is Margarito," Peñagarícano said.
Legendary Puerto Rican trainer Félix Pagan Pintor says Benítez should be considered the best because he faced a better quality of opposition. Again, I feel that Pintor is placing Benitez's bouts with Duran and Hearns into that thought, and those bouts were at 154.
"Benítez fought the best of the best in that division. Benítez was a truly great fighter," Pintor said.
Puerto Rican sports journalist Rafael Bracero doesn't agree with Pintor, he said that Benitez did not spend enough time at welterweight to be considered the best at the weight.
"He was quite good, but not the best. Benitez spent very little time in the welterweight division and practically jumped from 140 to 154-pounds. Cotto has shown that he is not just a puncher," Bracero said. "He showed how he's matured as a fighter when he beat Shane Mosley. At the lower weights he allowed himself to get hit and therefore he had problems with DeMarcus Corley and Ricardo Torres."
To close the debate out, Puerto Rico's Mario Rivera Martinó, a writer and boxing historian, says Trinidad should hold the top spot based on his achievements at the weight.
"Tito has to be number-one because of his 15 title defenses. Cotto still has the opportunity to improve, and could rise in stature depending on his performances against Margarito and Floyd Mayweather, Jr - if they ever fight."
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