Wilfred Benitez - the fab 4's 5th member?

[LondonRingRules]

Speaking of Benitez, how is it that he's in as bad as shape as he's in when he hardly ever took clean, hard shots? He's almost as bad as bobby Chacon, as both need 24 hour care. Wilfred was a great fighter, he would have been competitive with anyone. I don't understand how his mind is in such bad shape when he had that great defence. Randy "Tex" Cobb talks and gets around better than "Radar". Any theories or thoughts on how his condition got so bad?

** Well, Terry, don't think there's real understanding of pugilistic dementia, but as far as I know Benitez is still the record holder as the youngest champion at age 17, so he was taking pro punches at an early age.

It's my understanding that Pops had him fighting full grown men before he was a teen, so very likely he took a lot of early damage. He also had a reputation of being in poor shape, so punches may have more effect on that type.

Also, he was also something of a party animal, and may have taken some drugs to ill long term effect.

George Chuvalo took more punishment in a longer career than Cobb and he's plenty sharp physically and mentally in spite of being older than Cobb. Go figure. Me thinks some are wired differently and more prone to damage.

I think Benitez overrated, but I don't want to say anything bad about him. I just saw plenty of flaws.

[TheGreatA]

He fought on for too long.

http://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/12/sp...is-family.html

Benitez suffered severe brain damage from boxing. Since one of his brothers suffered similar problems, some feel he may have been genetically predisposed to brain damage.

[StarshipTrooper]

Should Benitez be included in the group of Hagler, Hearns, Leonard and Duran?

Absolutely! I been calling Benitez a member of the "Fab Five" for going on two decades now.

Poet

[cotto16]

He was one of the geatest fighters to ever put on a pair of gloves

[andrewcuff]

I thought it was Mike Mccallum.

Anyway, a case for Benitez can be made. Like Mccallum, he is also HOF...

Like McCallum he is a Top 50 ATG.

[andrewcuff]

Absolutely! I been calling Benitez a member of the "Fab Five" for going on two decades now.

Poet

Hell yeah!

[Eric Holder]

He was one of the geatest fighters to ever put on a pair of gloves

I agree, Benitez was incredibly talented

[L.Ellerbe]

benitez was an amazing fighter considering the way his career was handled..its a shame he didnt get to fight hagler because he would have had a chance against marv

i certainly would put him in as the Fab Five

[Dynamite Kid]

Speaking of Benitez, how is it that he's in as bad as shape as he's in when he hardly ever took clean, hard shots? He's almost as bad as bobby Chacon, as both need 24 hour care. Wilfred was a great fighter, he would have been competitive with anyone. I don't understand how his mind is in such bad shape when he had that great defence. Randy "Tex" Cobb talks and gets around better than "Radar". Any theories or thoughts on how his condition got so bad?

And yes, I would include him as per the original question.

Look at Whitaker, great defence but a slurred speech.

[Princemanspopa]

He was never as good as Hearns or Leonard and I can't see him ever beating Hagler but beating an absolute legend like Antonio Cervantes at just 17 years of age is nothing short of incredible.He was perhaps the most gracious of losers as there ever has been in boxing also,never took anything away from those who beat him and was the first to go embrace and congratulate the guy who beat him,the same thing can't be said for a certain guy who was taken to school by Benitez.

I'm curious to know who is actually looking after him now as his mother died a year ago apparently.