Wilfred Benitez, completely underrated

[bojangles1987]

Love watching Benitez, absolutely put him in there with Leonard, Hearns, and Duran from that time period.

[Scott9945]

Not only a champion at 17 but, gaining the belt against a legitimate world class fighter.

Awesome boxer.

What did you guys think of the Leonard stoppage, I thought it was unfair.

There was no reason to stop that fight then other than to give Leonard a cheap KO win rather than a well deserved decision.

[antk]

Great fighter but re Leonard stoppage he made no complaint.

[young_robbed]

Benitez vs the welterweight and 154 greats? How do you guys see him doing?

(Mayweather jr, Robinson, Trinidad, Griffin, Napoles, Gavilian, Armstrong, Norris, Whitaker, etc.)

[them_apples]

Too become a world champion at 17 is incredible,Benitez was one of the best defensive fighters of all time,certainly an ATG for me

yeah thats just insane. He hadn't even fully developed yet.

[The_Demon]

yeah thats just insane. He hadn't even fully developed yet.

I just couldnt even imagine that happening nowadays,despite there being a ridiculous amount of 'world' titles given out like they mean nothing

[them_apples]

There was no reason to stop that fight then other than to give Leonard a cheap KO win rather than a well deserved decision.

I need to rewatch that. I remember it being an ok stoppage but I'm not one to convince myself of something untrue. A lot of people do that on this forum.

[joseph5620]

Considering it was in the last round I agree, it was very unfair. Nonetheless, Benitez would've lost by points ANYWAY, but it was a bad stoppage imo.
If Benitez was in the fight point wise, the stoppage would've been more controversial and important like Chavez-Taylor.

That pretty much sums it up. Bad stoppage but Benitez didn't seem unhappy about it so so I won't complain.

[joseph5620]

I just couldnt even imagine that happening nowadays,despite there being a ridiculous amount of 'world' titles given out like they mean nothing

It was pretty amazing and I can't see it happening today either. Especially with the way certain fighters (much older than 17) today are protected even after picking up cheap "world titles".

[ELHURACAN58]

If Benitez was in the body of a mature, intelligent adult, he'd be the best P4P boxer right now, of all time.

Cant be helped.