Wilfred Benitez boxer

Wilfred Benitez boxer
bouts
62
won
53
lost
8
draw
1
Status
inactive
Division
super welterweight
Debut
1973-11-22
Height
5′ 10″/178cm
Reach
70″/178cm
Age
-
Born
1958-09-12
Death
-
Nationality
Puerto Rico

Wilfred "Wilfredo" Benítez (born September 12, 1958) is a New York-born Puerto Rican former professional boxer and the youngest world champion in the sport's history. Earning his first of three career world titles in separate weight divisions at the age of seventeen, he is best remembered as a skilled and aggressive fighter with exceptional defensive abilities, along with his fights with Roberto Durán, Thomas Hearns, and Sugar Ray Leonard.Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1996, he is considered among the best Puerto Rican boxers of all time, sharing the honor with Félix Trinidad, Wilfredo Gómez, Carlos Ortiz, Héctor Camacho, and Miguel Cotto.Benítez turned pro at 15, a young prodigy who was managed by his father Gregorio Benítez, was a member of one of Puerto Rico's boxing families, his brothers Frankie and Gregory Benítez having also been top contenders in the 1970s. The Benítez troop was largely directed by their mother, Clara Benítez. Young Wilfred was nicknamed "The Radar" for his uncanny ability to foresee and dodge his opponent's blows. He grew up going to a neighborhood boxing gym in New York, where he learned from watching his brothers and other local, renowned fighters practice their skills.During the early stages of his professional career, Benítez often traveled to the Netherlands Antilles and New York City for fights. He divided his fights between those locations and Puerto Rico. The proximity of those two locations to Puerto Rico helped him start to become a household name in the island while building an international following at the same time. His speed, combined with punching power and surprising ring maturity for a 16-year-old, were enough to make him a world-ranked boxer by both the WBA and WBC, then boxing's only world-title recognizing organizations.On March 6, 1976, at age 17, with his high school classmates in attendance, he faced Lineal and WBA Light Welterweight champion Antonio Cervantes. Known as Kid Pambele, the champion was 30 years old, had a record of 74-9-3 with 35 KO's, and had made 10 title defenses. The result was a fifteen-round split decision in Benítez's favor. Benítez retained the championship three times, and then moved up to the welterweight division.Benítez challenged Lineal and WBC World Champion Carlos Palomino in San Juan. On January 14, 1979, Benítez won a fifteen-round split decision to become a world champion in a second weight division. Referee Zach Clayton scored the fight 145-142 in Palomino's favor, but judges Jay Edson and Harry Gibbs disagreed. Edson scored the bout 146-142 for Benítez. Gibbs also scored for Benítez, 146-143. After outpointing Harold Weston Jr. in his first defense (avenging an earlier draw), Benítez fought Sugar Ray Leonard in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 30, 1979.

Date Opponent Last Opponents' Results Place Result
1990-09-18 Scott Papasodora LWWLWL Convention Centre, Winnipeg LOST
Unanimous decision
1990-08-24 Sam Wilson LLDLWL Regency Hotel, Denver WIN
Unanimous decision
1990-05-23 Pat Lawlor WWWWLW Amigos Indoor Soccer Stadium, Tucson LOST
Split-decision
1990-03-08 Ariel Conde LLLLLL Americana Motel, Phoenix WIN
KO
1986-11-28 Carlos Herrera WWLWLW Salta LOST
Technical knockout
1986-09-17 Harry Daniels WLWLWW 5th Regiment Armory, Baltimore WIN
Unanimous decision
1986-07-01 Paul Whittaker WWWWWW Superdome, New Orleans WIN
Unanimous decision
1986-02-15 Matthew Hilton WWWWWW Paul Sauve Arena, Montreal LOST
KO
1985-08-21 Kevin Moley WWWWWW Madison Square Garden, New York WIN
Unanimous decision
1985-07-06 Danny Chapman LLLLLW Convention Center, Washington WIN
Corner retirement
1985-03-30 Mauricio Bravo WWLLWL Concorde Boxing Arena, Oranjestad WIN
Technical knockout
1984-07-14 Davey Moore WWWWLW Stade Louis II, Fontvieille LOST
Technical knockout
1984-02-11 Stacy McSwain DWWLLL Joe Louis Arena, Detroit WIN
Unanimous decision
1983-07-16 Mustafa Hamsho WLWWWW Dunes Hotel, Las Vegas LOST
Unanimous decision
1983-05-18 Tony Cerda LDDWDD Dunes Hotel & Casino, Outdoor Arena, Las Vegas WIN
Unanimous decision
1982-12-03 Thomas Hearns WWLWWW Superdome, New Orleans LOST
Majority decision
1982-01-30 Roberto Duran WWWLWW Caesars Palace, Las Vegas WIN
Unanimous decision
1981-11-14 Carlos Santos WWWWWW Showboat Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas WIN
Unanimous decision
1981-05-23 Maurice Hope WWWWWW Caesars Palace, Las Vegas WIN
KO
1980-12-12 Pete Ranzany WWWDWW Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento WIN
Unanimous decision
1980-08-01 Tony Chiaverini WWWWWW Caesars Palace, Las Vegas WIN
Technical knockout
1980-03-16 Johnny Turner WWLWWW Jai Alai Fronton, Miami WIN
Technical knockout
1979-11-30 Ray Leonard WWWWWW Caesars Palace, Las Vegas LOST
Technical knockout
1979-03-25 Harold Weston WWWLWW Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan WIN
Unanimous decision
1979-01-14 Carlos Palomino WWWWWW Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan WIN
Split-decision
1978-12-08 Vernon Lewis LLWWLL Madison Square Garden, New York WIN
Unanimous decision
1978-08-25 Randy Shields WWWDLW Madison Square Garden, New York WIN
Corner retirement
1978-02-04 Bruce Curry WWWWLW Madison Square Garden, New York WIN
Majority decision
1977-11-18 Bruce Curry WWWWWW Madison Square Garden, New York WIN
Split-decision
1977-08-03 Ray Chavez Guerrero DWWWWW Madison Square Garden, New York WIN
Technical knockout
1977-07-01 Easy Boy Lake LWWLLW Lionel Roberts Stadium, Charlotte Amalie WIN
Technical knockout
1977-06-02 Roberto Gonzalez debut Saint Thomas WIN
KO
1977-03-06 Melvin Dennis LWWDWW Marion County Institution, Marion WIN
Unanimous decision
1977-02-02 Harold Weston WDDWWW Madison Square Garden, New York DRAW
Majority decision
1976-10-16 Tony Petronelli WWWWWW Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan WIN
Technical knockout
1976-05-31 Emiliano Villa WWWWLW Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan WIN
Unanimous decision
1976-03-06 Antonio Cervantes WWWWWW Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan WIN
Split-decision
1975-12-13 Chris Fernandez LWLLLW San Juan WIN
Points
1975-10-20 Omar Ruben Realecio WWLLLW Felt Forum, New York WIN
Technical knockout
1975-09-01 Marcelino Alicia LLLLLL Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan WIN
Technical knockout
1975-08-19 Young Woodall WW Philipsburg WIN
KO
1975-08-01 Eyue Jeudy debut Philipsburg WIN
KO
1975-06-28 Jim Henry WLLLWL Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan WIN
Technical knockout
1975-06-09 Angel Robinson Garcia LWWWLL Ramon Loubriel Stadium, San Juan WIN
Points
1975-05-05 Santos Solis WWWWWW San Juan WIN
Split-decision
1975-03-31 Wilbur Seales LLL San Juan WIN
Technical knockout
1975-02-08 Santiago Rosa LLWLLW San Juan WIN
KO
1975-01-04 Francisco Rodriguez LLL Country Club Stadium, San Juan WIN
Technical knockout
1974-12-02 Lawrence Hafey DWWWWW Felt Forum, New York WIN
Unanimous decision
1974-10-25 Terry Summerhays DWWLLW Madison Square Garden, New York WIN
Technical knockout
1974-09-16 Al Hughes LLLLLW Felt Forum, New York WIN
Technical knockout
1974-08-31 Easy Boy Lake WLWWWL Philipsburg WIN
Technical knockout
1974-06-26 Carlos Crispin LLL Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan WIN
Technical knockout
1974-06-21 Ives St Jean L Philipsburg WIN
KO
1974-05-11 Easy Boy Lake LWLWWW Philipsburg WIN
KO
1974-04-30 Juan Disla WLLLLD Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan WIN
Technical knockout
1974-04-01 Victor Mangual WDL San Juan WIN
Points
1974-02-18 Roberto Flanders debut San Juan WIN
Technical knockout
1974-01-26 Joe York debut Philipsburg WIN
KO
1974-01-07 Hector Amadis D San Juan WIN
KO
1973-11-30 Jesse Torres debut Philipsburg WIN
KO
1973-11-22 Hiram Santiago debut San Juan WIN
KO