Wilfred Benítez
Wilfred Benítez
Wilfred Benítez
Wilfred Bentez
Wilfred Bentez
Wilfred Bentez and his mother Clara Bentez (smiling, left) Statistics Real name Nickname(s) Wilfred Bentez El Radar Bible of Boxing Welterweight Puerto Rican/American September 12, 1958 New York City, USA Orthodox Boxing record Total fights Wins Wins by KO Losses Draws No contests 62 53 31 8 1 0
Stance
Wilfred Bentez (born September 12, 1958 in New York City), is a retired Puerto Rican boxer. He is remembered best as a skilled and aggressive fighter with exceptional defensive abilities who won world championships in three separate weight divisions, and was the youngest world champion in boxing history at the age of 17. Benitez has been a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame since 1996. Bentez is frequently mentioned among the best Puerto Rican boxers of all time by sports journalists and analysts, along with Flix "Tito" Trinidad, Wilfredo Gmez, Hctor "Macho" Camacho, and Carlos Ortz.
Early history
Benitez turned pro at 15, a young prodigy who was managed by his father Gregorio Benitez, was a member of one of Puerto Rico's most famous boxing families, his brothers Frankie and Gregory Benitez having also been top contenders in the 1970s. The Benitez troop was largely directed by their mother, Clara Bentez. 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, Benitez often traveled to the Virgin Islands and New York 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
Wilfred Bentez 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.
Career decline
Benitez's career went downwards after the fight with Hearns, as did his lifestyle. In 1983 he lost a unanimous decision to Mustafa Hamsho. In 1984, he tried a comeback under the hand of Yamil Chade, but this proved unsuccessful. On November 28, 1986, with his health declining, he went to Buenos Aires, Argentina to fight middleweight Carlos Herrera. Benitez was stopped in seven rounds. But that wasn't the worst part of the trip. His money for the fight was stolen by the fight's promoter, along with his documents and passport, and he was stranded in Argentina for one year. After much government huddling and talks, he was finally able to fly back home to Puerto Rico in 1988. Two years later, Benitez moved to Tucson, Arizona, where he tried another comeback under the tutelage of Emanuel Steward, the famous Kronk trainer. This also proved unsuccessful, as he went 2-2 in his last four fights. His last bout took place in Winnipeg, Canada on September 18, 1990, six days after his 32nd birthday. He lost a ten-round decision against Scott Papasadora.
Wilfred Bentez
Opponent Scott Papasodora "Uncle" Sam Wilson Pat "The King" Lawlor Ariel Conde
Type Round UD 10
Date 18/09/1990
Location Winnipeg Convention Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Regency Hotel, Denver, Colorado, United States Tucson, Arizona, United States Americana Motel, Phoenix, Arizona, United States Salta, Argentina
Notes
Loss
1-5-1
Win Loss
UD PTS KO
10 10 7
13-1
0-10
Win
54-9
Loss
Carlos Maria del Valle Herrera Harry "Heatwave" Daniels Paul "Forest" Whittaker Matthew Hilton Kevin Moley
TKO 7 UD 10
28/11/1986 17/09/1986
14-3-1
Win
19-0
Fifth Regiment Armory, 98-95, 98-95, 97-95. Baltimore, Maryland, United States Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States Paul Sauve Arena, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
6-4, 5-4, 6-3.
UD
10
01/07/1986
Win
19-0
Loss
KO UD
9 10
15/02/1986 21/08/1985
21-1
Win
15-17
Madison Square Garden, 8-2, 7-3, 7-3. New York City, United States Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, District of Columbia, United States Oranjestad, Aruba Stade Louis II, Monte Carlo, Monaco Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan, United States Dunes Hotel, Las Vegas, 109-118, 111-118, 111-117. United States Dunes Hotel, Las Vegas, United States Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, United States
WBC World Light Middleweight Title. 137-146, 139-144, 142-142. WBC World Light Middleweight Title. 143-142, 145-141, 144-141. Referee stopped the bout at 1:18 of the second round. Chapman retired at 3:00 of the seventh round.
Win
Danny "Thunderhand" Chapman Mauricio Bravo Davey "Bronx" Moore Stacy McSwain Mustafa Hamsho Tony Cerda Tommy Hearns
RTD 7
06/07/1985
26-2-2
TKO 2 TKO 2 UD UD UD MD 10 12 10 15
13-1
8-7-1
36-2-2
14-2-4
35-1
Loss
74-2
Roberto Duran UD
15
30/01/1982
Win
Wilfred Bentez
4
Carlos Santos UD 15 14/11/1981 Showboat Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, United States Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, United States
WBC World Light Middleweight Title. 147-138, 145-140, 145-139. WBC World Light Middleweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 1:56 of the 12th round. 99-92, 97-94, 97-94.
22-0
Win
30-2-1
23/05/1981
Win
50-4-2
UD
10
Sacramento, California, United States Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, United States
37-5
TKO 8
34-3-1
Jai Alai Fronton, Miami, Referee stopped the bout at 2:57 of the ninth round. Florida, United States Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, United States
WBC World Welterweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 2:54 of the 15th round. WBC World Welterweight Title. 149-138, 144-142, 146-145. WBC World Welterweight Title. 142-145, 146-143, 146-142.
25-0
Loss
27-7-5
Win
UD
15
25/03/1979
Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States Madison Square Garden, New York City, United States Madison Square Garden, New York City, United States
27-1-3
Win
Carlos Palomino
SD
15
14/01/1979
4-4
Vernon Lewis
UD
10
08/12/1978
Win
31-3-1
25/08/1978
Win
15-1
Bruce Curry
MD
10
04/02/1978
Win
14-0
Madison Square Garden, 9-1, 7-3, 5-5. New York City, United States Madison Square Garden, 4-5, 5-4, 7-3. New York City, United States Madison Square Garden, NYSAC Light Welterweight Title. New York City, United Referee stopped the bout at States
1:41 of the 15th round.
Bruce Curry
SD
10
18/11/1977
Win
29-6-3
Win
TKO 15
03/08/1977
8-8-1
Win
--
TKO 1
01/07/1977
Lionel Roberts Stadium, Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
KO
02/06/1977
Win
27-8-3
Melvin Dennis UD
06/03/1977
Win
7-1, 8-0, 5-1. Correctional Facility Prison, Marion, Ohio, United States
Wilfred Bentez
5
Harold Weston Tony Petronelli PTS 10 02/02/1977 16/10/1976 New York City, United States Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States
7-3, 5-5, 5-5.
Draw
22-6-4
35-1-1
TKO 3
Win
25-2-1
Emiliano Villa UD
15
31/05/1976
Win
WBA World Light Welterweight Title. 150-138, 149-137, 148-137. WBA World Light Welterweight Title. 148-144, 147-142, 145-147.
74-9-3
Win
Antonio Cervantes
SD
15
06/03/1976
Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States Felt Forum, New York City, United States San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States Juan Ramn Loubriel Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States Felt Forum, New York City, United States
26-11-4
Chris Fernandez Omar Ruben Realecio Marcelino Alicia Young Woodall Eyue Jeudy
PTS
10
10-4-1
TKO 6 TKO 2 KO 4
15-16-1
2-0
Win
--
KO
01/08/1975
Win
9-16-3
Win
132-71-20
TKO 8
28/06/1975
Win
6-0
Angel PTS "Robinson" Garcia Santos Solis Wilbur Seales Santiago Rosa Francisco "El Presidente" Rodriguez Lawrence Hafey Terry Summerhays Al Hughes Easy Boy Lake PTS
10
09/06/1975
10
0-3
TKO 4 KO 4
6-8
0-4
TKO 7
Win
37-10-3
Win
UD
02/12/1974 25/10/1974
16-7-2
TKO 6
Win
5-16-1
Madison Square Garden, Referee stopped the bout at 1:51 of the sixth round. New York City, United States Felt Forum, New York City, United States Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles
Referee stopped the bout at 2:06 of the fifth round.
Win
TKO 5 TKO 5
16/09/1974 31/08/1974
4-3-1
Win
Wilfred Bentez
6
Carlos Crispin TKO 3 26/06/1974 Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States
0-3
Win
0-1
Ives St Jean
KO
21/06/1974
Win
4-2-1
Win
1-5-1
KO
11/05/1974
TKO 3
30/04/1974
Win
1-1-1
Win Win
PTS
--
TKO 4 KO 2
--
Win
0-0-1
Win
KO KO
4 2
07/01/1974 30/11/1973
0-1
Win
--
Win
Hiram Santiago
KO
22/11/1973
Wilfred Bentez
References
[1] [2] [3] [4] http:/ / www. youtube. com/ watch?v=BwVzbGMU5vk "International Boxing Hall of Fame" (http:/ / www. ibhof. com/ pages/ about/ inductees/ modern/ benitez. html) http:/ / boxrec. com/ list_bouts. php?human_id=438& cat=boxer http:/ / www. nytimes. com/ 1997/ 11/ 12/ sports/ too-many-beatings-the-boxer-s-disease-haunts-wilfred-benitez-and-his-family. html?pagewanted=all& src=pm [5] Boxing 101, "Ring 10 Veterans Boxing Foundation: A Beta Bomb of Brotherhood, Part 1 - Our Suffering Champions" (http:/ / www. worldboxing101. com/ 2012/ 06/ 26/ ring-10-veterans-boxing-foundation-a-beta-bomb-of-brotherhood-part-1-our-suffering-champions/ ), June 26, 2012 [6] http:/ / www. gettyimages. com/ detail/ news-photo/ boxers-tito-trinidad-wilfredo-benitez-alfredo-el-salsero-news-photo/ 157029431 [7] http:/ / www. gettyimages. com/ detail/ news-photo/ boxer-wilfredo-benitez-attends-hector-macho-camachos-public-news-photo/ 157029433
External links
Professional boxing record for Wilfred Bentez (http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=000438& cat=boxer) from BoxRec Ian Palmer's Tigerboxing.com article on Benitez (http://www.tigerboxing.com/articles/index. php?aid=1001244834) Benitez's website (http://wilfredbenitez.com/) Faded Memories (http://www.puertorico-herald.org/issues/2003/vol7n44/WilfredBenitez-en.html)
License
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 //creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/