Wilfred Benítez

Wilfred Benítez

File:Wilfred.benitez.bw.arp.200pix.jpg Wilfred Benítez and his mother Clara Benítez (smiling, left)

Personal information

Real name: Wilfred Benítez

Nickname(s): El Radar Bible of Boxing

Nationality: Puerto Rican/American

Date of birth: (1958-09-12) September 12, 1958

Place of birth: New York City, USA

Personal Statistics

Weight:  ( kg)

Boxing career information

Wilfred Benítez (born September 12, 1958 in New York, New York), 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. Benítez is frequently mentioned among the best Puerto Rican boxers of all time by sports journalists and analysts, along with Félix "Tito" Trinidad, Wilfredo Gómez, Héctor "Macho" Camacho, and Carlos Ortíz.

File:Joe McLaughlin interview with Wilfred Benitez WW Boxing Champ 1980.jpg

Benitez as Welterweight Champ in 1980 with reporter Joe McLaughlin

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 Benítez. Young Wilfred was nicknamed "The Radar". 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 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.

Professional boxing career

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On March 6, 1976, at age 17, with his High School classmates in attendance, he faced 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 Benitez's favor.

Benitez retained the championship three times, and then moved up to the welterweight division. Benítez challenged WBC World Champion Carlos Palomino in San Juan. On January 14, 1979, Benitez won a fifteen-round split decision to become a world champion in a second weight division. After outpointing Harold Weston Jr. in his first defense (avenging an earlier draw), Benitez fought Sugar Ray Leonard in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 30, 1979. It was a scientific fight by both fighters, who demonstrated their defensive skills throughout the bout. Benitez suffered a third-round knockdown and a cut on his forehead, which was opened by an accidental head butt in round six. Leonard put Benitez down again in the fifteenth round and the referee stopped the fight with six seconds left in round fifteen.

After that loss, Benitez again moved up in weight, and on May 23, 1981, at age 22, he became the youngest three-time world champion in boxing history by knocking out WBC World Super Welterweight Champion Maurice Hope in twelve rounds in Las Vegas. The knockout was named one of the knockouts of the year.

His next fight became a historic bout. On November 14, 1981, he fought future world champ Carlos Santos of Ceiba, Puerto Rico. It was the first world championship fight between two Puerto Ricans in boxing history. Ironically, the fight was fought 3,000 miles away from Puerto Rico, at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. Benitez won a fifteen-round unanimous decision. His next defense was against Roberto Durán, whom Benitez defeated at Caesar's Palace on January 30, 1982 by a fifteen-round unanimous decision. On December 3, 1982, at the Carnival of Champions in New Orleans, Benitez lost the belt to another boxing legend, Thomas Hearns, by a fifteen-round majority decision.

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.

Professional boxing record

53 Wins (31 knockouts, 22 decisions), 8 Losses (4 knockouts, 4 decisions), 1 Draw [1]
Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Date	Location	Notes
Loss	15-6-1	Scott Papasodora	UD	10	18/09/1990	Winnipeg Convention Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Win	1-5-1	"Uncle" Sam Wilson	UD	10	24/08/1990	Regency Hotel, Denver, Colorado, United States	98-91, 99-90, 96-93.
Loss	13-1	Pat "The King" Lawlor	PTS	10	23/05/1990	Tucson, Arizona, United States
Win	0-10	Ariel Conde	KO	7	08/03/1990	Americana Motel, Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Loss	54-9	Carlos Maria del Valle Herrera	TKO	7	28/11/1986	Salta, Argentina
Win	14-3-1	Harry "Heatwave" Daniels	UD	10	17/09/1986	Fifth Regiment Armory, Baltimore, Maryland, United States	98-95, 98-95, 97-95.
Win	19-0	Paul "Forest" Whittaker	UD	10	01/07/1986	Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States	6-4, 5-4, 6-3.
Loss	19-0	Matthew Hilton	KO	9	15/02/1986	Paul Sauve Arena, Montreal, Quebec, Canada	Benitez knocked out at 2:59 of the ninth round.
Win	21-1	Kevin Moley	UD	10	21/08/1985	Madison Square Garden, New York City, United States	8-2, 7-3, 7-3.
Win	15-17	Danny "Thunderhand" Chapman	RTD	7	06/07/1985	Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, District of Columbia, United States	Chapman retired at 3:00 of the seventh round.
Win	26-2-2	Mauricio Bravo	TKO	2	30/03/1985	Oranjestad, Aruba
Loss	13-1	Davey "Bronx" Moore	TKO	2	14/07/1984	Stade Louis II, Monte Carlo, Monaco	Referee stopped the bout at 1:18 of the second round.
Win	8-7-1	Stacy McSwain	UD	10	11/02/1984	Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan, United States
Loss	36-2-2	Mustafa Hamsho	UD	12	16/07/1983	Dunes Hotel, Las Vegas, United States	109-118, 111-118, 111-117.
Win	14-2-4	Tony Cerda	UD	10	18/05/1983	Dunes Hotel, Las Vegas, United States
Loss	35-1	Tommy Hearns	MD	15	03/12/1982	Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States	WBC World Light Middleweight Title. 137-146, 139-144, 142-142.
Win	74-2	Roberto Duran	UD	15	30/01/1982	Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, United States	WBC World Light Middleweight Title. 143-142, 145-141, 144-141.
Win	22-0	Carlos Santos	UD	15	14/11/1981	Showboat Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, United States	WBC World Light Middleweight Title. 147-138, 145-140, 145-139.
Win	30-2-1	Maurice Hope	TKO	12	23/05/1981	Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, United States	WBC World Light Middleweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 1:56 of the 12th round.
Win	50-4-2	Pete Ranzany	UD	10	12/12/1980	Sacramento, California, United States	99-92, 97-94, 97-94.
Win	37-5	Tony Chiaverini	TKO	8	01/08/1980	Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, United States
Win	34-3-1	Johnny Turner	TKO	9	16/03/1980	Jai Alai Fronton, Miami, Florida, United States	Referee stopped the bout at 2:57 of the ninth round.
Loss	25-0	Sugar Ray Leonard	TKO	15	30/11/1979	Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, United States	WBC World Welterweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 2:54 of the 15th round.
Win	27-7-5	Harold "The Artist" Weston	UD	15	25/03/1979	Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States	WBC World Welterweight Title. 149-138, 144-142, 146-145.
Win	27-1-3	Carlos Palomino	SD	15	14/01/1979	Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States	WBC World Welterweight Title. 142-145, 146-143, 146-142.
Win	4-4	Vernon Lewis	UD	10	08/12/1978	Madison Square Garden, New York City, United States
Win	31-3-1	Randy Shields	RTD	6	25/08/1978	Madison Square Garden, New York City, United States
Win	15-1	Bruce Curry	MD	10	04/02/1978	Madison Square Garden, New York City, United States	9-1, 7-3, 5-5.
Win	14-0	Bruce Curry	SD	10	18/11/1977	Madison Square Garden, New York City, United States	4-5, 5-4, 7-3.
Win	29-6-3	Ray Chavez Guerrero	TKO	15	03/08/1977	Madison Square Garden, New York City, United States	NYSAC Light Welterweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 1:41 of the 15th round.
Win	8-8-1	Easy Boy Lake	TKO	1	01/07/1977	Lionel Roberts Stadium, Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands	Referee stopped the bout at 2:48 of the first round.
Win	--	Roberto "Speed Racer" Gonzalez	KO	1	02/06/1977	Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Win	27-8-3	Melvin Dennis	UD	8	06/03/1977	Correctional Facility Prison, Marion, Ohio, United States	7-1, 8-0, 5-1.
Draw	22-6-4	Harold Weston	PTS	10	02/02/1977	New York City, United States	7-3, 5-5, 5-5.
Win	35-1-1	Tony Petronelli	TKO	3	16/10/1976	Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States	WBA World Light Welterweight Title.
Win	25-2-1	Emiliano Villa	UD	15	31/05/1976	San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States	WBA World Light Welterweight Title. 150-138, 149-137, 148-137.
Win	74-9-3	Antonio Cervantes	SD	15	06/03/1976	Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States	WBA World Light Welterweight Title. 148-144, 147-142, 145-147.
Win	26-11-4	Chris Fernandez	PTS	10	13/12/1975	San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States
Win	10-4-1	Omar Ruben Realecio	TKO	6	20/10/1975	Felt Forum, New York City, United States
Win	15-16-1	Marcelino Alicia	TKO	2	01/09/1975	San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States
Win	2-0	Young Woodall	KO	4	19/08/1975	Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles
Win	--	Eyue Jeudy	KO	4	01/08/1975	Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles
Win	9-16-3	Jim "John" Henry	TKO	8	28/06/1975	Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States
Win	132-71-20	Angel "Robinson" Garcia	PTS	10	09/06/1975	Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States
Win	6-0	Santos Solis	PTS	10	05/05/1975	San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States
Win	0-3	Wilbur Seales	TKO	4	31/03/1975	San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States
Win	6-8	Santiago Rosa	KO	4	08/02/1975	San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States
Win	0-4	Francisco "El Presidente" Rodriguez	TKO	7	04/01/1975	San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States
Win	37-10-3	Lawrence Hafey	UD	8	02/12/1974	Felt Forum, New York City, United States
Win	16-7-2	Terry Summerhays	TKO	6	25/10/1974	Madison Square Garden, New York City, United States	Referee stopped the bout at 1:51 of the sixth round.
Win	5-16-1	Al Hughes	TKO	5	16/09/1974	Felt Forum, New York City, United States	Referee stopped the bout at 2:06 of the fifth round.
Win	4-3-1	Easy Boy Lake	TKO	5	31/08/1974	Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles
Win	0-3	Carlos Crispin	TKO	3	26/06/1974	Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States
Win	0-1	Ives St Jean	KO	1	21/06/1974	Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles
Win	4-2-1	Easy Boy Lake	KO	5	11/05/1974	Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles
Win	1-5-1	Juan Disla	TKO	3	30/04/1974	Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States
Win	1-1-1	Victor Mangual	PTS	8	01/04/1974	San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States
Win	--	Roberto Flanders	TKO	4	18/02/1974	San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States
Win	--	Joe York	KO	2	26/01/1974	Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles
Win	0-0-1	Hector Amadis	KO	4	07/01/1974	San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States
Win	0-1	Jesse Torres	KO	2	30/11/1973	Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles
Win	--	Hiram Santiago	KO	1	22/11/1973	San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States

Retirement and illness

After retiring from boxing, Benitez returned to Puerto Rico, where he lived with his mother Clara on a $200 a month pension provided by the World Boxing Council. Benitez now suffers from an incurable, degenerative brain condition caused by the blows he took in the ring. In 2002, Sugar Ray Leonard visited Benítez, who by this time had forgotten his identity. During the visit, their fight was shown on television. Consequently, Benítez remembered the event and said to Leonard, "Ray, I did not train for that fight." In 2004, Benitez was diagnosed with diabetes. His mother died in the summer of 2008.

Support, recovery, and public appearance

Ring 10, a non-profit organization that helps impoverished former fighters, provides a monthly stipend to Benitez and established "The Wilfred Benitez Fund" to raise more money to aid the fallen champion.

During 2012, Benitez was honored with a statue in Puerto Rico.

On November 27, 2012, a smiling and healthy looking Benítez attended the funeral of Hector Camacho in Puerto Rico, arriving on a wheelchair. Benítez, arrived with boxers like Felix Trinidad, Wilfredo Gomez, and Alfredo Escalera. Surprising the mourners, Benitez rose to his feet for a boxing pose in front of Camacho's coffin.

Awards and recognitions

Benítez was inducted to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1994.

Sporting positions
Preceded by Antonio Cervantes	WBA Light Welterweight Champion 6 March 1976–1977 Stripped	Succeeded by Antonio Cervantes
Preceded by Carlos Palomino	WBC Welterweight Champion 14 January 1979 – 30 November 1979	Succeeded by Sugar Ray Leonard
Preceded by Maurice Hope	WBC Light Middleweight boxing champion 23 May 1981– 3 December 1982	Succeeded by Thomas Hearns

Non boxing related awards

Key to the City

• Carolina, Puerto Rico (1984)

See also

• List of famous Puerto Ricans
• Afro-Puerto Ricans

• List of WBC world champions
• List of Puerto Rican boxing world champions
• List of boxing triple champions

External links

• Professional boxing record for Wilfred Benítez from BoxRec
• Ian Palmer's Tigerboxing.com article on Benitez
• Benitez's website
• Faded Memories