Wilfred Benítez
Wilfred Benítez is an American-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.
Early history
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.
Professional boxing career
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. After outpointing Harold Weston Jr. in his first defense, Benítez 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. Benítez suffered a third-round knockdown and a cut on his forehead, which was opened by an accidental head butt in round six. Leonard put Benítez down again in the fifteenth round and the referee stopped the fight with six seconds left in round fifteen.
After that loss, Benítez 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. It was fought 3,000 miles away from Puerto Rico, at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. Benítez won a fifteen-round unanimous decision. His next defense was against Roberto Durán, whom Benítez 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, Benítez lost the belt to another boxing legend, Thomas Hearns, by a fifteen-round majority decision.
Career decline
Benítez'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 as he was knocked out in the second round by Davey Moore. On November 28, 1986, with his health declining, Benítez went to Salta, Argentina to fight against middleweight Carlos Herrera. Benítez was stopped in seven rounds. But to make matters worse, his money for the fight was stolen by the promoter, along with his documents and passport, and he was stranded in Argentina for over a year. After eventually being tracked down, and after much government huddling and talks, he was finally able to fly back home to Puerto Rico in 1988.In 1990, with his health in increasingly worse shape, Benítez moved to Tucson, Arizona, where he tried another comeback under the tutelage of Emanuel Steward, the 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
| Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 53–8–1 |  Scott Papasodora | UD | 10 | 18/09/1990 |  Winnipeg Convention Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada | |
| Win | 53–7–1 | Sam Wilson | UD | 10 | 24/08/1990 |  Regency Hotel, Denver, Colorado, United States | |
| Loss | 52–7–1 | Pat Lawlor | PTS | 10 | 23/05/1990 |  Tucson, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | 52–6–1 |  Ariel Conde | KO | 7 | 08/03/1990 | Americana Motel, Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |
| Loss | 51–6–1 |  Carlos Maria del Valle Herrera | TKO | 7 | 28/11/1986 | Salta, Argentina | |
| Win | 51–5–1 | Harry Daniels | UD | 10 | 17/09/1986 |  Fifth Regiment Armory, Baltimore, Maryland, United States | |
| Win | 50–5–1 | Paul Whittaker | UD | 10 | 01/07/1986 |  Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States | |
| Loss | 50–4–1 | Matthew Hilton | KO | 9 | 15/02/1986 | Paul Sauve Arena, Montreal, Quebec, Canada | |
| Win | 49–4–1 | Kevin Moley | UD | 10 | 21/08/1985 |  Madison Square Garden, New York City, United States | |
| Win | 48–4–1 | Danny Chapman | RTD | 7 | 06/07/1985 | Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, District of Columbia, United States | |
| Win | 47–4–1 |  Mauricio Bravo | TKO | 2 | 30/03/1985 |  Oranjestad, Aruba | |
| Loss | 46–4–1 | Davey Moore | TKO | 2 | 14/07/1984 |  Stade Louis II, Monte Carlo, Monaco | |
| Win | 46–3–1 | Stacy McSwain | UD | 10 | 11/02/1984 |  Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan, United States | |
| Loss | 45–3–1 |  Mustafa Hamsho | UD | 12 | 16/07/1983 |  Dunes Hotel, Las Vegas, United States | |
| Win | 45–2–1 | Tony Cerda | UD | 10 | 18/05/1983 | Dunes Hotel, Las Vegas, United States | |
| Loss | 44–2–1 | Tommy Hearns | MD | 15 | 03/12/1982 | Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States | Lost WBC world light middleweight title |
| Win | 44–1–1 |  Roberto Durán | UD | 15 | 30/01/1982 | Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, United States | Retained WBC light middleweight title |
| Win | 43–1–1 |  Carlos Santos | UD | 15 | 14/11/1981 | Showboat Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, United States | Retained WBC light middleweight titles |
| Win | 42–1–1 |  Maurice Hope | TKO | 12 | 23/05/1981 | Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, United States | Won WBC light middleweight titles |
| Win | 41–1–1 | Pete Ranzany | UD | 10 | 12/12/1980 |  Sacramento, California, United States | |
| Win | 40–1–1 | Tony Chiaverini | TKO | 8 | 01/08/1980 | Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, United States | |
| Win | 39–1–1 | Johnny Turner | TKO | 9 | 16/03/1980 |  Jai Alai Fronton, Miami, Florida, United States | |
| Loss | 38–1–1 | Sugar Ray Leonard | TKO | 15 | 30/11/1979 | Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, United States, United States | Lost WBC, The Ring, and lineal welterweight titles |
| Win | 38–0–1 | Harold Weston | UD | 15 | 25/03/1979 | Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States, United States | Retained WBC, The Ring, and lineal welterweight titles |
| Win | 37–0–1 | Carlos Palomino | SD | 15 | 14/01/1979 | Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States, United States | Won WBC, The Ring, and lineal welterweight titles |
| Win | 36–0–1 |  Vernon Lewis | UD | 10 | 08/12/1978 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, United States | |
| Win | 35–0–1 | Randy Shields | RTD | 6 | 25/08/1978 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, United States | |
| Win | 34–0–1 | Bruce Curry | MD | 10 | 04/02/1978 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, United States, United States | |
| Win | 33–0–1 | Bruce Curry | SD | 10 | 18/11/1977 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, United States, United States | |
| Win | 32–0–1 | Ray Chavez Guerrero | TKO | 15 | 03/08/1977 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, United States, United States | Retained lineal light welterweight title |
| Win | 31–0–1 |  Easy Boy Lake | TKO | 1 | 01/07/1977 | Lionel Roberts Stadium, Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands | |
| Win | 30–0–1 | Roberto Gonzalez | KO | 1 | 02/06/1977 | Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands | |
| Win | 29–0–1 | Melvin Dennis | UD | 8 | 06/03/1977 |  Correctional Facility Prison, Marion, Ohio, United States, United States | |
| Draw | 28–0–1 | Harold Weston | PTS | 10 | 02/02/1977 | New York City, United States, United States, United States | |
| Win | 28–0 | Tony Petronelli | TKO | 3 | 16/10/1976 | Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States, United States | Retained WBA The Ring and lineal light welterweight titles |
| Win | 27–0 |  Emiliano Villa | UD | 15 | 31/05/1976 | San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States, United States | Retained WBA The Ring and lineal light welterweight titles |
| Win | 26–0 | Antonio Cervantes | SD | 15 | 06/03/1976 | Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States, United States | Won WBA, The Ring, and lineal light welterweight titles |
| Win | 25–0 |  Chris Fernandez | PTS | 10 | 13/12/1975 | San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States, United States | |
| Win | 24–0 | Omar Ruben Realecio | TKO | 6 | 20/10/1975 | Felt Forum, New York City, United States, United States | |
| Win | 23–0 | Marcelino Alicia | TKO | 2 | 01/09/1975 | San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States, United States | |
| Win | 22–0 |  Young Woodall | KO | 4 | 19/08/1975 |  Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles, Netherlands Antilles | |
| Win | 21–0 | Eyue Jeudy | KO | 4 | 01/08/1975 | Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles, Netherlands Antilles | |
| Win | 20–0 | Jim Henry | TKO | 8 | 28/06/1975 | Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States, United States | |
| Win | 19–0 |  Angel Robinson Garcia | PTS | 10 | 09/06/1975 | Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States, United States | |
| Win | 18–0 | Santos Solis | PTS | 10 | 05/05/1975 | San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States, United States | |
| Win | 17–0 | Wilbur Seales | TKO | 4 | 31/03/1975 | San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States, United States | |
| Win | 16–0 | Santiago Rosa | KO | 4 | 08/02/1975 | San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States, United States | |
| Win | 15–0 | Francisco Rodriguez | TKO | 7 | 04/01/1975 | San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States, United States | |
| Win | 14–0 | Lawrence Hafey | UD | 8 | 02/12/1974 | Felt Forum, New York City, United States, United States | |
| Win | 13–0 | Terry Summerhays | TKO | 6 | 25/10/1974 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, United States, United States | |
| Win | 12–0 | Al Hughes | TKO | 5 | 16/09/1974 | Felt Forum, New York City, United States, United States | |
| Win | 11–0 | Easy Boy Lake | TKO | 5 | 31/08/1974 | Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles, Netherlands Antilles | |
| Win | 10–0 | Carlos Crispin | TKO | 3 | 26/06/1974 | Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States, United States | |
| Win | 9–0 | Ives St Jean | KO | 1 | 21/06/1974 | Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles, Netherlands Antilles | |
| Win | 8–0 | Easy Boy Lake | KO | 5 | 11/05/1974 | Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles, Netherlands Antilles | |
| Win | 7–0 | Juan Disla | TKO | 3 | 30/04/1974 | Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States | |
| Win | 6–0 | Victor Mangual | PTS | 8 | 01/04/1974 | San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States, United States | |
| Win | 5–0 | Roberto Flanders | KO | 4 | 18/02/1974 | San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Joe York | KO | 2 | 26/01/1974 | Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles, Netherlands Antilles | |
| Win | 3–0 | Hector Amadis | KO | 4 | 07/01/1974 | San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Jesse Torres | KO | 2 | 30/11/1973 | Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles, Netherlands Antilles | |
| Win | 1–0 | Hiram Santiago | KO | 1 | 22/11/1973 | San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States, United States |
Retirement and illness
After retiring from boxing in late 1990, Benítez returned to Puerto Rico, where he lived with his mother Clara on a $200 a month pension provided by the World Boxing Council. Since 1989, Benítez has suffered from an incurable, degenerative brain condition caused by the blows that he took in the ring.In 1997, Benítez was moved to a public nursing home for medical reasons by his mother Clara, a licensed nurse.
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, Benítez was diagnosed with diabetes, adding further complications to his worsening health. When his mother died in the summer of 2008, his sister Yvonne Benítez, took over his care.
In 2018, after Hurricane Maria destroyed his home and made it difficult for Benítez to receive therapy, an old friend and boxing mate, Luis Mateo, helped Benítez and his sister move to Chicago. It was their hope that in Chicago, Benítez would receive better health care.
Support, recovery, and public appearance
Ring 10, a non-profit organization that helps impoverished former fighters, provides a monthly stipend to Benítez and established "The Wilfred Benítez Fund" to raise more money to aid the fallen champion.During 2012, Benítez 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 in a wheelchair. Benítez arrived accompanied by boxers Felix Trinidad, Wilfredo Gomez, and Alfredo Escalera. Surprising the mourners, Benítez 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.Non boxing related awards
- Carolina, Puerto Rico