The 40th Year Anniversary of Sugar Ray Leonard's First World Title

elmersalsa · Post by **elmersalsa** » 30 Nov 2019, 19:42

I remember 40 years ago on a Friday night of November 30, 1979 when Sugar Ray Leonard took the title from then WBC World Welterweight Champion Wilfred Benitez of Puerto Rico. The fight was at the Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, NV.

I will never forget that night. I remember that I was rooting for Sugar Ray and somehow after round 3 when he put Benitez down with a left jab, I thought that the fight was going to be over. And knowing about how Leonard was at the time, a great finisher, I thought that he was going to win that night by knockout in that same round.

It was not so. Somehow, Benitez regrouped and started to box. That left jab of his was bothering Sugar Ray. And by each round that was passing by, I became more frustrated. I couldn't believe my eyes how many punches Sugar Ray were missing. At one point in the fight, I remember that I was crying. I was 11 years old at the time. Sugar Ray was putting everybody away. Why not this guy?

Probably I underestimated Benitez. I didn't give him the credit of how masterful he was. As the fight was passing through and the rounds were passing by, I couldn't believe why Sugar Ray had not put this guy away. The fight became a chess match. One of the most scientific fights that I have ever seen or remember. Benitez in some rounds was outboxing the undefeated gold medalist. I forgot that Benitez was also undefeated. He wasn't undefeated for nothing. And he was only 21 years old! I knew in one of his boxing clips that at just 17 years old, he became the youngest fighter in history to win a world championship when he outboxed a grown man named Antonio Cervantes. I hated Benitez with a passion. I never liked the guy. But, I gave him his due respect when it came to his boxing craft. I saw when he defeated former champion Carlos Palomino of Los Angeles, CA by a 15 round split decision in the San Juan, Puerto Rico heat. But, to me, as a child, Sugar Ray was of another world. Something that I have never seen before. And when I saw him destroy top contender Andy Price in one round I thought that none of the two champions, Benitez nor the toughie WBA World Welterweight Champion, Pipino Cuevas of Mexico, have a chance with this extraordinary fighter. No way!

In round 6, Benitez suffered a cut in his forehead by a clash of heads. People always tell me that the clash of heads weakened Benitez.
At round 11, I thought that Sugar Ray had Benitez for good. Somehow The Radar survived. It went the whole 15 rounds. My father's best friend, who was watching the fight with us, was rooting for Benitez. He was irritating me with the Benitez' rooting. I thought that Benitez was winning the fight until the 15th round. It was a close fight. And in the last round when both started exchanging blows, Benitez was dishing the best of it. Until something happened. A left and right combination by Sugar Ray put Benitez down.....finally! I jumped up with excitement! Now I said, finish him, Ray! Finish him! Benitez had blood flowing through his forehead when he was receiving the mandatory 8-count. Referee Carlos Padilla stopped the contest by 8 seconds before the fight was over after a Sugar Ray's barrage. Sugar Ray Leonard is the new WBC Welterweight Champion of the World!

After the fight, my dad's best friend got angry at me. Because during the fight, I was crying and thinking that Sugar Ray was losing. And now that Sugar Ray stopped him, I jumped up for joy. I was exhilarated because Sugar Ray won. My father carried me in his arms and I lifted my arms like if I was Leonard. The new world champion. Both of us were rooting for Sugar Ray. It was those moments in boxing history that I will never forget. Sugar Ray Leonard, World Champion!

elmersalsa · Post by **elmersalsa** » 30 Nov 2019, 19:50

I am going to see the fight again to remember that night. I will go to YouTube right now and reminisce about that fight.

tiny_acres · Post by **tiny_acres** » 30 Nov 2019, 20:27

When you become an old fart like me, it's hard to believe it's been 40 years.

oogiebe · Post by **oogiebe** » 30 Nov 2019, 20:34

tiny_acres wrote: ↑30 Nov 2019, 20:27 When you become an old fart like me, it's hard to believe it's been 40 years.

I still remember him as a wet nosed amateur. Oh well. Back to my rocking chair...

Onetimeonly · Post by **Onetimeonly** » 30 Nov 2019, 20:47

I don't think the fight was very close, neither was the undercard where hagler was robbed. I was cheering for benitez and he definitely wasn't winning. Sad, you never learned to judge fights better. Oh well, you're definitely a fan no matter how impossible it is for you to set aside your bias.

tiny_acres · Post by **tiny_acres** » 30 Nov 2019, 20:48

oogiebe wrote: ↑30 Nov 2019, 20:34
tiny_acres wrote: ↑30 Nov 2019, 20:27 When you become an old fart like me, it's hard to believe it's been 40 years.
I still remember him as a wet nosed amateur. Oh well. Back to my rocking chair...

I'll join you in the old folks home my friend

oogiebe · Post by **oogiebe** » 30 Nov 2019, 20:54

tiny_acres wrote: ↑30 Nov 2019, 20:48
oogiebe wrote: ↑30 Nov 2019, 20:34

I still remember him as a wet nosed amateur. Oh well. Back to my rocking chair...
I'll join you in the old folks home my friend

What were we talking about again?

tiny_acres · Post by **tiny_acres** » 30 Nov 2019, 20:58

oogiebe wrote: ↑30 Nov 2019, 20:54
tiny_acres wrote: ↑30 Nov 2019, 20:48

I'll join you in the old folks home my friend
What were we talking about again?

Get off my lawn

oogiebe · Post by **oogiebe** » 30 Nov 2019, 21:09

tiny_acres wrote: ↑30 Nov 2019, 20:58
oogiebe wrote: ↑30 Nov 2019, 20:54

What were we talking about again?
Get off my lawn

LMFAO!

"that's why we can't have nice things!" (I say that all the time...ugh)

AntonioMartin · Post by **AntonioMartin** » 01 Dec 2019, 01:52

My grandpa had some kind of attack watching this..he told me he ended up at the er that night...

elmersalsa · Post by **elmersalsa** » 01 Dec 2019, 11:30

This fight was the first time that 2 fighters below the Heavyweight division were making heavyweight championship money. Benitez received $1.20 million and Leonard received $1 million. I had Leonard winning by a point at the end of the stoppage. I had it 135-134 for Sugar Ray.

Onetimeonly · Post by **Onetimeonly** » 01 Dec 2019, 12:24

That's a terrible card.

elmersalsa · Post by **elmersalsa** » 01 Dec 2019, 13:11

Onetimeonly wrote: ↑01 Dec 2019, 12:24 That's a terrible card.

What you mean? The score card?

Onetimeonly · Post by **Onetimeonly** » 01 Dec 2019, 13:25

elmersalsa wrote: ↑01 Dec 2019, 13:11
Onetimeonly wrote: ↑01 Dec 2019, 12:24 That's a terrible card.
What you mean? The score card?

Yes, wasn't nearly that close.

elmersalsa · Post by **elmersalsa** » 02 Dec 2019, 11:18

Onetimeonly wrote: ↑01 Dec 2019, 13:25
elmersalsa wrote: ↑01 Dec 2019, 13:11

What you mean? The score card?
Yes, wasn't nearly that close.

It was close in my view. I saw Leonard winning either way.

Onetimeonly · Post by **Onetimeonly** » 02 Dec 2019, 12:29

elmersalsa wrote: ↑02 Dec 2019, 11:18
Onetimeonly wrote: ↑01 Dec 2019, 13:25

Yes, wasn't nearly that close.
It was close in my view. I saw Leonard winning either way.

It certainly fits your narrative better that you were a huge Leonard fan scoring the fight way too close in Benitez favor when you were a kid.

Caractacus · Post by **Caractacus** » 02 Dec 2019, 15:37

glad,someone brought it up.
I was going to last Saturday but couldn't get to a computer and the inter-net because of a Blizzard.

elmersalsa · Post by **elmersalsa** » 02 Dec 2019, 15:43

Onetimeonly wrote: ↑02 Dec 2019, 12:29
elmersalsa wrote: ↑02 Dec 2019, 11:18

It was close in my view. I saw Leonard winning either way.
It certainly fits your narrative better that you were a huge Leonard fan scoring the fight way too close in Benitez favor when you were a kid.

I scored the fight twice about thirtysomething years later. The fight still was close in my eyes.

Onetimeonly · Post by **Onetimeonly** » 02 Dec 2019, 15:57

elmersalsa wrote: ↑02 Dec 2019, 15:43
Onetimeonly wrote: ↑02 Dec 2019, 12:29

It certainly fits your narrative better that you were a huge Leonard fan scoring the fight way too close in Benitez favor when you were a kid.
I scored the fight twice about thirtysomething years later. The fight still was close in my eyes.

Same narrative. You love Ray so your card is clearly without bias. I think I had it 146-139 and I despise Leonard.

elmersalsa · Post by **elmersalsa** » 05 Dec 2019, 17:59

Marvin Hagler fought Vito Antuofermo to a draw for the first fight of the evening. Sugar Ray saw that and didn't want to do the same mistake with Wilfred Benitez.

Also, Marvin Johnson stopped two-time champion Victor Galindez to win the WBA World Light-heavyweight Title. Johnson stopped him in the 11th.