Wilfred Benitez vs Roberto Duran: 40 Years Later

[elmersalsa]

On this date on January 30, 1982, the great champion Wilfred Benitez of Puerto Rico defeated the great Roberto Duran of Panama by decision in 15 rounds in Las Vegas.

It was Benitez last great performance of his great career. Incredibly, his career went downhill after that at just 24 years of age.

Was Duran at his very best? Or Benitez was too good?

Let's talk about what happened in this fight.

I can't believe that 40 years has happened so fast.

[goose 5]

I watched it live on HBO but it was also shown on closed circuit television at the same time-so I saved about $25 bucks ! I expected Duran to win- and I thought he took only 2 rounds; to me, the official cards were way too close.

Earlier today I was saying to myself where did 40 years go ? Benitez was razor sharp-he had gone 15 with Carlos Santos the previous November and that was a big help; unlike when he lost to Leonard and Hearns and was coming of layoffs of 8.5 months and ten month respectively.

[giacomino]

Benitez was good that day but I also thought Duran looked like he was going through the motions a bit, nowhere near what he had been prior to second Leonard fight. Lost next to Laing in a similar fashion and looked pretty blah against Jimmy Batten as well. He didn't get his mojo back until he beat the tar out of poor Pipino Cuevas a year later.

[Ambling Alp II]

Great performance by Benitez. He proved without doubt that he was a great fighter. He beat Duran fair and square.

[elmersalsa]

I think it was a matter of weight than anything else. Roberto Duran was pushed to fast to fight for the title. He only had 2 fights at 154lbs and did not look impressive at all against second raters like Luigi Minchillo and Mike "Nino" Gonzalez. Put those 2 at Lightweight or welter and Duran make easy work of them.

When he campaigned at Welterweight after jumping from Lightweight, Duran had 6 fights to get accustomed to the weight and then fight for the Welterweight title.

That was not the case at 154lbs. He looked fat, slow, and very lethargic in his first 5 fights at 154lbs in which suited the great Wilfred Benitez better. Benitez was able to push Duran around. Something that the logic said that Duran was the stronger fighter.

Even Davey Moore would have killed Duran that night when he fought Benitez. Duran looked flat. Totally flat. No fire. No pep in his punches. No movement. No speed. No punch.

Duran did the best he could, though. He didn't embarrass himself like in the No Mas fight with Sugar Ray Leonard. It wasn't his night. He wanted to get to Sugar Ray as soon as possible.

I think his mindset was not clear after the No Mas. And of course, 154lbs and above was too much of weight for him to handle. His best weight range was from 130 to 147lbs.

It was a clear win for the great Wilfred Benitez in which he didn't repeat that performance on that level never again. He was only 24.

[Ambling Alp II]

The usually Duran crybaby excuses. He had not been a welterweight for over a year. Had two warmup fights. The weight wasn't the issue.
With Cuevas and Moore, he had opponents that were not hard to hit. The truth is that when he fought a skilled fighter that could move. Just wasn't complete enough of a fighter to do so. Not everyone can be a Eusebio Pedroza.

[geoffreysadao]

Yes, Benitez clearly outpointed him. I feel that Benitez was in his prime in '80-82' (moving up to Junior MW after the Leonard loss). He was brilliant against Hope and Duran. It's just so remarkable that Duran won the MW Title in '89.

[elmersalsa]

The usually Duran crybaby excuses. He had not been a welterweight for over a year. Had two warmup fights. The weight wasn't the issue.
With Cuevas and Moore, he had opponents that were not hard to hit. The truth is that when he fought a skilled fighter that could move. Just wasn't complete enough of a fighter to do so. Not everyone can be a Eusebio Pedroza.

Ambling Alp. A typical Roberto Duran hater.

Duran's mindset was to get a fight with Sugar Ray Leonard as fast as possible. But, his body frame nor his mind were there for the taking against the great Wilfred Benitez. I don't take nothing away from Benitez. He won. Just like Leon Spinks and Ken Norton beat the great Muhammad Ali. Just like Ralph "Tiger" Jones beat the great Sugar Ray Robinson. Just like Terrible Terry Norris whupped Leonard.

He didn't even care about a rematch with Benitez because his target was Leonard as soon as possible. He was rushed to fight a prime young gun for the title instead of taking his time and have more fights at 154lbs like he did at 147lbs.

Duran's loss against Benitez was more about the weight and mental estate than Benitez was the superior fighter overall. Benitez won at the right time. Just like Thomas Hearns did to Leonard the second time around.

[elmersalsa]

Benitez was good that day but I also thought Duran looked like he was going through the motions a bit, nowhere near what he had been prior to second Leonard fight. Lost next to Laing in a similar fashion and looked pretty blah against Jimmy Batten as well. He didn't get his mojo back until he beat the tar out of poor Pipino Cuevas a year later.

But, Pipino Cuevas was in the verge of being shot. Pipino was not a 154lbs guy. Neither Duran. It was a crossroads fight in which the winner had another chance to a title shot and the loser to hang it up.

But, before that fight, Duran's 5 first fight at 154lbs were abysmal. Not Duran's standards. That's why I say that Duran's weight range was from 130 to 147lbs. Not 154lbs and above.

[Ambling Alp II]

The usually Duran crybaby excuses. He had not been a welterweight for over a year. Had two warmup fights. The weight wasn't the issue.
With Cuevas and Moore, he had opponents that were not hard to hit. The truth is that when he fought a skilled fighter that could move. Just wasn't complete enough of a fighter to do so. Not everyone can be a Eusebio Pedroza.

Ambling Alp. A typical Roberto Duran hater.

Duran's mindset was to get a fight with Sugar Ray Leonard as fast as possible. But, his body frame nor his mind were there for the taking against the great Wilfred Benitez. I don't take nothing away from Benitez. He won. Just like Leon Spinks and Ken Norton beat the great Muhammad Ali. Just like Ralph "Tiger" Jones beat the great Sugar Ray Robinson. Just like Terrible Terry Norris whupped Leonard.

He didn't even care about a rematch with Benitez because his target was Leonard as soon as possible. He was rushed to fight a prime young gun for the title instead of taking his time and have more fights at 154lbs like he did at 147lbs.

Duran's loss against Benitez was more about the weight and mental estate than Benitez was the superior fighter overall. Benitez won at the right time. Just like Thomas Hearns did to Leonard the second time around.

Yes I don't like Roberto Duran. Can't find anything to like about him. dirty fighter, quitter, excuse maker, and all around not likeable person.

Yes you are taking something away from Benitez. You are doing the old "Roberto was always a lightweight" crap again.
Duran was much closer to his best than Ali was against Spinks or Robinson against Ralph jones. Absurd comparison.

This more about Benitez fighting a great fight and Duran not being able to handle it than anything else.

[giacomino]

The usually Duran crybaby excuses. He had not been a welterweight for over a year. Had two warmup fights. The weight wasn't the issue.
With Cuevas and Moore, he had opponents that were not hard to hit. The truth is that when he fought a skilled fighter that could move. Just wasn't complete enough of a fighter to do so. Not everyone can be a Eusebio Pedroza.

[elmersalsa]

The usually Duran crybaby excuses. He had not been a welterweight for over a year. Had two warmup fights. The weight wasn't the issue.
With Cuevas and Moore, he had opponents that were not hard to hit. The truth is that when he fought a skilled fighter that could move. Just wasn't complete enough of a fighter to do so. Not everyone can be a Eusebio Pedroza.

Ambling Alp. A typical Roberto Duran hater.

Duran's mindset was to get a fight with Sugar Ray Leonard as fast as possible. But, his body frame nor his mind were there for the taking against the great Wilfred Benitez. I don't take nothing away from Benitez. He won. Just like Leon Spinks and Ken Norton beat the great Muhammad Ali. Just like Ralph "Tiger" Jones beat the great Sugar Ray Robinson. Just like Terrible Terry Norris whupped Leonard.

He didn't even care about a rematch with Benitez because his target was Leonard as soon as possible. He was rushed to fight a prime young gun for the title instead of taking his time and have more fights at 154lbs like he did at 147lbs.

Duran's loss against Benitez was more about the weight and mental estate than Benitez was the superior fighter overall. Benitez won at the right time. Just like Thomas Hearns did to Leonard the second time around.

Yes I don't like Roberto Duran. Can't find anything to like about him. dirty fighter, quitter, excuse maker, and all around not likeable person.

Yes you are taking something away from Benitez. You are doing the old "Roberto was always a lightweight" crap again.
Duran was much closer to his best than Ali was against Spinks or Robinson against Ralph jones. Absurd comparison.

This more about Benitez fighting a great fight and Duran not being able to handle it than anything else.

It is not an absurd comparison. Duran was considered washed up in '82.

And indeed, he was a Lightweight fighting middleweights. That's a fact.

I have not taken anything off from Benitez. He won. Just like Randy Turpin beat Robinson. Just like Tiger Jones beat Robinson. The difference is that Robinson was already acclimated to the weight at 160. Duran was struggling at 154 and above.

How about Ken Norton beating Ali 3 times? No excuse for that?

[bwu]

Outstanding win for Benitez, obviously his last great performance. If Duran wasn’t mentally or physically right, that’s on Duran. I’m guessing Benitez followed his usual custom of barely training, but Duran couldn’t do a thing with him.

Styles make fights. Duran was a great (or maybe greatest) lightweight. He was an outstanding welterweight. He was championship level jr.middleweight and middleweight. But Benitez would always have found a way to cause him trouble.

[DrDuke]

Duran lost fair in square. Before the Leonard bout or after 1982 it could have easily gone otherwise though. It wasn't particularly a matter of weight. Duran faced Benitez during the career crisis.

[elmersalsa]

Duran was in the middle of a career crisis. In Panama, he was highly abhorred because of his No Mas actions against the great Sugar Ray Leonard.

To many Latino macho men, Duran betrayed them. He went into exile to an appartment in Miami and didn't care much about boxing. He was contemplating retirement. But, his wife convinced him that he had to come back and fight. He could not finish his career that way.

And after 7 months, in June 1981, he came back to fight against Mike "Nino" Gonzalez at 154lbs. Duran looked slow and with no fire. He looked flat. I believe that the weight class plus the INACTIVITY was the case he looked awful.

Then, he fought Luigi Minchillo. A tough Italian contender. Duran looked a little better but not the one we were accustomed to see. Was it the weight class? I think, yes. He needed more time to get stronger and faster at the weight.

Then, one of his closest friends, Omar Torrijos, the President and General of Panama, died in a plane crash. Duran decided quickly to challenge the great Wilfred Benitez in order to get to Leonard. It was too soon of a choice, but he had to get to Leonard as fast and soon as possible and that was the result. He didn't have the 6 fights of preparation like he did at Welterweight before facing Ray.

On that night, Davey Moore would have killed Duran!

[elmersalsa]

And we also got to mention that after Duran's loss to Leonard that a lot of his "closest friends" deserted him, big time. That takes a lot of confidence to a fighter.

[Wee Tommy]

And we also got to mention that after Duran's loss to Leonard that a lot of his "closest friends" deserted him, big time. That takes a lot of confidence to a fighter.

He spent his time drinking and partying while Leonard trained hard and adapted.

Duran needed to get rid of those fair-weather friends.

[elmersalsa]

And we also got to mention that after Duran's loss to Leonard that a lot of his "closest friends" deserted him, big time. That takes a lot of confidence to a fighter.

He spent his time drinking and partying while Leonard trained hard and adapted.

Duran needed to get rid of those fair-weather friends.

I got an uncle that was high on Roberto Duran. Especially, when he beat Sugar Ray Leonard in Montreal.

But, when he quit in the No Mas, Duran for him was the worst thing on earth. Like many fans, he deserted him.

It's funny. A man fights 73 fights and he throws best that you ever seen. For one little mistake, now you're the scumbag of the earth. So, the first 73 fights don't count? Unbelievable!

[Wee Tommy]

And we also got to mention that after Duran's loss to Leonard that a lot of his "closest friends" deserted him, big time. That takes a lot of confidence to a fighter.

He spent his time drinking and partying while Leonard trained hard and adapted.

Duran needed to get rid of those fair-weather friends.

I got an uncle that was high on Roberto Duran. Especially, when he beat Sugar Ray Leonard in Montreal.

But, when he quit in the No Mas, Duran for him was the worst thing on earth. Like many fans, he deserted him.

It's funny. A man fights 73 fights and he throws best that you ever seen. For one little mistake, now you're the scumbag of the earth. So, the first 73 fights don't count? Unbelievable!

He made a fool of himself vs Ray in the 2nd fight.

[Ambling Alp II]

But it was only the one of the most important fights of his career. Hard to imagine why people would think it should matter.

So many other good points made earlier:

"And we also got to mention that after Duran's loss to Leonard that a lot of his "closest friends" deserted him, big time. That takes a lot of confidence to a fighter."
Obviously. That's why he lost. It had nothing to do with him not being good enough.

These points are as important as other "facts" such as Duran was a lightweight fighting middleweights and Norton beating Ali all three times. You just can't argue with the "facts".

[elmersalsa]

But it was only the one of the most important fights of his career. Hard to imagine why people would think it should matter.

So many other good points made earlier:

"And we also got to mention that after Duran's loss to Leonard that a lot of his "closest friends" deserted him, big time. That takes a lot of confidence to a fighter."
Obviously. That's why he lost. It had nothing to do with him not being good enough.

These points are as important as other "facts" such as Duran was a lightweight fighting middleweights and Norton beating Ali all three times. You just can't argue with the "facts".

Duran was better than Sugar Ray Leonard. That's a fact! How about that!

[Ambling Alp II]

I'm sure in your mind it is a "fact".
btw- The fight Duran won doesn't count. It turns out that Leonard's pet hamster Sparky was under the weather. Because of this Leonard couldn't concentrate on the fight, therefore it doesn't count.

[Wee Tommy]

But it was only the one of the most important fights of his career. Hard to imagine why people would think it should matter.

So many other good points made earlier:

"And we also got to mention that after Duran's loss to Leonard that a lot of his "closest friends" deserted him, big time. That takes a lot of confidence to a fighter."
Obviously. That's why he lost. It had nothing to do with him not being good enough.

These points are as important as other "facts" such as Duran was a lightweight fighting middleweights and Norton beating Ali all three times. You just can't argue with the "facts".

Duran was great enough to beat Leonard in the first fight, clearly. The second fight he fucked it right up by not training for his biggest fight. That’s the facts. All the rest is rubbish.

[Ambling Alp II]

How about Duran won the first fight and Leonard won the second fight. Period. Lets stop doing the crybaby excuse thing.

[elmersalsa]

How about Duran won the first fight and Leonard won the second fight. Period. Lets stop doing the crybaby excuse thing.

I ain't doing no crybaby excuses. It's obvious that Duran couldn't carry 154lbs as easy as Lightweight or Welterweight.

But, your hate towards him couldn't see it then, and couldn't see it now. Just like my daddy.