Leonard vs Benitez: 45 Years Ago, Sugar Ray Becomes Champion for the First Time!

[elmersalsa]

In a scientific fight of two masters, Sugar Ray Leonard graduated when he defeated champion Wilfred Benitez of Puerto Rico by technical knockout in the last and 15th rounds with 8 seconds left.

It was November 30, 1979. A Friday night of great undercard action. It wasn't a fight that the fans called for blood. It was a scientific warily fought fight from both boxers that knew the meaning of defense and ring generalship.

Benitez, was only 21 years old. And Sugar Ray was 23. Benitez was Sugar Ray's sister boyfriend at the time.

This fight happened at the Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, NV. With that win, Sugar Ray became the Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year of 1979.

The winner fights the great Roberto Duran, the Fighter the Decade of the 1970s.

[Ambling Alp II]

Liked this post until you had to ruin it at the end with the BS Duran worship which has nothing to do with this fight.

An interesting contest no doubt.

[elmersalsa]

Liked this post until you had to ruin it at the end with the BS Duran worship which has nothing to do with this fight.

An interesting contest no doubt.

Those were facts. You surely hate Roberto Duran.

[keithmoonhangover]

The Benitez of that fight would be a handful for most weltererweights from history.

[elmersalsa]

The Benitez of that fight would be a handful for most weltererweights from history.

I had a lot of respect for Wilfred Benitez in that fight with Sugar Ray. The fight was pretty close than many people believe. The scoring in one of the judges cards was insane. Benitez was losing in my view, but the fight was close.