The 40th Year Anniversary of Sugar Ray Leonard's First World Title
Posted: 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!
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!
"that's why we can't have nice things!" (I say that all the time...ugh)
