Benny (Kid) Paret vs. Eddie Thompson

Benny Kid Paret 157 lbs lost to Eddie Thompson 157 lbs by SD in round 10 of 10

• Date: 1959-04-20
• Location: St. Nicholas Arena, New York, New York, USA
• Referee: Arthur Mercante 3-5
• Judge: Artie Aidala 5-4
• Judge: Bill Recht 3-5

"Eddie (Machine Gun) Thompson, who surprised by winning in a substitute's role, laid plans for another step up the boxing ladder today while his victim, Benny (Kid) Paret, claimed that a sparring partner really was the cause of his defeat. Thompson beat Paret on a split decision in a fairly dull 10-round non-televised bout at St. Nicholas Arena last night. Paret did no damage to Thompson and the New Yorker inflicted only small cuts around Paret's eyes. There were no knockdowns." -United Press International

• Thompson was a substitute for Randy Sandy.

Post-fight comments

• "Benny was arm weary. There weren't any middleweights in the gym where he trained so he had to spar with a light heavyweight; and his arms took such a pounding that they were too tired for this fight." -Manuel Alfaro, Paret's manager