Wilfred Benitez vs. Pete Ranzany

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Wilfred Benitez 150 lbs beat Pete Ranzany 149 lbs by UD in round 10 of 10

"Wilfred Benitez, fresh off a unanimous victory over Pete Ranzany, says he expects to win the WBA welterweight championship easily in his next fight. Ranzany made an aggressive attempt to use his greater height and reach. But Benitez continually slipped Ranzany's punches while counter-punching with short hard hooks to the body and head. Benitez shook Ranzany in the opening round with three consecutive right leads, staggered him in the 5th with a right cross and caught him in the 9th with a right that shook the local hero and drew blood from between his left eye and nose. Ranzany's best round was the 6th, when he jabbed well and forced Benitez into missing. In the last round, Benitez went for a knockout with a barrage of hooks and was practically hitting Ranzany at will, but the gutty loser rode out the assault." -Associated Press

  • This bout was promoted by Muhammad Ali Professional Sports (MAPS) with Harold J. Smith.
  • Benitez was signed to fight Tommy Hearns for the WBA welterweight title on February 21, 1981 in MSG on the infamous 'This is it' card promoted by Smith and MAPS which collapsed when bank fraud was reported.
  • Attendance - 2,955
  • Gate - $89,952
  • Purses - The AP report stated that Benitez was guaranteed $75,000 and Ranzany $50,000, but a Sports Illustrated article stated that Benitez made $250,000 and Ranzany $75,000.

Post fight comments

  • "Ranzany made me change my mind about a 2nd round knockout. They told me he would be easy, but he gave me a hard fight." -Wilfred Benitez
  • "He's a very difficult man to hit. He kept me off balance, and I couldn't put anything together." -Pete Ranzany
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