Wilfred Benitez
| Wilfred Benítez | |
|---|---|
Benítez (right) with sportswriter Joe McLaughlin, 1980
|
|
| Statistics | |
| Nickname(s) | El Radar ("The Radar") Bible of Boxing |
| Rated at |
Light middleweight Light welterweight Welterweight |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Reach | 70 in (178 cm) |
| Nationality | Puerto Rican |
| Born |
September 12, 1958 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 62 |
| Wins | 53 |
| Wins by KO | 31 |
| Losses | 8 |
| Draws | 1 |
Wilfred Benítez (born September 12, 1958) is a Puerto Rican former professional boxer and the youngest world champion in the sport's history. Earning his first of three career world titles in separate weight divisions at the age of seventeen, he is best remembered as a skilled and aggressive fighter with exceptional defensive abilities.
Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1996, he is considered among the best Puerto Rican boxers of all time, sharing the honor with Félix Trinidad, Wilfredo Gómez, Carlos Ortiz, Héctor Camacho, and Miguel Cotto.
Benitez turned pro at 15, a young prodigy who was managed by his father Gregorio Benitez, was a member of one of Puerto Rico's boxing families, his brothers Frankie and Gregory Benitez having also been top contenders in the 1970s. The Benitez troop was largely directed by their mother, Clara Benítez. Young Wilfred was nicknamed "The Radar" for his uncanny ability to foresee and dodge his opponent's blows. He grew up going to a neighborhood boxing gym in New York, where he learned from watching his brothers and other local, renowned fighters practice their skills.
During the early stages of his professional career, Benitez often traveled to the Netherlands Antilles and New York City for fights. He divided his fights between those locations and Puerto Rico. The proximity of those two locations to Puerto Rico helped him start to become a household name in the island while building an international following at the same time. His speed, combined with punching power and surprising ring maturity for a 16-year-old, were enough to make him a world-ranked boxer by both the WBA and WBC, then boxing's only world-title recognizing organizations.
On March 6, 1976, at age 17, with his High School classmates in attendance, he faced Lineal and WBA Light Welterweight champion Antonio Cervantes. Known as Kid Pambele, the champion was 30 years old, had a record of 74-9-3 with 35 KO's, and had made 10 title defenses. The result was a fifteen-round split decision in Benitez's favor.
...
Wikipedia