Wilfred Benítez vs. Sugar Ray Leonard

Wilfred Benítez vs. Sugar Ray Leonard was a professional boxing match contested on November 30, 1979, for the WBC and The Ring welterweight titles.

Wilfred Benítez vs. Sugar Ray Leonard
DateNovember 30, 1979
VenueCaesars Palace in Paradise, Nevada
Title(s) on the lineWBC and The Ring welterweight titles
Tale of the tape
Boxer Wilfred Benítez Ray Leonard
Nickname "El Radar" "Sugar"
Hometown San Juan, Puerto Rico Palmer Park, Maryland, U.S.
Pre-fight record 38–0–1 25–0
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 144 lb (65 kg) 146 lb (66 kg)
Style Orthodox Orthodox
Recognition WBC and The Ring welterweight champion
2-division world champion
Result
Leonard defeats Benítez by TKO in round 15

Background

In late 1979 Top Rank promoter Bob Arum would organize a two-city boxing event (with one card apiece taking place in Nevada's Caesars Palace and New Orleans' Superdome) headlined by an anticipated bout between reigning WBC welterweight champion Wilfred Benítez and "Sugar" Ray Leonard. Benitez had won the title earlier in the year, becoming a 2-division champion at only 21 years old, whilst Leonard had won all 27 of his fights after turning pro following an Olympic gold medal in 1976 and had emerged as a top contender for the welterweight title and one of boxing's most popular fighters. In addition to the Benitez–Leonard bout, the card in also featured Vito Antuofermo defending his undisputed middleweight title against Marvin Hagler and a WBA light heavyweight title fight between Victor Galindez and Marvin Johnson[1]

Benítez's father and trainer Gregorio would write an article for The Ring magazine titled "Why Benitez Will Lose His Title" in which he claimed his son was not training hard enough for the fight and stating that he wouldn't work his son's corner "Even if they gave me $200,000." Gregorio would later admit that he had written the article to motivate his son for the fight.[2]

Benitez was scheduled to earn $1.2 million while Leonard would net $1 million, making their fight the richest non-heavyweight bout in boxing history at the time.[3]

The fight

In a close, tactical fight, Leonard would ultimately score a technical knockout with only six seconds remaining in the 15th and final round. Leonard would score the only two knockdowns of the fight, first sending Benítez down on the seat of his pants with a well-timed left jab in the third round. The second would come in the 15th round. With Benítez behind on the scorecards, he fought aggressively though Leonard was able to hold his ground and go toe-to-toe with the champion. With 30 seconds remaining in the round, a Leonard left uppercut sent Benítez down on his knees. Though clearly hurt, Benítez was able to get back up and continue, but after Leonard landed two more punches, the referee would stop the fight and Leonard was named the winner by technical knockout at 2:54 of round 15. At the time of the stoppage, Leonard was ahead on all three of the judge's scorecards with scores of 137–133, 137–130 and 136–134[4]

Fight card

Caesars Palace (Paradise, Nevada)
Weight Class Weight vs. Method Round Notes
Welterweight 147 lb Ray Leonard def. Wilfred Benítez TKO 15/15 Note 1
Middleweight 160 lb Vito Antuofermo vs. Marvin Hagler D 15/15 Note 2
Light Middleweight 154 lb Roger Leonard def. Rudy Robles SD 8/8

^Note 1 For WBC, The Ring and lineal welterweight titles
^Note 2 For WBA, WBC, The Ring and lineal middleweight titles

Superdome (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Weight Class Weight vs. Method Round Notes
Light Heavyweight 175 lb Marvin Johnson def. Victor Galindez KO 11/15 Note 1
Middleweight 160 lb Thomas Hearns def. Mike Colbert UD 10/10
Light Middleweight 154 lb Clinton Jackson def. Larry Rayford TKO 7/8

^Note 1 For WBA light heavyweight title

References
  1. A Crown Awaits Leonard in His Stiffest Test, NY Times article, 1979-11-25, Retrieved on 2020-04-09
  2. Father a Gadfly to Benitez, Washington Post article, 1979-11-29, Retrieved on 2020-04-09
  3. When Eras Collided: The 40-year Anniversary of Leonard-Benitez, The Ring magazine article, 2019-12-01, Retrieved on 2020-04-11
  4. Leonard Stops Benitez in 15 To Win Welterweight Title Butt Hurts, NY Times article, 1979-12-01, Retrieved on 2020-04-09
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