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.[1]

Wilfred Benítez vs. Sugar Ray Leonard
DateNovember 30, 1979
VenueCaesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
Title(s) on the lineWBC and The Ring welterweight titles
Tale of the tape
Boxer Wilfred Benítez Ray Leonard
Nickname "El Radar" ("The Radar) "Sugar"
Hometown San Juan, Puerto Rico Palmer Park, Maryland, U.S.
Purse $1,200,000 $1,000,000
Pre-fight record 38–0–1 (24 KO) 25–0 (16 KO)
Age 21 years, 2 months 23 years, 6 months
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 144+12 lb (66 kg) 146 lb (66 kg)
Style Orthodox Orthodox
Recognition WBC and The Ring
Welterweight champion
2-division world champion
WBC
No. 2 Ranked Welterweight
Result
Leonard won via 15th round TKO

Background

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In late 1979 Top Rank promoter Bob Arum organized a two-city boxing event (with one card taking place in Nevada's Caesars Palace and the other in 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, while 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 Las Vegas also featured Vito Antuofermo defending his undisputed middleweight title against Marvin Hagler. The card in New Orleans featured a WBA light heavyweight title fight between Victor Galindez and Marvin Johnson[2]

Benítez's father and trainer Gregorio had written 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 later admitted that he had written the article to motivate his son for the fight.[3]

Benitez earned $1.2 million while Leonard netted $1 million, making their fight the richest non-heavyweight bout in boxing history at the time.[4]

The fights

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Antuofermo vs. Hagler

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Vito Antuofermo vs. Marvin Hagler
Title(s) on the lineWBA, WBC and The Ring undisputed middleweight titles
Tale of the tape
Boxer   Vito Antuofermo   Marvin Hagler
Nickname "Marvelous"
Hometown Brooklyn, New York Brockton, Massachusetts
Purse $190,000 $40,000
Pre-fight record 45–3–1 (19 KO) 46–2–1 (38 KO)
Age 26 years, 9 months 25 years, 6 months
Height 5 ft 7+12 in (171 cm) 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight 158+12 lb (72 kg) 158+12 lb (72 kg)
Style Orthodox Southpaw
Recognition WBA, WBC and The Ring undisputed
Middleweight Champion
Result
Split Draw

In the chief support Undisputed middleweight champion Vito Antuofermo made his first defence against Marvin Hagler.[5] Antuofermo was a 4-1 underdog.

The fight

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Hagler would dominate much of the fight with his jab and hooks, although Antuofermo would come on strong late as both men would come out swinging. At the end of 15 rounds, Judge Dalby Shirley had it 144–142 for Antuofermo, Duane Ford 145–141 for Hagler and Hal Miller had it 143–143 meaning Antuofermo retained the title on a split draw.

Aftermath

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Soon after the decision been announced when Bob Arum, shouted at ringside that there would be an immediate rematch, despite Alan Minter being in line for a title shot regardless of the victor.

"The WBC will not be led by promoters," responded José Sulaimán, the WBC president. "We will have our convention in a week, and we will talk about it. There is no doubt Hagler deserves another chance. But after Minter."[6]

Main Event

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In a close, tactical fight, Leonard scored a technical knockout with only six seconds remaining in the 15th and final round. Leonard scored 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 knockdown came in the 15th round. With Benítez behind on the scorecards, he fought aggressively, but Leonard held his ground and went 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 Carlos Padilla stopped the fight and Leonard won 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.[7]

Aftermath

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Speaking after the bout Leonard's trainer Angelo Dundee said "From a technical standpoint, there was more done in this fight than I've seen done for a long time. You saw two smart, scientific fighters—two champions in the ring at the same time. They brought the best out of each other."

Leonard was linked to bouts with WBA champion Pipino Cuevas and former lightweight champion Roberto Duran.[8]

Fight card

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Caesars Palace (Paradise, Nevada)

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Confirmed bouts:[9]

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)

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Confirmed bouts:[10]

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

Broadcasting

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Country Broadcaster
  United Kingdom BBC/ITV
  United States ABC

References

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  1. ^ "Ray Leonard vs. Wilfred Benitez". boxrec.com. BoxRec. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  2. ^ A Crown Awaits Leonard in His Stiffest Test, NY Times article, 1979-11-25, Retrieved on 2020-04-09
  3. ^ Father a Gadfly to Benitez, Washington Post article, 1979-11-29, Retrieved on 2020-04-09
  4. ^ When Eras Collided: The 40-year Anniversary of Leonard-Benitez, The Ring magazine article, 2019-12-01, Retrieved on 2020-04-11
  5. ^ "Vito Antuofermo vs. Marvin Hagler (1st meeting)". boxrec.com. BoxRec. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  6. ^ Pat Putnam (10 December 1979). "When A Tie Is Better Than Kissing Your Sister". si.com. Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on 2 January 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  7. ^ Katz, Michael (1979-12-01). "Leonard Stops Benitez in 15 To Win Welterweight Title Butt Hurts". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  8. ^ William Nack (10 December 1979). "On Top Of The World Sugar Ray Leonard seized the welterweight title from Wilfred Benitez with a TKO--and thus opened new vistas". si.com. Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on 2 October 2015. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  9. ^ "BoxRec - event".
  10. ^ "BoxRec - event".
Preceded by
vs. Harold Weston
Wilfred Benítez's bouts
30 November 1979
Succeeded by
vs. Johnny Turner
Preceded by
vs. Andy Price
Sugar Ray Leonard's bouts
30 November 1979
Succeeded by