Maybe few folks on the time realized it, however the title match between Wilfred “Radar” Benitez and Sugar Ray Leonard at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas constituted a particularly uncommon phenomena: a contest between really gifted ring sophisticates. Prodigies like Benitez and Leonard are uncommon to start with, and an much more distinctive circumstance it’s, one thing akin to Halley’s Comet, to have two such virtuosos competing on the identical time, of their primes and in the identical division.
Benitez vs Leonard represented a dream match for these enthralled by boxing guile, the cerebral side of the sport, using the rapier that’s protection and precision counter-punching, feinting and footwork, versus the blunt hammer that’s mere uncooked aggression and punching energy. Sadly, the space-time continuum means a contest between Joe Gans and Benny Leonard, or Willie Pep and Pernell Whitaker, can by no means happen. As a substitute now we have Benitez vs Leonard, a really particular and really uncommon confrontation between two good craftsmen of the ring.
Like prodigies in different sports activities — say, Federer in tennis or Jordan in basketball — Benitez and Leonard possessed such command over their our bodies and reflexes that they carried out as if underneath a distinct set of constraints. A first-rate Federer made it appear as if the tennis ball slowed down for him, permitting additional time to direct his pictures. And watching a major Jordan slam-dunk the ball, it nearly seems gravity bends barely, giving him that additional second of airtime. For Benitez and Leonard, their equal otherworldly benefit was having the ability to visualize their opponents’ punches prematurely, presciently, and in a break up second determine on a plan of motion to each keep away from being hit and to counter successfully.
Benitez, whereas solely 21 years of age, entered the ring because the WBC welterweight champion but in addition as a three-to-one underdog. He had taken the belt from Carlos Palomino in January of that very same 12 months, however astonishingly, this title was his second. Three years earlier than that, he had turn into the youngest boxer to ever win a world championship, a document that also stands, when on the tender age of seventeen he decisioned powerful veteran Antonio Cervantes.
They referred to as younger Wilfred “The Bible of Boxing,” or extra fittingly “El Radar,” for his uncanny means to anticipate and keep away from punches. He wasn’t a runner; he stood his floor, utilizing higher physique motion to make his opponents miss earlier than countering with precision. If he wished to, he might battle at a distance behind the jab, however he wasn’t afraid to commerce on the within, the place he would flurry with abandon.
Leonard, the Olympic gold medalist, media darling and hawker of 7Up, stepped via the ropes with a document of 25-0. Beneath the Madison Avenue veneer was a boxer of super pure presents – astonishing hand pace, glorious mobility, cobra-like reflexes and terrific energy. He had been guided brilliantly by Angelo Dundee; as a substitute of a sequence of no-hope stiffs, his document comprised wins over such succesful pugilists as Adolfo Viruet, Fernand Marcotte, Floyd Mayweather and Pete Ranzany. This was Leonard’s first try at a world title and the eyes of the nation have been watching, the battle broadcast reside on ABC in primetime, with Howard Cosell offering the ringside commentary.
“My ambition is to not be only a good fighter,” mentioned Leonard earlier than the match. “I wish to be one thing nice, one thing particular.” However first he needed to overcome the tough puzzle that was Benitez.
The bout, following one of many biggest stare-downs in boxing historical past, proved extremely tactical, a duel between Leonard’s left hand and Benitez’s proper lead. The early rounds belonged to the challenger. Within the opening stanza Ray rocked Benitez with a left hook, and within the third a flush jab put the champ on the seat of his pants.
However the knockdown appeared to get up the champion. Within the fourth he discovered the vary for his proper hand whereas making the challenger miss, and out of the blue Ray couldn’t discover his man. Whereas Leonard’s aggressiveness allowed him to steal rounds, Benitez was the one slipping pictures and countering. Within the sixth they clashed heads, opening a minimize on Wilfred’s brow. In Leonard’s nook, Dundee pleaded with Ray to neglect the elusive goal that was Benitez’s head and as a substitute assault the physique.
“Go downstairs!” the veteran coach shouted. “You may’t stand in entrance of him and hit him with a proper hand. Overlook the best hand!”
Within the ninth, Leonard pressured Benitez to the ropes and linked with a flurry of punches and within the eleventh he stung his man with the hook. Nonetheless, he couldn’t assert himself the way in which he had in his earlier fights. It was within the late going that Leonard lastly opened up a large lead. And whereas the battle was already a basic, spherical fifteen proved an particularly thrilling finale. Benitez, sensing he wanted a knockout to win, took the battle to Ray, attacking with a sequence of left hooks. The challenger responded in sort and for 2 stable minutes it was toe-to-toe warfare, each males connecting and the gang going berserk.
Then, with the ultimate bell approaching, Leonard struck with a tough left and the champion hit the canvas for the second time. Wilfred rose, the cocky smile of defiance he confirmed earlier now a smile of resignation, and extra fatigued then harm, retreated to the ropes as Leonard attacked. Moments later the referee stopped the battle and Howard Cosell rejoiced: Sugar Ray Leonard had claimed his first world championship.
On the undercard of Benitez vs Leonard, Marvin Hagler had challenged for the middleweight title, the judges one way or the other scoring his fifteen spherical clinic in opposition to Vito Antuofermo a draw. Earlier the identical day, Thomas Hearns had decisioned powerful Mike Colbert, knocking him down 3 times. Inside months, each Hagler and Hearns would seize world titles, whereas Roberto Duran would defeat Leonard to win his second world title. The period of “The Four Kings” had begun.
And maybe its most vital supporting forged member was Wilfred Benitez, who would finest Duran earlier than shedding to Hearns. Leonard, nonetheless, refused to grant him a rematch. This little doubt had a lot to do with the competitiveness of their bout and the very fact Ray had by no means confronted such a naturally gifted boxer. “It was although I used to be wanting right into a mirror,” marveled the brand new champion on the post-fight press convention. “Nobody, I imply nobody, could make me miss punches like that.”
In reality, solely two males would defeat Benitez whereas he was in his prime: Hearns and Leonard, this even if, extremely, the Puerto Rican hardly ever educated with correct consistency and focus. Who is aware of what Benitez may need achieved had he possessed greater than a modicum of self-discipline and really devoted himself to his craft. As a substitute the youngest world champion of all-time would turn into considered one of boxing’s saddest tales, whereas Leonard went on to turn into considered one of its brightest stars.
— Robert Portis
