Roberto Duran vs Wilfred Benitez - boxing - WBC world light middleweight title
- 5 months ago
Wilfred Benitez defended his WBC light middleweight title against Roberto Duran
Date: January 30, 1982
Venue: Caesars Palace, Las Vegas
Benitez stance: orthodox
Duran stance: orthodox
Wilfred Benitez turned pro at the age of 15, and earned a world ranking at the tender age of 16. He won his first world title when he was just 17 - a world record in its own right - when he got a plit decision verdict over WBA light welterweight champion Antonio Cervantes. After defending that title twice, Benitez moved up to welterweight, and after eight wins and a draw, he challenged Carlos Palomino for the WBC welterweight crown, which he also won by split decision. He lost that title in his second defence when Sugar Ray Leonard stopped him with just six seconds remaining. Four fights later, Benitez won the WBC light middleweight crown with a 12th round stoppage of Maurice Hope. His first defence was a points win over Carlos Santos.
Roberto Duran became a boxing superstar when he beat Sugar Ray Leonard to win the WBC welterweight title in June 1980. Five months later, he tarnished his reputation when he quit in the eighth round of his rematch with Leonard. Duran took nine months off before returning with points wins over Nino Gonzalez and Luigi Minchillo . He was now campaigning at light middleweight, aiming to win a world title in a third weight class.
For an in depth look at their respective records, visit:
Wilfred Benitez - https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/438
Roberto Duran - https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/000080
Date: January 30, 1982
Venue: Caesars Palace, Las Vegas
Benitez stance: orthodox
Duran stance: orthodox
Wilfred Benitez turned pro at the age of 15, and earned a world ranking at the tender age of 16. He won his first world title when he was just 17 - a world record in its own right - when he got a plit decision verdict over WBA light welterweight champion Antonio Cervantes. After defending that title twice, Benitez moved up to welterweight, and after eight wins and a draw, he challenged Carlos Palomino for the WBC welterweight crown, which he also won by split decision. He lost that title in his second defence when Sugar Ray Leonard stopped him with just six seconds remaining. Four fights later, Benitez won the WBC light middleweight crown with a 12th round stoppage of Maurice Hope. His first defence was a points win over Carlos Santos.
Roberto Duran became a boxing superstar when he beat Sugar Ray Leonard to win the WBC welterweight title in June 1980. Five months later, he tarnished his reputation when he quit in the eighth round of his rematch with Leonard. Duran took nine months off before returning with points wins over Nino Gonzalez and Luigi Minchillo . He was now campaigning at light middleweight, aiming to win a world title in a third weight class.
For an in depth look at their respective records, visit:
Wilfred Benitez - https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/438
Roberto Duran - https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/000080