Wilfred Benítez
| Wilfred Benítez | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Wilfred Benítez |
| Nickname(s) |
El Radar Bible of Boxing |
| Rated at | Jr. Welterweight |
| Nationality | Puerto Rican/American |
| Born |
September 12, 1958 New York City, USA |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 62 |
| Wins | 53 |
| Wins by KO | 31 |
| Losses | 8 |
| Draws | 1 |
| No contests | 0 |
Wilfred Benítez (born September 12, 1958), is a Puerto Rican former boxer and youngest world champion in the sport's history. Earning his first of three career championships in separate weight divisions at the age of 17, he is remembered best as a skilled and aggressive fighter with exceptional defensive abilities.
Inducted in the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1996, he is among the best Puerto Rican boxers of all time, sharing the honor with Félix "Tito" Trinidad, Wilfredo Gómez, and Carlos Ortíz.[1]
Early history
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 Virgin Islands and New York 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.
Professional boxing career
 You may watch Wilfred Benitez vs. Antonio Cervantes, here |
On March 6, 1976, at age 17, with his High School classmates in attendance, he faced 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.
Benitez retained the championship three times, and then moved up to the welterweight division. Benítez challenged WBC World Champion Carlos Palomino in San Juan. On January 14, 1979, Benitez won a fifteen-round split decision to become a world champion in a second weight division. After outpointing Harold Weston Jr. in his first defense (avenging an earlier draw), Benitez fought Sugar Ray Leonard in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 30, 1979. It was a scientific fight by both fighters, who demonstrated their defensive skills throughout the bout. Benitez suffered a third-round knockdown and a cut on his forehead, which was opened by an accidental head butt in round six. Leonard put Benitez down again in the fifteenth round and the referee stopped the fight with six seconds left in round fifteen.
After that loss, Benitez again moved up in weight, and on May 23, 1981, at age 22, he became the youngest three-time world champion in boxing history by knocking out WBC World Super Welterweight Champion Maurice Hope in twelve rounds in Las Vegas. The knockout was named one of the knockouts of the year.
His next fight became a historic bout. On November 14, 1981, he fought future world champ Carlos Santos of Ceiba, Puerto Rico. It was the first world championship fight between two Puerto Ricans in boxing history. Ironically, the fight was fought 3,000 miles away from Puerto Rico, at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. Benitez won a fifteen-round unanimous decision. His next defense was against Roberto Durán, whom Benitez defeated at Caesar's Palace on January 30, 1982 by a fifteen-round unanimous decision. On December 3, 1982, at the Carnival of Champions in New Orleans, Benitez lost the belt to another boxing legend, Thomas Hearns, by a fifteen-round majority decision.[2]
Career decline
Benitez's career went downwards after the fight with Hearns, as did his lifestyle. In 1983 he lost a unanimous decision to Mustafa Hamsho. In 1984, he tried a comeback under the hand of Yamil Chade, but this proved unsuccessful. On November 28, 1986, with his health declining, he went to Salta, Argentina to fight middleweight Carlos Herrera. Benitez was stopped in seven rounds. But that wasn't the worst part of the trip. His money for the fight was stolen by the fight's promoter, along with his documents and passport, and he was stranded in Argentina for one year. After much government huddling and talks, he was finally able to fly back home to Puerto Rico in 1988.
Two years later, Benitez moved to Tucson, Arizona, where he tried another comeback under the tutelage of Emanuel Steward, the Kronk trainer. This also proved unsuccessful, as he went 2-2 in his last four fights. His last bout took place in Winnipeg, Canada on September 18, 1990, six days after his 32nd birthday. He lost a ten-round decision against Scott Papasadora.
Professional boxing record
| 53 Wins (31 knockouts, 22 decisions), 8 Losses (4 knockouts, 4 decisions), 1 Draw[3] | |||||||
| Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes |
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 15-6-1 |  Scott Papasodora |
UD | 10 | 18/09/1990 |  Winnipeg Convention Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 1-5-1 | "Uncle" Sam Wilson |
UD | 10 | 24/08/1990 |  Regency Hotel, Denver, Colorado, United States |
98-91, 99-90, 96-93. |
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 13-1 | Pat "The King" Lawlor |
PTS | 10 | 23/05/1990 |  Tucson, Arizona, United States |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 0-10 |  Ariel Conde |
KO | 7 | 08/03/1990 | Americana Motel, Phoenix, Arizona, United States |
|
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 54-9 |  Carlos Maria del Valle Herrera |
TKO | 7 | 28/11/1986 | Salta, Argentina |
Benitez was stranded one year in Argentina after the fight |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 14-3-1 | Harry "Heatwave" Daniels |
UD | 10 | 17/09/1986 |  Fifth Regiment Armory, Baltimore, Maryland, United States |
98-95, 98-95, 97-95. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 19-0 | Paul "Forest" Whittaker |
UD | 10 | 01/07/1986 |  Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States |
6-4, 5-4, 6-3. |
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 19-0 | Matthew Hilton |
KO | 9 | 15/02/1986 | Paul Sauve Arena, Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
Benitez knocked out at 2:59 of the ninth round. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 21-1 | Kevin Moley |
UD | 10 | 21/08/1985 |  Madison Square Garden, New York City, United States |
8-2, 7-3, 7-3. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 15-17 | Danny "Thunderhand" Chapman |
RTD | 7 | 06/07/1985 | Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, District of Columbia, United States |
Chapman retired at 3:00 of the seventh round. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 26-2-2 |  Mauricio Bravo |
TKO | 2 | 30/03/1985 |  Oranjestad, Aruba |
|
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 13-1 | Davey "Bronx" Moore |
TKO | 2 | 14/07/1984 |  Stade Louis II, Monte Carlo, Monaco |
Referee stopped the bout at 1:18 of the second round. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 8-7-1 | Stacy McSwain |
UD | 10 | 11/02/1984 |  Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan, United States |
|
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 36-2-2 |  Mustafa Hamsho |
UD | 12 | 16/07/1983 |  Dunes Hotel, Las Vegas, United States |
109-118, 111-118, 111-117. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 14-2-4 | Tony Cerda |
UD | 10 | 18/05/1983 | Dunes Hotel, Las Vegas, United States |
|
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 35-1 | Tommy Hearns |
MD | 15 | 03/12/1982 | Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States |
WBC World Light Middleweight Title. 137-146, 139-144, 142-142. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 74-2 |  Roberto Duran |
UD | 15 | 30/01/1982 | Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, United States |
WBC World Light Middleweight Title. 143-142, 145-141, 144-141. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 22-0 |  Carlos Santos |
UD | 15 | 14/11/1981 | Showboat Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, United States |
WBC World Light Middleweight Title. 147-138, 145-140, 145-139. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 30-2-1 |  Maurice Hope |
TKO | 12 | 23/05/1981 | Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, United States |
WBC World Light Middleweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 1:56 of the 12th round. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 50-4-2 | Pete Ranzany |
UD | 10 | 12/12/1980 |  Sacramento, California, United States |
99-92, 97-94, 97-94. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 37-5 | Tony Chiaverini |
TKO | 8 | 01/08/1980 | Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, United States |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 34-3-1 | Johnny Turner |
TKO | 9 | 16/03/1980 |  Jai Alai Fronton, Miami, Florida, United States |
Referee stopped the bout at 2:57 of the ninth round. |
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 25-0 | Sugar Ray Leonard |
TKO | 15 | 30/11/1979 | Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, United States |
WBC World Welterweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 2:54 of the 15th round. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 27-7-5 | Harold "The Artist" Weston |
UD | 15 | 25/03/1979 | Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States |
WBC World Welterweight Title. 149-138, 144-142, 146-145. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 27-1-3 | Carlos Palomino |
SD | 15 | 14/01/1979 | Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States |
WBC World Welterweight Title. 142-145, 146-143, 146-142. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 4-4 |  Vernon Lewis |
UD | 10 | 08/12/1978 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, United States |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 31-3-1 | Randy Shields |
RTD | 6 | 25/08/1978 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, United States |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 15-1 | Bruce Curry |
MD | 10 | 04/02/1978 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, United States |
9-1, 7-3, 5-5. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 14-0 | Bruce Curry |
SD | 10 | 18/11/1977 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, United States |
4-5, 5-4, 7-3. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 29-6-3 | Ray Chavez Guerrero |
TKO | 15 | 03/08/1977 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, United States |
NYSAC Light Welterweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 1:41 of the 15th round. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 8-8-1 |  Easy Boy Lake |
TKO | 1 | 01/07/1977 | Lionel Roberts Stadium, Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands |
Referee stopped the bout at 2:48 of the first round. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | -- | Roberto "Speed Racer" Gonzalez |
KO | 1 | 02/06/1977 | Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 27-8-3 | Melvin Dennis |
UD | 8 | 06/03/1977 |  Correctional Facility Prison, Marion, Ohio, United States |
7-1, 8-0, 5-1. |
| Draw | 22-6-4 | Harold Weston |
PTS | 10 | 02/02/1977 | New York City, United States |
7-3, 5-5, 5-5. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 35-1-1 | Tony Petronelli |
TKO | 3 | 16/10/1976 | Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States |
WBA World Light Welterweight Title. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 25-2-1 |  Emiliano Villa |
UD | 15 | 31/05/1976 | San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States |
WBA World Light Welterweight Title. 150-138, 149-137, 148-137. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 74-9-3 | Antonio Cervantes |
SD | 15 | 06/03/1976 | Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States |
WBA World Light Welterweight Title. 148-144, 147-142, 145-147. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 26-11-4 |  Chris Fernandez |
PTS | 10 | 13/12/1975 | San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 10-4-1 | Omar Ruben Realecio |
TKO | 6 | 20/10/1975 | Felt Forum, New York City, United States |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 15-16-1 | Marcelino Alicia |
TKO | 2 | 01/09/1975 | San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 2-0 |  Young Woodall |
KO | 4 | 19/08/1975 | .svg.png){kind=small} Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | -- | Eyue Jeudy | KO | 4 | 01/08/1975 | Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 9-16-3 | Jim "John" Henry |
TKO | 8 | 28/06/1975 | Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 132-71-20 |  Angel "Robinson" Garcia |
PTS | 10 | 09/06/1975 | Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 6-0 | Santos Solis |
PTS | 10 | 05/05/1975 | San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 0-3 | Wilbur Seales |
TKO | 4 | 31/03/1975 | San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 6-8 | Santiago Rosa |
KO | 4 | 08/02/1975 | San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 0-4 | Francisco "El Presidente" Rodriguez |
TKO | 7 | 04/01/1975 | San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 37-10-3 | Lawrence Hafey |
UD | 8 | 02/12/1974 | Felt Forum, New York City, United States |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 16-7-2 | Terry Summerhays |
TKO | 6 | 25/10/1974 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, United States |
Referee stopped the bout at 1:51 of the sixth round. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 5-16-1 | Al Hughes |
TKO | 5 | 16/09/1974 | Felt Forum, New York City, United States |
Referee stopped the bout at 2:06 of the fifth round. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 4-3-1 | Easy Boy Lake |
TKO | 5 | 31/08/1974 | Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 0-3 | Carlos Crispin |
TKO | 3 | 26/06/1974 | Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 0-1 | Ives St Jean | KO | 1 | 21/06/1974 | Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 4-2-1 | Easy Boy Lake |
KO | 5 | 11/05/1974 | Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 1-5-1 | Juan Disla |
TKO | 3 | 30/04/1974 | Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 1-1-1 | Victor Mangual |
PTS | 8 | 01/04/1974 | San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | -- | Roberto Flanders | TKO | 4 | 18/02/1974 | San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | -- | Joe York | KO | 2 | 26/01/1974 | Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 0-0-1 | Hector Amadis | KO | 4 | 07/01/1974 | San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 0-1 | Jesse Torres | KO | 2 | 30/11/1973 | Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | -- | Hiram Santiago | KO | 1 | 22/11/1973 | San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States |
|
Retirement and illness
After retiring from boxing, Benitez returned to Puerto Rico, where he lived with his mother Clara on a $200 a month pension provided by the World Boxing Council. Benitez now suffers from an incurable, degenerative brain condition caused by the blows he took in the ring.
In 1997, Wilfredo was moved permanently to a public run nursing home for medical reasons by his mother Clara, a licensed nurse.[4]
In 2002, Sugar Ray Leonard visited his former brother-in-law Benítez, who by this time had forgotten his identity.[5] During the visit, their fight was shown on television. Consequently, Benítez remembered the event and said to Leonard, "Ray, I did not train for that fight."[5] In 2004, Benitez was diagnosed with diabetes. His mother died in the summer of 2008.
Support, recovery, and public appearance
Ring 10, a non-profit organization that helps impoverished former fighters, provides a monthly stipend to Benitez and established "The Wilfred Benitez Fund" to raise more money to aid the fallen champion.[6]
During 2012, Benitez was honored with a statue in Puerto Rico.[7]
On November 27, 2012, a smiling and healthy looking Benítez attended the funeral of Hector Camacho in Puerto Rico, arriving in a wheelchair. Benítez arrived accompanied by boxers Felix Trinidad, Wilfredo Gomez, and Alfredo Escalera.[8] Surprising the mourners, Benitez rose to his feet for a boxing pose in front of Camacho's coffin.[9]
Awards and recognitions
Benítez was inducted to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1994.
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Antonio Cervantes |
WBA Light Welterweight Champion 6 March 1976–1977 Stripped |
Succeeded by Antonio Cervantes |
| Preceded by Carlos Palomino |
WBC Welterweight Champion 14 January 1979 – 30 November 1979 |
Succeeded by Sugar Ray Leonard |
| Preceded by Maurice Hope |
WBC Light Middleweight boxing champion 23 May 1981– 3 December 1982 |
Succeeded by Thomas Hearns |
Puerto Ricans in the International Boxing Hall of Fame |
| Number | Name | Year inducted | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carlos Ortíz | 1991 | World Jr. Welterweight Champion 1959 June 12- 1960, September 1, WBA Lightweight Champion 1962 Apr 21 – 1965 Apr 10, WBC Lightweight Champion 1963 Apr 7 – 1965 Apr 10, WBC Lightweight Champion 1965 Nov 13 – 1968 Jun 29. |
| 2 | Wilfred Benítez | 1994 | The youngest world champion in boxing history. WBA Light Welterweight Champion 1976 Mar 6 – 1977, WBC Welterweight Champion 1979 Jan 14 – 1979 Nov 30, WBC Light Middleweight Champion. |
| 3 | Wilfredo Gómez | 1995 | WBC Super Bantamweight Champion 1977 May 21 – 1983, WBC Featherweight Champion 1984 Mar 31 – 1984 Dec 8, WBA Super Featherweight Champion 1985 May 19 – 1986 May 24. |
| 4 | José "Chegui" Torres | 1997 | Won a silver medal in the junior middleweight at the 1956 Olympic Games. Undisputed Light Heavyweight Champion 1965 Mar 30 – 1966 Dec 16 |
| 5 | Sixto Escobar | 2002 | Puerto Rico's first boxing champion. World Bantamweight Champion 15 Nov 1935– 23 Sep 1937, World Bantamweight Champion 20 Feb 1938– Oct 1939 |
| 6 | Edwin Rosario | 2006 | Ranks #36 on the list of "100 Greatest Punchers of All Time." according to Ring Magazine. WBC Lightweight Champion 1983 May 1 – 1984 Nov 3, WBA Lightweight Champion 1986 Sep 26 – 1987 Nov 21, WBA Lightweight Champion 199 Jul 9 – 1990 Apr 4, WBA Light Welterweight Champion 1991 Jun 14 – 1992 Apr 10. |
| 7 | Pedro Montañez | 2007 | 92 wins out of 103 fights. Never held a title. |
| 8 | Joe Cortez | 2011 | The first Puerto Rican boxing referee to be inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame |
| 9 | Herbert "Cocoa Kid" Hardwick | 2012 | Member of boxing's "Black Murderers' Row". World Colored Welterweight Championship - June 11, 1937 to August 22, 1938; World Colored Middleweight Championship - January 11, 1940 until the title went extinct in the 1940s; World Colored Middleweight Championship - January 15, 1943 until the title went extinct in the 1940s |
| 10 | Felix "Tito" Trinidad | 2014 | Captured the IBF welterweight crown in his 20th pro bout. Won the WBA light middleweight title from David Reid in March 2000 and later that year unified titles with a 12th-round knockout against IBF champ Fernando Vargas. In 2001 became a three-division champion. |
= Indicates the person is no longer alive
Non boxing related awards
Key to the City
- Carolina, Puerto Rico (1984)
See also
- List of Puerto Ricans
- Afro-Puerto Ricans
- List of WBC world champions
- List of Puerto Rican boxing world champions
- List of boxing triple champions
References
- ↑ Sánchez, José A. (November 25, 2012). "Entre leyendas Macho Camacho". El Nuevo Día.
- ↑ "International Boxing Hall of Fame"
- ↑ http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=438&cat=boxer
- ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/12/sports/too-many-beatings-the-boxer-s-disease-haunts-wilfred-benitez-and-his-family.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 José A. Sánchez Fournie (2009-11-29). "Deportes". La batalla de los intocables: 30 años de Leonard-Benítez. El Nuevo Día (in Spanish) (Puerto Rico).
- ↑ Boxing 101, "Ring 10 Veterans Boxing Foundation: A Beta Bomb of Brotherhood, Part 1 - Our Suffering Champions", June 26, 2012
- ↑ Colón, Rey (March 14, 2012). "Wilfredo Benítez honored with a statue in Puerto Rico". BoxingScene.com.
- ↑ http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/boxers-tito-trinidad-wilfredo-benitez-alfredo-el-salsero-news-photo/157029431
- ↑ http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/boxer-wilfredo-benitez-attends-hector-macho-camachos-public-news-photo/157029433
External links
- Professional boxing record for Wilfred Benítez from BoxRec
- Ian Palmer's Tigerboxing.com article on Benitez
- Benitez's website
- Faded Memories