Wilfred Benitez

Wilfred Benítez, also known as El Radar, is an American-born Puerto Rican former professional boxer. He is regarded as one of the best Puerto Rican boxers of all time, having won world titles in three different weight classes and achieving a remarkable career record of 53 wins, 8 losses, and 1 draw.

Benítez began his professional boxing career in 1973, when he was just 15 years old. He won his debut fight against Hiram Santiago via first-round knockout and went on to win 27 more consecutive fights, including 20 by stoppage. His first world title fight came at the age of 17, in March 1976, against Antonio Cervantes for the super-lightweight WBA and The Ring titles. Benítez defeated Cervantes via 15-round split decision to become the super-lightweight champion of the world.

Over the course of his career, Benítez won five world titles across three different weight classes. He was known for his exceptional defensive abilities, as well as his aggressive fighting style. Some of his most notable victories were against three Hall-of-Famers – Roberto Durán, Carlos Palomino, and Antonio Cervantes – as well as Tony Petronelli, Randy Shields, Roberto Gonzalez, and Easy Boy Lake.

One of the highlights of Benítez's career came on January 14, 1979, when he won the WBC and The Ring welterweight titles from Carlos Palomino via 15-round split decision. Another was on January 30, 1982, when he successfully defended the WBC super-welterweight title against Roberto Durán, winning the fight via 15-round unanimous decision.

Despite his success in the ring, Benítez suffered eight losses during his professional career, six of which were in non-title bouts. He was stopped four times and lost four times via decision. His first loss came in November 1979, when he was defeated by Sugar Ray Leonard via 15th-round TKO, ending his 38-fight win streak.

Benítez's last professional fight took place on September 18, 1990, against Scott Papasodora in a non-title bout. Benítez lost the fight via 10-round unanimous decision. He retired from professional boxing with a record of 53-8-1, including 31 knockout wins and four losses via knockout, and five title wins. In 1996, he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF).

Aside from his impressive career accomplishments, Benítez is renowned for being the youngest world champion in boxing history. He earned his first of three career world titles in separate weight divisions at the age of 17, marking him as a prodigious young athlete with a bright future in the sport. Throughout his career, he demonstrated exceptional expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness, earning the respect and admiration of boxing fans and experts around the world.

Wilfred Benítez's record and career accomplishments have cemented his place in boxing history, both as one of the greatest Puerto Rican boxers of all time and as a testament to the power of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. His legacy continues to inspire new generations of boxers, who look to follow in his footsteps and make their mark on the sport.

Wilfred Benítez Fight Record