Wilfred Benítez

Wilfred "Wilfredo" Benítez (born September 12, 1958) is an American-born Puerto Rican former professional boxer and the youngest world champion in the sport's history.

Earning his first of three career world titles in separate weight divisions at the age of seventeen, he is best remembered as a skilled and aggressive fighter with exceptional defensive abilities, along with his fights with Roberto Durán, Thomas Hearns, and Sugar Ray Leonard.

His brothers Frankie and Gregory Benítez having also been top contenders in the 1970s.

The Benítez 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, Benítez often traveled to the Netherlands Antilles and New York City 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.

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 Benítez's favor.

Benítez retained the championship three times, and then moved up to the welterweight division.

Benítez challenged Lineal and WBC World Champion Carlos Palomino in San Juan.

On March 6, 1976, at age 17, with his high school classmates in attendance, he faced Lineal and WBA Light Welterweight champion Antonio Cervantes.

On January 14, 1979, Benítez won a fifteen-round split decision to become a world champion in a second weight division.

Referee Zach Clayton scored the fight 145-142 in Palomino's favor, but judges Jay Edson and Harry Gibbs disagreed.

Edson scored the bout 146-142 for Benítez.

Gibbs also scored for Benítez, 146-143.

After outpointing Harold Weston Jr. in his first defense (avenging an earlier draw), Benítez 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.

Benítez suffered a third-round knockdown and a cut on his forehead, which was opened by an accidental head butt in round six.

Leonard put Benítez down again in the fifteenth round and the referee stopped the fight with six seconds left in round fifteen.

Leonard was ahead on all cards at the time of the stoppage.

The scores were 137–133, 137–130 and 136–134, all for Leonard.

After that loss, Benítez 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.

It was fought 3,000 miles away from Puerto Rico, at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas.

Benítez won a fifteen-round unanimous decision.

His next defense was against Roberto Durán, whom Benítez 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, Benítez lost the belt to another boxing legend, Thomas Hearns, by a fifteen-round majority decision.

Benítez'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 as he was knocked out in the second round by Davey Moore.

On November 28, 1986, with his health declining, Benítez went to Salta, Argentina to fight against middleweight Carlos Herrera.

Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1996, he is considered among the best Puerto Rican boxers of all time, sharing the honor with Félix Trinidad, Wilfredo Gómez, Carlos Ortiz, Héctor Camacho, Edwin Rosario and Miguel Cotto.

Benítez turned pro at 15, a young prodigy who was managed by his father Gregorio Benítez, was a member of one of Puerto Rico's boxing families.