Thomas Hearns/Wilfred Benitez 1982 segment 12 of 13

[stiehlreddog]

That`s why Floyd will never be considered the best.Even If he retires undefeated.

There were so many Tough fights in this weight class back then.Leonard fought both these guys Benitez,Hagler,Duran3x hearns2x.

[peakartistmanagement]

Hearns was a beast at 154.

[hartistry1957]

It was a quantum-shift for me when Leonard KO'd Tommy; SRL earned my respect, and Hearns became a chump; and then there was Hagler: Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee­eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee­eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee­eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee­eee!!!

[carmodifire]

@hartistry1957 I think Hearns came up underweight and overtrained; Hagler said that these little things really changed his career.

[hartistry1957]

@carmodifire Excellent observation! you can even see the the over-emphasis on his upper body; leaving the spindly legs. Peace, and joy:)

[hartistry1957]

@carmodifire Agreed:) What a recipe for boxing though, ay?!

[curtisjones400]

Both fighers were awesome-classic boxing

[zgomer1]

2 great fighters...

[tellthetruthg]

15 rnds 13-15 were called the championship rounds. because thats when the best rose . If the 1rst SRL Hearns fight went 12 Hearns wins history is changed but SRL was the bad ass that night & took the hit man to school

[cbay11]

Hearns - my favourite of all time.

[mattan147]

Unbelievable how fresh and fast these guys look in round 15 - two all time greats.

[willieraye]

the best of the best these 2 could command in any era

[TheGatorfan93]

Completely dull cakewalk for hearns.The only round thats competitive,is the 10th.Well,i guess the 2 rounds he dropped and rocked benetiz.ZZZZZZzzzzzzz

[wcc128]

I forgot how good this fight was...

Hearns was a bad ass, stiff jab, straight right, hard left hook...

[karlito5757]

after beating the crap out if each other, they can't wait for the final bell to ring so they can hug. Boxing is funny.

[poncekid56]

Because it's not personal... it's a sport

[theman1819]

I think every good fighter makes it personal as duran put it "you gotta go out there and try to kill the other guy, hes trying to take your money your house and your women." but after 15 you gotta respect the guy after

[poncekid56]

I agree that during the fight, there is no time to be all buddy buddy, but Duran showed no respect or class

[theman1819]

duran showed class outside of the ring but for some reason he really didnt like benitez probably cause hes porto rican, but i read a book about duran and theres a story in there of him going to Estaban Dejesus hospital bed when he was dying of aids and picked him up and gave him a hug and a kiss in a time where nobody knew what AIDs where and everyone was afraid to touch him.

[poncekid56]

It's not only benitez, he was an ass to almost everyone he fought. But who knows, maybe he's different outside of the ring

[1URESAM]

@poncekid56

you're right. he was always nasty and provocative and respected no one. he refused to shake hands with sugar ray after the montreal fight.

[loyaldude10]

@theman1819 -Duran was one of the all time greats ever---a true warrior, but his attitude after matches was way over the top

[stell29]

This fight went a lot like the first 12 rounds of the first Hearns-Sugar Ray fight. Tommy dominating with his length and movement and landing his share of power shots.

The difference is Sugar Ray had knockout power and Benitez couldn't really do anything to bother Tommy. Ray hurt Tommy a few times in the middle rounds of their fight, took some starch out of his legs for the later rounds where he took him out.

[ktmgears]

Shut the fuck up!!

[jeryd2003]

boxing is about counter punching youse got to counter punch those taller boxers like tommy hearns and larry holms. bee agrressive too

[billyposter]

Hearns was best 154 fighter ever perhaps

[ngonzo85]

Felix Trinidad only had 3 fights there but I think he was as good as anybody at that weight

[stell29]

I agree. Hearns at 154 in his prime was a total beast. The combination of reach, boxing skills and frightening power was scary.

[judahsong]

@stell29 he was undefeated at 154lbs

[joeygonzo]

Fwiw Tommy claimed he broke his right hand early in this fight.

He hit Wilfredo on top of the head early and really hurt his right hand.

The co-feature of this main event. Gomez-Pintor is even a better fight.

PRicans Wilfredos went 1-1 that night.

[Boxing1977Boxing]

Wow, I was used to the Hearns at 160 pounds and up when he got older. Hearns was a fast boxer then. He really had good legs at 154, and Benitez was fast at 154 also. Both guys fought alot better here than at 160 believe it or not. Hearns became a slugger more at higher weights.

[1alopezpr]

Good job,Benitez,one of the best,of all time.Now that was a great fight worthy to see.

[Mowglieboy69]

147-138 for Hearns. You could argue it a bit closer for Benitez if you scored his knockdown round a 10-8 round. Hearns CLEARLY controlled the fight though.

[Javcore7]

Whats sad is when talking about the great fighters from this era, everyone mentions Leonard,Hagler, Hearns and Duran. No one mentions Benitez. He deserves to be put in the same category.

[wtw88]

Agreed. He beat Duran and fought very well against Sugar Ray and Tommy. In the commentary on the Hearns fight, Leonard's respect for Benitez can be heard.

[stell29]

Tommy's known for his freskish punching power and his glass jaw letting him down in big fights but he showed in this fight he had great boxing skills.

[AntonioSantiago]

This is a fight, like Trinidad-De La Hoya, which I personally always stood that Trini won it, where it's just a matter of opinion. I think my buddy Benitez lost this one. It's a shame he could not get inside, he may have lost by knockout, but with Tommy's chin he definitely had a chance to win if he brawled this one too.

[shire2005]

Tommy dominated this fight even after hurting his right hand.

[taino166]

hearns is simply a bitch!benitez was too much for a face to face fight booooyah

[slpyflyd]

Tommy Hearns was dope, he did stop Duran. Benitez was dope too but the fight that Benitez was really robbed was against Leonard.

[Mowglieboy69]

How was he robbed? Leonard TKO's him and was winning the fight prior.

[slpyflyd]

The fight between Leonard & Benitez was damned close-the rounds were split and Benitez was too much of a champ and defensive genius to have the fight stopped with a few seconds left. In that sense he was robbed-he should have been allowed to finish.

[Mowglieboy69]

Dumbass, Benitez was the one moving for the majority of the fight. Actually watch it you stupid inbred hick.

[wtw88]

Mate, you have knowledge of the boxing game, but you let yourself and your reputation down when you start insulting people. You don't teach anyone that way, you only get their backs up.

[pnutbutrncrackers]

Thank you, & totally agree, Wtw88.

BTW, I had no idea this fight was such a quality match. I enjoyed it more than Leonard vs. Benitez. Good stuff!

[shire2005]

the only negative about tommy's dominating performance is that tommy finished the last 4 rounds or so on his toes mainly trying to not get hurt. He had the big lead and didn't want to blow it when he could have dominated more in the end.

Still despite being very defensive tommy was at least even in those rounds if not winning them.

[1alopezpr]

Muy buena pelea,dos grandes del boxeo.Para mi fue un draw.Great fight.

[NathanHotDogs]

robbed?Tommy was too quick at 154 for anyone to beat and he had such a good right hand. Benitez couldn't do anything. I do love his defense how Tommy couldn't hit him on the ropes. Incredible, but Hearns still controlled the action. And this was a good division for Wilfred. Hearns was just prime then.

[DeathMetalforever]

Benitez was simply robbed... no other words for it

[SalvyMic]

How do you figure? Benitez won maybe 2 or 3 rounds total from Hearns. Hearns was completely in control of that fight.

[shire2005]

What a fucking moron. Tommy beat the guy like nobody's business. Benitez clearly won maybe one round and perhaps eked out 2 or 3 more. Maybe 2 even including the round tommy clearly won and had a bullshit point taken away.

try watching the whole damn fight moron.

[kikbwoyface]

benitez was robbed