Thomas Hearns/Wilfred Benitez 1981 segment 1 of 13

[TRIPLESIXSICCNESS]

Benitez is one of my favorite fighters, the guy boxed beautifully, and we all know Hearns.

[fashizze]

This was when Tommy became a stalker and destroyer THE HITMAN ..after the loose to ray leonard in 1981

[MrRamdogg]

tommy jab was crazy



[ralfigs]

Benitez ,one of the best counter punchers , defense . One of the most under rated greats.

[Existentialexplosion]

I think this is one of the most underrated boxing bouts ever. Look how technical those athletes fight, it's just pure sweet science. They duck, they bob, they slip, they do everything to avoid every punch the the other guy is throwing (and specially Benitez who has shorter reach). That's boxing for me.

[FSMNoodlyAppendage]

@Existentialexplosion Top 10 technical fight of all time.

[arkansoul]

The greatest staredown in boxing history...

[dhankins627]

I never thought Benitez got the publicity and attention that Leonard, Hearns, Duran, and Hagler got. Everyone talks about those 4, but I think Benitez should be in the conversation as well

[onlyjoetee]

Hearns was a very very difficult guy to fight......

[terantridell]

TheRza



[28rampage]

tommy's straight punches are like pistons, possibly the best jab ever

[93johnk]

4:47 check out tommy's arms hes like a fucking eagle spreading his wings

[Ahmet1445]

Both are Punch Drunk know -.-

[cperfitt123]

Was there ever a better stare out?!

[reg12269]

too bad for benitez. he now has chronic brain injuries from years of boxing. he can't even speak and is wheel chair bound at age 52! he's on welfoare and lives in a small home with his sister in Puerto rico. sadly, he is very typical of most boxers!

[JcLeopard]

@reg12269 I doubt that it was from years of boxing. Remember that Benitez was a Defensive Wizard who did not get hit with a lot of punches.

[shire2005]

Benitez was a good fighter but he had 2 real stinker fights against Hamsho and Davey Moore. He should have given his purse back on those fights.

Both of those fights were while he was still young.

[JMDinamitaMarquez]

@shire2005 I think Benitez peaked to early and by the time he fought Davey Moore, I didnt watch his fight with Hamsho, but he was a shell of his former shelf by that time.

[TRontheLegacy]

thats a fucking staredown

[Mr305nika]

the tru art of defense by benitez .tommy hearns one uv da greatest

[akilddddd]

pernell whitaker and benitez, fuck floyd .

[tralfazruk1]

You have are 2 great fighters who both got screwed by the boxing power structure to perpetuate the media created Sugar Ray Loser Money machine.The poor 3rd rate Ali copy who was classless as a person who snorted coke beat his wife and fired Angelo dundee and also fired his brothers on Christmas eve.Benitez could not handle pressure at anything above welter wight because he had no power.Hearns had had a chin would have never lost .Hearns respected benitez and leonard to much,he should have koed

[2pacinseattle]

@tralfazruk1

Sugar Ray Leonard may be conceited and flawed as a human, but he beat Hearns, Duran, Hagler, and Benitez.

Regardless of his character, he was a brilliant boxer, probably the 2nd best welterweight of all time behind the real Sugar Ray.

[mattimus1415]

this is the definition of the sweet science of both parts benitez all the credit in the world he was and will probly remain the yougest world champion incredible.. hearns looked like he was just one step ahead great combos great defense great fight a time when the top p4p fough each other on a regular basis.. i said regular consistent basis cus floyd did fight shane and hatton and pacquiao did fight hatton and cotto

[Beatbyawhiteboy]

@3:22, beautiful defense.

[amugani]

jscottmoody , your PBF gayweather has no chance againts the likes of a hearns,benitez or even a Pacquiao if he is that tough ,where is he then you guys always undermind non american fighters like Pacman ,you are one sided ignorant people I am Asian but I like hearns,sugar ray leonard ,coz they are the best, your Money mayweather is SHIT ! it was justified when Mosley fought a non elite fighter , If your prize fighter why doesnt he fight Pacquiao whats wrong with him ? just a plain coward ,

[kjackson9000]

@amugani you sound ignorant with your post. Mayweather isn't the one responsible for the fight not happening. Arum and Pacquiao are, his own people admitted Pac didnt agree ti the testing which by the way what do you have to hide if you're clean right?? Stylistically Mayweather will give PAcquiao nightmares, he will counter, jab, outbox Pacquiao all day

[amugani]

@kjackson9000 in your dreams man , if your pretty boy Floyd really wants to fight he could set it up anytime , you heard it yourself he wants to take time of for a year or two , cmon dont miss the truth ESPN and every boxing network knows about this ,Pacquiao is not running away from anybody ,Im sorry but thats the truth .

[kjackson9000]

@amugani how is ESPN the truth? They lie about many things and lost all their integrity a LONG time ago.. they are too busy dick riding lebron james and brett favre to do any official sports reporting.. No Mayweather can't set the fight anytime because Pacquiao never agreed tot the testing.. Why not agree to random testing unless you are hiding something? His own adviser on the 24/7 hbo show admitted Pacquiao didn't agree to the testing and that they basically lied about Mayweather

[kjackson9000]

@kjackson9000 also you want to call mayweather a plain coward? first off any fighter on the professional level entering a ring is far from a coward. Second, your beloved fighter Pacquiao, is the guy weight draining guys and fight old stationary fighters. Wouldn't give Marquez a rematch, and hasn't made any attempt to fight slick fighters or counter punchers. He's ducked numerous fighters, so before you call another man a coward, why don't you revise your boy's career

[gonzomoya420]

after that staredown you would've thought it would've been a slugfest like Hearn's fights with Hagler and Iran Barkley

[ElBoriOchun305]

oh i forgot to tell mr:gonzomoya 420 yo did you forgot who was the youngest world champion ever in boxin??? jajajaajaja it wasnt mike tyson buddy it was wilfred benitez our pride and glory in pr!! if not go check in boxing history Puerto rico kicks ass being a small island in the caribean only mexico could compete with us in boxing in world champions !! but remember p.r. fits in mexico a ,1,000 times !!

[gonzomoya420]

@ElBoriOchun305 Hey I like Puerto RIcans much more than Mexicans. I don't like Mexicans at all. I think PR is cool I like the people of PR, they have good attitudes. I don't think Benitez had a good attitude. I think he was ashamed to be a Spanish-speaker and he didn't like the fact that he wasn't a black American that attitude came back to bite him in the ass. I liked Tito Trinidad a lot he was one of my fave fighters of all time plus he had a great and humble attitude. he is a great person.

[yoshi207]

@gonzomoya420 why dont you go suck some puerto rican cock you fag ? You dont like mexicans ? Wonder why i guess you fags just are filled with hate

[gonzomoya420]

@yoshi207 no I just don't like Mexicans. esp in boxing they suck. their fights are boring. it's just two little mosquitos who weigh 100lbs soaking wet pitty patting their way to 12 rounds. the only ppl who like that are other mexican pricks like you. and they cheat too like that piece of shit Margarito. who should be banned for life instead b/c he's with the mob he's rewarded by fighting that other scumbag Pacman. they should both burn in hell.

[yoshi207]

@gonzomoya420 yeah sure 100 pounds ! Go learn some boxing before you open your gay mouth you retarded fuck . educate yourself on the sport before you make idiot comments

[77syzygy]

@gonzomoya420 Hey look everybody, gaymoya420 is arguing with & getting his ass kicked by yet another stranger on YouTube! Good job, yoshi207 with "open your gay mouth you retarded fuck" Bwhahahaha, hilarious. Did anyone know this sick fuck jizzmoya is a foot fetish sicko? Chk the record, beyond belief!

[robbyled]

@gonzomoya420 you think PR's have good attitudes?! Come to NYC and hang with some NY Ricans and you will see some real poor attitudes. I am Latino, by the way, but not PR and not Mexican either.

[BIGLOU88]

@robbyled It's NY you're talking about. Whatever the race is NYer's are known to have attitude.

[robbyled]

@BIGLOU88: yes, that is true

[amugani]

Rookerman32 ,I agree with you regarding Roy Jones jr. but with Naseem Hamed , I dont think so ,He cant even slip Barrera's punches he got pummeled good ,Benitez is one of the best .

[amugani]

Wow Benitez is better than Myweather jr. PB floyd is a pussy compared to Benitez this guy slips punches like crazy amazing ,well at least we all know Gayweather is not the best defensive fighter ever like he claims to be ,look at this guy, Floyd never fought a Tommy hearns in his life , this guy is good.

[Rookerman32]

@amugani Roy Jones Jr. is the greastest pro boxer to slip punches followed by Naseem Hamed.

[jscottmoody]

@amugani PBF has a better shot at the Hit Man than Tranny Pacquiao does.

[gonzomoya420]

"Wilfred" don't call me WilfredO hated being Latino/Hispanic. he wanted to be a black American. Right now he is exactly where he deserves to be. Fortunately, we Latinos had Duran to cheer for the best ever manos de Piedra!!!

[LAMBYAH]

@gonzomoya420

He was/ is black. You obviously don't know Puerto Rico's history . The so-called African Americans, Brazilian, Guyanese, Carribean, Central and and so called Black South Americans are the same people; whose forefathers arrived in the West on slave ships. Yisraelites. Children of Yahweh. Not Africans though most of us left ports in west Africa. Shalom.

[ElBoriOchun305]

@gonzomoya420

yo!!! DURAN WAS GOOD OK !! WHAT ABOUT WILFREDO GOMEZ , TITO TRINIDAD,what about SAL SANCHEZ THE only guy that beat wilfredo gomez, theres many others to mention what about the clown of julio cesar chavez i personally dont like him as a person but he was ok !!!! he had many figths many figths against taxi drivers (joking) i mean against sparrings jajajajaja

[julius5551]

Benitez ability to slip punches was a thing to behold,wonderful fighter too bad his poor habits got the best of him.

[markokarko]

beautiful boxing, great times for sport

[Kedbuka]

Pretty hilarious stare-down...I thought they were gonna' kiss!

Benitez was clearly unafraid of Tommy, which is to his credit cuz' most fighters at that time were very afraid of the Motor City Cobra. Rightfully so, he was a bad dude. Benitez' defense though, was somethin' else. One of the most naturally gifted fighters ever, which was part of his problem (i.e. lack of dedication)--it all came so easy for him.

[bb62g]

@Kedbuka well said. 

[shire2005]

Can ray leonard fucking stop talking about himself?

I can't stand his commentary on these fights.

[tlig]

@shire2005 Well he beat both these guys; what do you expect?

[carmodifire]

@tlig hearns got robbed the second time

[tlig]

@carmodifire I agree. But this preceded that fight.

[johnosandra]

@shire2005 leonard is the best commentator on hbo

on par with larry and george

[mrsatangto]

@shire2005 Leonard is alot more tolerable now, but you are correct in the fact he was annoying as hell back then. The man might even trump Floyd in self promotion back when Leonard was the king.

[sn83]

you gotta give benitez credit for that defense....the way he slipped punched was like the matrix

[waxengravah]

Wow, see the stare down..kudos to Benitez for holding it, Hitman looked very intimidating

[goonookanooka]

Thanks for posting this, two of the best ever, some younger fans don't understand exactly how great both of these two were

[TRIPLESIXSICCNESS]

2 absolute Greats, true Elite top of the chain Boxers, there is nothing but respect from me for this 2

long live Benitez and Hearns

[reg12269]

@TRIPLESIXSICCNESS dude, buttttt he did get hit! ali was also a defensive wizard as he got older. all it takes is one good punch or concussion. benitez was knocked out and knocked down a lot as he got older. like every body part, we all grow and respond differently. some guys get hit a lot like ray boom boom mincini and seem to be fine, some dont and have more symptoms. these guys are routinely hit more than footballers incl sparring , stands to reason they would have more symptoms.

[ramiirez]

UNA LEGENDA

[madballz28]

Very tall the hitman

[T74G]

Benitez had awesome defense..i remember watching him on ABC's "Wide World" with my pops...my pops would always say.."watch him slip, watch him slip"..very elusive fighter!!

[TRIPLESIXSICCNESS]

@T74G Benitez is one of the Greatest defensive fighters ever, loved his style

[BrokenHeartXXX]

Can anyone upload benitez vs Hope and benitez vs duran?

[piritwintwoagain]

its here u have to keep following the old 80s fightslike i did. follow samuel serrano then you will c other fightslike alfredo escaleraand keep looking u will find it! if not then ican send it 2 u

[astroshou]

NUNCA NADIE SE MIRO ASI.

[dulcifyfj]

Yes !all boxing fans, W. Benitez was great! And could have been even greater!! If not for his father and trainer!? Regardless he still remains the most ellusive fighter in boxing!! And is never out of place when mentioning the great Jr Welterweights! A legend ,who never reached his full potential!!

[longtalltexan63]

That is a huge ring!

[tlig]

you are so right.

[EPION1989]

24x24

[hmsheppard]

I agree. That was a strange setup Wilfred had in his corner. I would see his dad Gregorio slap the piss out of him between rounds. Which may partly explain why Wilfred's career quickly nosedived the way it did. And he was a phenomenally talented fighter, too. Just 17 when he won his first title. He made Sugar Ray miss and miss. Carlos Palomino is still looking for him!

[mH8675309]

They say that cat Hearns is a bad mutha

[T74G]

"they" say right!!! he was a bad ass in boxing from 78- 88...easily!!

[mcmarita]

¡Qué buen estilista que era Wilfredo Benítez,! El problema fue que le tocó pelear con los mejores de su tiempo y así y todo figuró.

[Jorsalfar]

I don't understand how two judges could have Hearns far ahead while the third one scored it a draw. Those judges...can't figure them out!

[Boxing1977Boxing]

Look at the way Benitez ducks Hearns punches. No other fighter could do that. Amazing defense. Why does the fight say 1981? Whoever put this on, put 1982, this was Dec. 1982.

[Boxing1977Boxing]

So Benitez was great at this weight, problem is then he lost this fight -he was only 24 when he fought Hearns, but then he moved up in weight to middleweight when he was best at this weight. He should have fought a rematch with Hearns. Hearns would have probably beaten him but Tommy would not have knocked out Benitez, Not this Benitez who was a great fighter. I think Benitez was great when he fought here. I think this was his prime. He just went down after moving up to fight at middlweight

[ricanspartan]

it was a very close fight and to me could have gone benitez way.

[moloko76]

No! this fight was not close, hearns outboxed Benitez ,who was a legend already, but the size advantage for Hearns was too great, Benitez did a good job not being knocked out against a fighter with All the advantages, remember Hearns became World champ at every weight all the way up to cruiserweight.

He had all the advantages in size, power and reach and fought a great fight. IMO Hearns´ most mature fight, though he hurt his hand in rnd 8 he cruised to a landslide victory.

Both legends.

[Jorsalfar]

So what, he was still a month older than Hearns.

[mrcallaham]

yeah he was 24. but he was a old 24!

[Boxing1977Boxing]

actually Benitez is better than Trinidad. Trinidad came along in a weak time, and Trinidad was a puncher. So Tito was more dominant against weaker opponents. But Benitez never folded the way Trinidad did against Hopkins. And when Benitez fought Hearns, he was not really out of his prime. He was still good and I think more solid at the weight than he had been below in someways, The weight fit him well. He beat Duran and Santos and Hope here.

[PRFrancis]

Benitez is way underated, some people think Trinidads the best boxer to ever come out of Puerto Rico, HELL NO. Benitez beat the best in his prime, in this fight hes past his prime yet he almost beat a prime Hearns. Benitez like Trinidad fought THE BEST of his time BUT, Benitez has more title defences then any boxer to ever come out of Puerto Rico. Case closed

[ironboy775]

margarito kos benetiz

[RicanPap1]

and mosley ko margarito next saturday hahahahaha!!!!!

[ricanspartan]

your funny hell no learn your boxing vbenetiz would beat margarito..

[cmurda51]

ur buggin, even with brass knuckles he would never find the radar in the ring

[ihatelifejosemartine]

The total arrogance on Benitez' face in the stare down never fails to crack me up. He was awesome in his prime. Both Benitez AND Hearns.

[stell29]

That's what I call a staredown

[Rasclot222]

Imagine this dream fight Benitez vs. Julian Jackson for the super welterweight title. I got Benitez by UD Julian would spend to much time looking for a ko

[ewfewfewf]

My grandmas dad is wilfredo benitez her name is provie we are puerto rican

[vjnctn]

3:22!!!!!!!!!!!

[Boxing1977Boxing]

Whoever made this video. the fight took place in 1982 not 1981. Dec. 1982. And whoever talked about Monzon being above Hagler, well Hagler fought Duran and Hearns and Leonard, and had a better title defense list. He was a better fighter. Just the guys he fought in Philly in the 1970s would have been title challengers.

[NandoSupes]

Benitez was truly special,the man was poetry in motion

[Poetryisalive]

Thomas Hearns was one of only a few boxers that moved up in weight class and took there punching power with them...

[marlon96]

Just because Bert Sugar rated Hagler so far down on atg's dosent take away from his greatness. Remember Hagler has had one of the best resume ever. plus he never was knocked to the mat

[IrishElite360]

the best middleweight ever was Gerald McCleannan.

Check out his videos

[lfsdan]

Get real. He's not even top 10 atg. Best middleweight ever is either Greb or Monzon.

[Doderhultarn89]

A sane person. you cant be black

[BrotherJR76]

Nice staredown!!!

[TrueFan1947]

I saw ALL the great fights in this era. Aaron Pryor was, without a doubt, by FAR the best of this entire bunch of great fighters.....and they all KNEW that....because they all DUCKED him like the PLAGUE and refused to FIGHT him!

[arkansoul]

This is what I have been telling people for years. Hagler, Leonard, Hearns, Duran, all dodged him. Hearns fought him at the amateur ranks and lost. Arguello was the only man to fight him...twice. The Hawk was The Man.

[lfsdan]

BS. Pryor had the poorest resume out of all of them. He'd get schooled by Benitez, ko'd by Hearns, SRL would box him silly. He was great but not on their level

[LeonardHearns1981]

youre crazy.

[Rasclot222]

I think your right Pryor would have been too small to fight at 147

[marlon96]

I would agree Hagler was the best middleweight I would only put Ray Robinson above him but Robinson was better at welter

[lfsdan]

I'd rate Monzon above Hagler.

[vince4193]

Hearns was the best man , the best two hands ever !!!

[jensen428]

Hagler was without a doubt the best middleweight ever.

[Irisd123]

roy jones bernard hopkins

[flyinghotwing]

jones hopkins were good, monzon better, and hagler the best

[86pimp3]

Marvin Hagler was not easy to hit in his prime.

[86pimp3]

Marvin Hagler was not easy to hit in his prime.

[ronnie2407]

Benitez was old school, he didn't back down from nobody

[shire2005]

I don't think benitez expected hearns to be that fast.

[rangergranger]

Wilfredo Benitez today is suffering from a progressive brain-injury, sustained from his years in boxing. He's practically a vegetable. Very tragic -- and ironic, considering he was known as a defensive boxer who avoided many punches thrown at his head.

[odin422]

shitty........that sucks 2 hear....

[nurvrax]

Two greats. This fight was not a thriller but very interesting. The radar was exceptional.

[flavamann]

looked like a fucking"game of slap and tickle.nothing but alot of counter punching and trying to out manuever one another,but i still think benitez was robbed.

[Odawg96]

Hearns looks a LOT more than 2 inches taller than Benitez. DAMN! I remember watching this fight when it aired (HBO I think). Benitez was on his way to becoming an afterthought and Hearns was on his way back.

[tariqshabazz]

Indeed, Benitez had the best staredowns as well as one of the best abilities in avoiding a punch. A great fighter who has been forgotten about.

[mowglieboy1]

LOL at ckobo84, that made me laugh. But Benitez does deserve mad respect. One of the great defensive boxers ever and gave both a fight. Hearns was just impossible to outbox. If you didn't have the power to KO him(as he had a suspect chin), you were gonna lose either a wide UD or get KO'd yourself. You had to have either power or had to be a strong brawler like Hagler who would make him fight there fight and not a boxing match to beat Hearns.

[mikers117]

Benitez, was known as the 'Radar', as he seemed to know what punches his opponent was going to throw bfore he threw it.Wilfred Benitez, along with Roberto Duran were 2 of the best defensive fighters in boxing history

[SalvyMic]

It's funny you mention that, since Duran is primarily known for his killer offense and Hands of Stone. His defense was vastly underrated, he didn't call himself a "master boxer" for nothing. However, if you wanna talk defensive boxers, you must include Jack Johnson, Willie Pep, and Pernell Whitaker among the best too.

[iliketowatchtoo]

Benitez was a real unique defensive fighter since he could stand right in front of his opponent and slip shots. Whitaker, Mayweather and others were/are hit and move boxers that strike when they want to since they have the speed to get in & out. Duran was also an excellent slipper & weaver that instinctively could smother, avoid and cushion blows. All ring generals who control the violence.

[xylofish1]

but none wuz az good as roy jones,az im sure yull admit

[firaga1]

not the same weight man. at middleweight benitez wasnt good and hearns wouldnt have been as good either. but at middle weight someone who might have beat roy is marvin hagler

[clawfish1]

never roy was too fast n marvin 2 easy 2 hit

[shankthatup]

to easy to hit?? have you seen how he counters?

[Goldskool]

fuck out of here roy never fougth any one a strong contender except hopkins please b4 real!

[ckobo84]

But he always ended up looking up to them when he was laying on the canvas, hehe.

[MantisAtlantis]

Benitez always looked down to Sugar Ray & Hearns. He had this absolute calmness about his skills absolutely not troubled whatsoever about the incoming offense.

[arkansoul]

There were NO punks in this fight according to the staredown!!!

[blanco8807]

hell yea benitez makes me proud 2 have that last name

[Cachaito]

The greatest staredown in boxing history.

[amck72]

The Leonard/Benitez staredown was excellent as well.

[Mistachill]

Which one? They had about three staredowns before the bell rang. lol!

[amck72]

All of the ones you see on the video.