After his humiliating loss to Sugar Ray Leonard in the infamous ‘No Mas’ fight in November of 1980, Roberto Duran posted two comeback wins in 1981 over Nino Gonzalez and Luigi Minchillo to earn another title shot. This one for Wilfred Benitez’s WBC super-welterweight belt that he captured in May of 1981 with a one punch knockout of Maurice Hope.
The bout was set for January 30, 1982 at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. It was broadcast on HBO, and I was working that Saturday night at my airline job, so I didn’t see it live. When I saw the fight later on videotape, Benitez had totally outboxed Duran, and even outclassed him. It was a dominating performance, and I figured it was the end for Duran.
Wilfred had proved his greatness to me that night, and to me has to be mentioned in the top ten of all time best welterweights.
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