Boxing Classics. Leonard vs. Benitez. - kensoldtimeboxingchat.com

I started to become a serious boxing fan in the late 1970’s, with the Larry Holmes vs. Ken Norton fight on June 9, 1978 being the one that lit a spark of interest that grew stronger by the day. Sugar Ray Leonard was the darling of the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal and became a household name as a result. Ray’s original intention was to retire after the games and attend the University of Maryland, but when his father got sick, he had no choice but to turn professional to help his parents.

He was a regular on free television and I would regularly tune into Wide World of Sports to watch his bouts on Saturday afternoons. By the time Ray was scheduled to meet WBC Welterweight Champ Wilfred Benitez on November 30, 1979, I was a full fledged fan of his. The Friday night bout live on ABC television with Howard Cosell was the most exciting thing in the world to me, and I sat glued to the little 11″ black and white tv in my bedroom as the show started.

It was the first time I had ever seen Marvin Hagler fight, and when he was held to a draw by Vito Antuofermo, I knew Hagler had been hosed, a victim of lousy scoring. When Sugar Ray and Wilfred stood eye to eye at ring center, I couldn’t help but notice Ray’s jaw clenching with nervous tension, anxiously awaiting the first round bell to ring. Leonard took first advantage when he floored Benitez with a quick left jab in the third round, but most of the action was back and forth as the fight reached the tenth round. Benitez was a defensive wizard and made Ray miss with his blows constantly. Leonard gained control as the fight entered the championship rounds, and late in the fifteenth round, dropped a tiring Benitez. When referee Carlos Padilla stopped the contest with 6 seconds left in the fight, Ray ran to the ring ropes and jumped on them with his hands held high.

Sugar Ray had won his first world championship and I just knew he was just the fighter boxing needed to replace a retired Muhammad Ali as it’s star. Leonard had the charisma and the talent that no one else did, and as a 19 year old kid at the time, I couldn’t wait to see him in the ring again.