1st Round - 140 Pound Tourney - Wilfred Benitez vs. Benny Leonard

[sweet_scientist]

15 rounds, who takes it?

If you don't give a reason for your opinion, your opinion will only carry half a vote. :good

[PowerPuncher]

Both of these in the first round? Bit unfair, I say they both win in tune up fights and go through to the next round

[sweet_scientist]

Both of these in the first round? Bit unfair, I say they both win in tune up fights and go through to the next round

It was a random draw, it wasn't really aimed at fairness. It was random to ensure fighters weren't given predictable, smooth draws and a standard, boring result at the end.

[Loewe]

I go with Benny. More well rounded and faster feet. He would outbox and outpunch Benitez in a similar performance to what the bigger Leonard did. Benitez was also still very unexperienced at 140 while Benny would have quite some experience considering we could take him at his best at 135. Benitez would be the bigger man which wouldn´t help him much in here.

Leonard UD15 Benitez

[ripcity]

It was a random draw, it wasn't really aimed at fairness. It was random to ensure fighters weren't given predictable, smooth draws and a standard, boring result at the end.
The problem with random draws is that you get a match up like this in the first round. Think of yourself as a promoter I would think you would want the best possible match up in the finals. I'm not sugesting that either Wilfred Benitez or Benny Leonard are going to be there but this is too early for this match up.

[Dempsey1238]

The problem with random draws is that you get a match up like this in the first round. Think of yourself as a promoter I would think you would want the best possible match up in the finals. I'm not sugesting that either Wilfred Benitez or Benny Leonard are going to be there but this is too early for this match up.

Rember that heavyweight tourny a while back.
Most of the heavyweight champs got easy pickings, but Noo Not Marciano.

First he had to beat Jeff, Dempsey, Frazier and finally lost to Ali.
I mean that was a murders role right there.

[MRBILL]

Gotta go with a young but primed 18 year old Benitez over Ben Leonard...:patsch

MR.BILL

[scartissue]

Gotta go with a young but primed 18 year old Benitez over Ben Leonard...:patsch

MR.BILL

Same here, despite the age difference I think Benitez' reflexes were uncanny at this time. Benitez on a close 15 round dec., if they don't feint, duck and parry everyone to sleep first.

Scartissue

[Minotauro]

I think Benitez would win his reflexes and accuracy were amazing I see this being a difficult style for Leonard for the first time he would be fighting some who has a better defence. Benitez via UD.

[teeto]

In Leonard Wilfred really does have a man that will not play into his hands, Leonard isnt gunna be drawn to the ropes for sure, he was a master at keeping the distance he liked and stabbing with jabs and counters. But Wilfred was so fast that he could step in here and get his own shots off and get back out i think. A chess match in the centre of the ring here, and i think the faster man comes on late after falling behind on points, and takes a decision.

Wilfredo for me.

[natonic]

I like Benitez in this one. The big height difference doesn't help Benny's cause. Benitez just does enough to get a close decision.

[ripcity]

Going by boxrec Wilfred Benitez is 5′ 10″ with a reach of 70“
Benny Leonard is 5′ 5″ with a reach of 69“. Benitez has a hight advantage and will abeable use the leverage that gives him to land the harder punches. I think Leonard had the skills to avoide enough of them and with only a one inch disavantage in reach would land enough to get a decision.

[timmers612]

I also have to go with Wilfedo. A not peak conditioned Benitz made Ray miss alot in Ray's prime, and I personally had their match a draw going into the 15th, and even half way through that round until the big left uppercut put Wilfedo down. Benny just doesn't compare in power or speed with Ray in his prime.

[Senya13]

It's just amazing how many Benny Leonard experts we have on this forum.

[PowerPuncher]

Rember that heavyweight tourny a while back.
Most of the heavyweight champs got easy pickings, but Noo Not Marciano.

First he had to beat Jeff, Dempsey, Frazier and finally lost to Ali.
I mean that was a murders role right there.

Ali cherry picking shot fighters :yep

[MattMattMatt]

Ali cherry picking shot fighters :yep

OT - Who's that in your avatar?