Wilfred Benitez - the self styled "Bible of Boxing" - was a defensive wizard who claimed to have rarely ever trained for a fight. He was a young, fighting prodigy who boxed well, hit effectively and had a natural "savvy" directing him - what to do and when to do it.

Benitez fought from the age of 15 to the age of 32, during which time he boxed no less than 62 pro fights. Benitez lost by painful stoppage in some of his final bouts, and he finally exited with a 53-8-1(31) ledger.

In his prime, Benitez defeated great and fine fighters like Antonio Cervantes, this in a WBA 140 pound title challenge, the win seeing Benitez become champ at just 17 ears of age - Carlos Palomino, Roberto Duran and Maurice Hope. He was very special. even in his losses to Leonard and Hearns, Benitez made both all-time greats work hard, pushing them to the wire.

Benitez' finest hour perhaps came in January of 1982, when he befuddled, outboxed and out-punched Duran over 15 rounds. Benitez was magnificent that night, the win earning him inclusion in the exclusive club in the opinion of many, and after the win, Benitez wanted to move up and challenge the mighty Hagler!

There were no limits when it came to Benitez' desire to fight the best of the best. And, for a while - from 1976 to 1982 - not many fighters could match Benitez' sheer level of skill and boxing brilliance.

He defeated such men as Roberto Duran, Carlos Palomino, Antonio Cervantes, Maurice Hope, Tony Chiaverini, Bruce Curr, Pete Ranzany, Tony Petronelli, Randy Shields, Angel Robinson Garcia, Lawrence Hafey, Johnny Turner, Carlos Santos, Kevin Moley, Mauricio Bravo, Harold Weston and Paul Whittaker.

Herb Goldman ranked Benitez as the #5 All-Time welterweight: Wilfred was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992 and International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1996.