Open Boxing

Wilfred Benitez

Wilfred Benitez held the WBC super welterweight world title, the WBC and The Ring welterweight world titles and the WBA and The Ring super lightweight world titles between 1976 and 1982. Benitez first became a world champion aged 17, younger than any other world champion, after winning the WBA and The Ring super lightweight world titles by beating Antonio Cervantes.

World title bouts
10
Record in world title bouts (won–lost)
8–2
World titles held
5
Longest world title reign (The Ring super lightweight, 1976–1979)
2 years, 9 months

World title reigns and bouts

Jan 1976 – Jan 1983

Super WelterweightWBC
The Ring
WelterweightWBC
The Ring
Super LightweightWBA
The Ring
1976age 171977age 181978age 191979age 201980age 211981age 221982age 231983age 24
1976197819801982

WonLostDrawn or no contest

Timeline of world title events

  1. 1985

  2. The Ring magazine rates Wilfred Benitez No. 8 at middleweight in its annual ratings

  3. 1983

  4. The Ring magazine rates Wilfred Benitez No. 1 at super welterweight in its annual ratings

  5. 1982

  6. The Ring magazine rates Wilfred Benitez No. 2 at super welterweight in its annual ratings

  7. Thomas Hearns beats Wilfred Benitez via majority decision 15/15

    Super Welterweight · WBC and The Ring

  8. Wilfred Benitez beats Roberto Duran via unanimous decision 15/15

    Super Welterweight · WBC

  9. 1981

  10. The Ring magazine rates Wilfred Benitez No. 1 at super welterweight in its annual ratings

  11. Wilfred Benitez beats Carlos Santos via unanimous decision 15/15

    Super Welterweight · WBC

  12. Wilfred Benitez beats Maurice Hope via knockout 12/15

    Super Welterweight · WBC

  13. 1980

  14. The Ring magazine rates Wilfred Benitez No. 2 at welterweight in its annual ratings

  15. 1979

  16. The Ring magazine rates Wilfred Benitez No. 1 at welterweight in its annual ratings

  17. Sugar Ray Leonard beats Wilfred Benitez via knockout 15/15

    Welterweight · WBC and The Ring

  18. Wilfred Benitez beats Harold Weston via unanimous decision 15/15

    Welterweight · WBC and The Ring

  19. Wilfred Benitez beats Carlos Palomino via split decision 15/15

    Welterweight · WBC and The Ring

  20. Wilfred Benitez’s reign as The Ring super lightweight world champion ends

    Super Lightweight · The Ring

  21. 1978

  22. The Ring magazine rates Wilfred Benitez the super lightweight champion in its annual ratings

  23. 1977

  24. The Ring magazine rates Wilfred Benitez the super lightweight champion in its annual ratings

  25. Wilfred Benitez’s reign as the WBA super lightweight world champion ends

    Super Lightweight · WBA

  26. 1976

  27. The Ring magazine rates Wilfred Benitez the super lightweight champion in its annual ratings

  28. Wilfred Benitez beats Tony Petronelli via knockout 3/15

    Super Lightweight · WBA and The Ring

  29. Wilfred Benitez beats Emiliano Villa via unanimous decision 15/15

    Super Lightweight · WBA and The Ring

  30. Wilfred Benitez beats Antonio Cervantes via split decision 15/15

    Super Lightweight · WBA and The Ring