The Night Wilfred Benitez Confronted Thomas Hearns
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.พ. 2025
- Welcome back to Boxing After Dark! Tonight, Thomas Hearns makes his highly anticipated return after his first loss to Sugar Ray Leonard. After a few tune-up fights, Hearns is now confident and ready to challenge Wilfred Benitez for the WBC World Super Welterweight title.
This era of boxing was incredible.
And a lot of those championship fights were on network television. Except Leonard-Hearns on HBO. The "happening" weight divisions were welterweight, super-welterweight and middleweight. Ray "Boom-Boom" Mancini brought some interest to the lightweight division, as Holmes, Weaver, Shavers did to the heavies, until Tyson came along. I was a big boxing fan until about the early '90s. Now, with current pro boxers, even on commercial TV, ratings are squat!
Missed the days when the boxing means boxing
Tommy already got cte
Yep. When nobody ducked each other.
@@billsiems6514 Great points! 📺 🥊 👍🏿
This was an era in boxing that will never be matched again!!!
Agreed 🙌
Boxing isnt the same. Loved how they hugged at the end. It was genuine ❤
Yes, I always love good sportsmanship. After nfl games, I like to see opposing players shake hands and chat a bit.
@thomaspick4123 exactly
I loved when the best fought the best.
Hearns was a class act. After knocking out James Shuler in the first round for Shuler's USBA belt. James Shuler died a couple of weeks later in a motorcycle. Tommy went to his funeral and lay the belt back to him.
That title meant alot to James Shuler and ill alway love Hearns for that.
Thanks for the nice story.
Yeah that was real respect he paid to Shuler
He let Wifredo know there were some serious repercussions
Shuler coudn't deal with the loss to Hearns so he committed suicide....
@@genesisgenesis9888ARE YOU SAYING HE PURPOSELY RAMMED HIS MOTORCYCLE?
Much respect for both these great Champions. Neither ever ducked anyone.
Ray Leonard did, and before you "Sugar" lovers talk smash, listen up. Ray ducked a rematch with The Hitman, who was winning every round till he ran outta gas (Which was his M.O.), but not before The Hitman gave that tail a detached retina, then Ray "The Ducker" "retired" LMAO!🤡🤣 to avoid 🫣 The Marvelous One, but waited 6 years to fight him in 1987, where Vegas ROBBED Hagler, then a disgusted Hagler retired for good. Yall yap about Floyd running? Watch how that overrated Ray ran around rings, then call me smh. Benitez should've been king too. The 5th king. He was as slick as they came. Very underrated. FOH
@SonnyEasy Very well said. Benitez was an all time great. Him & Hagler would've been an interesting fight in 1982-83. You're spot on about that detached retina by Ray Leonard. He was diagnosed with that detached retina in 1982 and retired. Hit Man Hearns detached that retina in September 1981
@@mongoslade277 #StampDatBeloved💯💯💯
Benitez badly missed his weigh in vs leonard too. He came in weight drained and had zero snap on his punches and obviously less punch resistence. He still handled defeat with absolute grace. @@mongoslade277
I wanted Marvin there BUT... after it finished I thought Ray won clearly (I am not alone). Marvin always honorable no doubt!
1992 - we were in Rhode Island 6/12 - I match Terry Crawley 6RD (L-pts) & Goody is corner w/T C. that was a really cool experience.
I met Tommy Hearns and Emanuel Steward in Miami Beach back when Tommy was preparing for his fight with Marvin Hagler. His daily training were more like boxing shows in the hotel lobby with an audience viewing!! WOW! I could not believe how humble, sweet and kind both Tommy and Emanuel were ....... real disciplined gentlemen!!
I think you may have jinxed Hearns considering Hagler beat the shit out of bug eyes Tommy Hearns ...Loved seeing him hammered ..arrogant dude ..all he had was his height ...
Really? Tommy trained in the hotel lobby? WTF
Must of been measured. Not what you "picture" ha- ha!!
I met Lester Hayes in Walmart.
Two of my favorite boxers. Humble and respectful always. Boxing back then was great.
Two warriors both respected each other.👍🥊
I'm glad I was alive during this era of boxing. Some of the best boxers of all time without a doubt
That was an incredible era for boxing. Sad where it is today.
Some decent talent ^ hvywt div LOADED but.... ADMIN "SICK" these days BOXING & most folks sick-OF the outdated tats trend.
Pure admin IBO sickness no-1 & the "duel-tri" utterly WILL destroy boxing history.
Just shows how amazing that era was that I had actually forgotten about this fight. Two of the greatest fighters of all time. Would reign supreme today!
Only one Tommy! Benitez a cut below!
@@RobertVilla-o1qOnly cause he got CTE dementia
Ratings is always about levels & **CUTS. You are right. Tommy too not rated high as SRR or HHA or "the Wil' of the Wisp."
Golden Period of Boxing 🥊
@Powerneck greatest time for boxing and I don't think we'll see the like again
So glad that I was a boxing fan and alive during the golden era. Got to see all these fights live on TV.
As a 19-year-old boxing fan, I'm beginning to realize my generation of boxers wouldn't survive two rounds with these guys from the old days
Go back in time and watch all the ALI fights you can find he could really take a hit ken Norton broke ALIs jaw in a early round and never stopped finishing the fight
Truth, those guys were monsters and had heart and determination.
The last generation of 15 round fights was awesome to watch, I still find some killer classics here on TH-cam. Enjoy watching
@@Popi_of_local_ironI remember watching that fight with my dad
Mayweather couldn't beat any of these dudes period
Everyone was a killer back then
Such incredible skill, determination, and class. Two of boxings finest athletes.
Tommy’s hand speed was BLAZING in his prime!
add that to his Long reach, and quick reflexes and you have the best of his time
Too bad he had fragile hands that couldn't hold up to the force of his punches. He broke his right hand in.this fight and in the middle of the 1st round vs Hagler.
Yeah this is an amazingly high IQ fight, but would have been an easier win for Tommy if he hadn't hurt his hand imo. Still tho, what a great display of skills from both.
Tommy Hearns was just a wild beast on the ring , respect for Wilfred Benitez too
Excellent video 👏👏
Benitez and Hearns gave a good display of boxing. Prayers for Benitez and Hearns. ❤
Best era of boxing ever, Tommy is my favourite boxer of all time, superb fighters with real heart and guts.
L LOL MMMFAO MINES TOO THE BOY CANE TO FIGHT EVERY NITE ALL HEART AND SKILL
@@alhelireese2371 It's the Detroit in him. Motor city cobra 🐍🥊🥊
@@alhelireese2371 It's the Detroit in him. Motor city cobra 🐍🥊🥊
@@Thechosenfool it's was the Detroit in him. The Motor city cobra 🐍🥊
Watching this bout just reminds me how great both of these fighters were, and how great this era of boxing was.
I love the respect they showed each other.
Crazy how weak boxing has got over the years
Fans made boxing weak.
Boxers aren't trying to be walking around with permanent brain damage and hardly capable of putting complete sentences together just for the fans' enjoyment.
Right.
We used to have Hearns, Hagler, Duran, Leonard. Now we have Ryan Garcia and Jake Paul 😅
Too many sanctioning bodies, too many promoters. And it’s the fighters’ fault too. They’re allowed to cherry pick their opponents. Back then you didn’t fight Thomas Hearns unless you HAD to. If Hearns or Benitez were around today they wouldn’t fight. Nobody would fight them. They would be ducked.
You think Crawford would pick Hearns as an opponent at 47 or 54? Mayweather pick Hearns? Canelo fight Hearns ‘at 47, 54 or 60 or higher? You know damn well all three would avoid Hearns like the plague. They would say they would fight him but the fight would never materialize.
Qué pelea. Dios sabe por qué Benitez tiene tanto sufrimiento en su vida. Dios con su Misericordia lo consuele. Ese si era un boxeadorazo. Peleó con lo más granado. Y es admirable la actitud de un Hearns al abrazar con tanta euforia y caballerosidad a su contrincante. Qué maravillosos tiempos ronde sobraba el talento. Esas dos perlas del boxeo estadounidense a los que enfrentó son toda una leyenda. Al mano de piedras Duran y a otros, como Kid Pambele... quedan en la memoria.
Benitez was underrated !! Such a good boxer ! Gotta love Tommy also !
It's sad about Wilfred Benitez. My heart goes out to him...
I meet benitez at a bar it was sad ,he was drunk speaking Spanish, cussing at negro
@@DexterSmith-u9mstupid benitez is black too & no you didn't
@@DexterSmith-u9m I'm so sorry to hear that, I liked Benitez and respected him. One of my favorite fighters from the '80's era along with Sugar Ray, Tommy Hearns, and Roberto Duran. Also, the great Marvelous Marvin Hagler. May they rest in peace! 🙏
@@tubucoco They????? Hagler is the only one that has passed
@@DexterSmith-u9myou was probably the one drunk and cussing at black folks.
Tommy is an absolute legend. My favourite boxer. Multi division champ!
I always appreciate your commemorations at the end of the videos for the boxers.
That fact that they all took turns fighting each other made this era the best.
Leonard- Hearns 1 =EVEN= Leonard late tKo
Duran- Leonard 1 great war Duran 1-0 pts decision.
Leonard - Duran II goes to 1-1 **controversy *Duran "disgraced."
=I'll have to take the time to look at sequences here all-in-all-
Benitez - SRL had passed. Leoard TKO-15 Benitez
Benitiez-Duran Benitez WIN (pts)
Hagler - Duran very nice night for Roberto and redemption yet Marvin wins Decision.
Marvin - Tommy called a "fight for the ages" reminiscent (*not quite) Dempsey - Firpo 1927 range ha-ha probably "way off!"
Tommy Vs Roberto ISN'T a good night for the great R.D. what a show of Terror however.
Leonard-Hagler some say the Decision controversial. Marvin kept his pride no doubt yet - for myself I agreed with the Decision favoring Ray Leonard.
Leonard - Duran III why? Seemed a quite dim light on the promotion yet.... still does into the record book a points win on the Ray Leonard record.
Marvin RET with the Ray Leonard LOSS - relocated to Italy. Died in recent years unexpectedly. RIP great boxer and even "greater" character!
Tommy looking "good" in modern years don't seem effected by the long ***fighting career.
Ray ***he looks good too and is always in demand.
Duran we see touring and at Boxing functions still and he looks fit looks happy too!!
Wilfred Benitez - I am not sure reports about him-??- he was hurt a little bit it the Matthew Hilton contest.
Damn,wilfredo was an amazing boxer! One of the best! Gave Hearns a hell of a fight.
So sad how Wilfred Benitez now has the mind of a child
CTE?
Hearns taught me never to judge a book by its cover. Never have I witnessed a man so boney yet hit so hard I thought that sound effects were being added to his fights😮
Great clip from the past 💯
You ended it with a great conclusion commentary closing!❤
It was tough getting past Tommys long reach, but benitez like leonard had a lot of speed and head movement , this was a cracking fight
Two All Time Greats! Best wishes to both.
These guys were really tough men, and Benitez had the heart that the great Duran lacked. Fantastic era of boxing! The 4 kings, Benitez and Pryor
God be with you Wilfred..I saw the same points the judges did with Tommy Herns. But you were just as tough and talented. It was one of those fights where anything can happen.
If that fight goes 2 more rounds, Benitez catches and KO's Hearns.
@@billsiems6514 Agreed
There's always someone who says "if it had gone 2 more rounds'etc fact is you know how many rounds there is. You can't have any more rounds than the maximum stipulated in any particular fight so you have to win within those rounds, ffs ☹️
Right! 17 rounders! : )
@@billsiems6514 Possibly. Hearns was overtrained in those early days as a welter & jr. middle.
What a fantastic video… Both of them are amazing champions!
I can watch clips like this all day
Old school boxing 🥊🥊
This really was the golden era of Welterweights/Middleweights division. Hearns was a very special talent, one of the all time greats.
I loved watching the Hit Man fight. He was a great fighter and a showman in the ring.
Was familiar with both fighters and was always super impressed with The Hitman. Never saw this fight back in the day and I have to say the highlights are very impressive. This was an incredible era of boxing with Leonard, Hearns, Duran and Benitez all in the same weight class.
I met Tommy in Vegas. Standing next to him, seeing the size of his hands, his shoulders etc. - I have no idea how he ever fought at 147. Dude had a hollow leg. What a legend.
Great effort by Benitez even though he came up short. The fact that he was able to be competitive boxing against Hearns says a lot because Hearns could outbox anyone. The big punchers were who he struggled with. If you add up all the rounds in his 2 fights with Leonard, I would say he won more than 2/3 of them. In the first fight Leonards heart and determination got him the win but he was behind on all 3 cards. And Tommy really won the second fight that was scored a draw.
conditioning was key back in these days. they went 15 rounds vs todays 12 rounds. i am all for the 12 because it lengthens the life span and career of the boxer.
Yes indeed there's more to life than boxing😮
@@manlymanhunger7451 back in they days they didn't need a ring full on action could have had the fights in a phone booth
Correct.
I actually watched the fight that created the rule change.
A fifteen round fight between Ray Boom Boom Mancini, and Doo Koo Kim, where Kim died at the end of the fight.
One of the most brutal fights ever.
Both fighters took enormous punishment in that slugfest.
Ray Mancini was so distraught over Kim's death, he was never really the same fighter after that.
@manlymanhunger7451 yes but 13 through 15 was where the worldchampionship was decided
@@anthonyrobinson-ew7hi no it was not.
This was the last time people saw the great version of Wilfred Benitez just didn't have it anymore after this fight
I'm from PR ....the streets, drugs...
Tommy Hearnes and Marvelous Marvin Haglar were my favorites. But there was so much great competition back then. This was when boxing really meant something. Manny the Pacman has that same quality. ❤
When Hearns gets hit it sometimes looks worse than it is because he has those crazy legs.
Well, those crazy legs REALLY made him look worse vs Hagler and Leonard after getting hit! Whoa!!
Hearns was a great fighter in a time of great fighters.
Both men are great determined fighters with impressive boxing skills and knowledge that made them both who they are in boxing and to the fans ❤🙂👍
Thomas Hearns and Julian Jackson were two ships who unfortunately passed one another in the night. What a battle that would have been at 154.
Jackson could punch like no other,but Hearn could punch too and was a much better technical fighter.
Nice night of Boxing. Incredible these triangles between Hearns-Duran-Benitez-SRL-Hagler simply incredible no one could of predicted their outcomes.
😮wow!!! Your serving was so Awesome and fluid. Great job.
Today’s boxer could not and would not be able to do this. Respect to both men for their True Grit.
this was when boxing was about fighting not just bravado and money.
A great fight. Benitiz had to take one to land one against the bigger Tommy, he had no other option. Sad to see his current state. He certainly leaves behind an incredible legacy of skill and toughness.
Two incredible boxers and warriors. A time when the best wanted to fight the best. Unlike nowadays, where a lot of fighters avoid each other. It’s very sad to see Wilfred’s health nowadays. Tragic.
Nobody and I mean nobody who seen Benitez fighting back then would've ever thought he would end up the way he is now, I rewinded this bout five times just to watch Benitez slip all those punches
These were the Golden year's of Boxing it will never be the same im glad i lived thur it and saw it live.WILFREDO BENTIEZ YOU DID US PROUD, 🇵🇷.
Two great champions in the greatest decade...👏🍻
Man. Benitez could slip out of some punches no one else could. This was a great fight.
Fantastic video, excellent presentation on these great men. Thanks for creating this!!👌
My friend was one of the 1st British boxers to be accepted into the Bronx gym, he told me many stories of Hearns, spending time in his basement during downtime playing video games with him and other young fighters. He was a monster and smashed his sparring partners.
Tommy Hearns boxed at the "Kronk" gym in Detroit, I don't know what the Bronx gym is.
these were great days growing up. 53 now and of course i watch ufc but for whatever reason it is simply not as cool as the boxing of old. these dudes, tyson, etc. good times
@nah12412 Could you repost this as a new comment instead of a reply? I'd be happy to pin it-it’s a great question!
@@BoxingAfterDark yesir sure can
I agree that UFC & MMA don't hold a candle to pro boxing as regards viewer appeal, despite the competitors appearing to possess more overall athleticism. But I don't follow the sport any longer because its best years seem to have ended around 2000. Used to spend a lot of Tuesday evenings in the 90s at the Blue Horizon in Philly, but something in the sport died and I let go of it. However, I still like watching as well as reading and talking about fights & fighters of the past. I'm 67yo.
@@martyhowell4043 cool! i used to watch tuesday night fights every week on USA Network with my friend and his cool grandfather. even before then, i grew up watching hagler, leonard, etc. when i was a teen. i actually won money in HS when leornard beat hagler. just like when hollyfied beat tyson later on. i picked that prince naseem would eventually get beat by a mexican bodyshot artist in barerra. when i lived on my own, me and 4 other friends would take turns hosting the saturday main event ppv fights on our "special cable boxes". i could talk for hours about the boxing days back then. happy new year!
listening to Benitez at the very end of the vid it's amazing how he sounds EXACTLY LIKE Bruce Lee.
Anybody who can last 15 rounds of prime Tommy Hearns full artillery is special and Benitez was just that. Old school boxing with less money, real fighters and punishing 15 rounds is better than todays soft generation
Goes to show why balance is so important, if your opponent “punches” (pushes) you the wrong way, it can be considered a knockdown. Would’ve loved to see Hearns refine his technique
Agreed. If Hearns had solidified his balance issues I firmly believe that he would have been even more lethal than he turned out. Balance is a crucial factor in combat sports. That’s what made Ray Leonard so good. He and Salvador Sanchez had the best legs in the business during that era.
Agreed. If Hearns had solidified his balance issues I firmly believe that he would have been even more lethal than he turned out. Balance is a crucial factor in combat sports. That’s what made Ray Leonard so good. He and Salvador Sanchez had the best legs in the business during that era.
This is back in the day when boxers really trained and worked extremely hard to grasp the golden belt !!!!
Benitez did not like to train for fights at all. He did it all with pure natural talent. If he had worked harder in the gym, he would have become one of the greatest pound for pound fighters ever.
Real talk
@@charleshammer2928 that's right
My friend, Benitez is one of the Greatest. He battle with four(4) of the greatest of al times and defeat two of them.
@@JuanRuiz-lu1tq I remember reading once that he never trained for more than 1 week for any fight, and he claimed he did not train at all for the Sugar Ray Leonard fight. Pretty impressive.
If I had a billion dollars I would donate to cancer charities! If if if!
Two world class counterpunchers
Hearns just LOOKS incredible. like he was born for the sport
The golden age of boxing
The HitMan Hearnes is without a doubt the most accomplished Exciting Soul Taker to ever FIGHT in the ring.
THANK YOU TOMMY for showing ALL of us what a "HitMan" actually is.
THE HIT MAN COMETH 👊🏿💯👊🏿
I have not seen a boxing match this good since the 80’s
Good narration and well put together
thank you!
Two minutes on a heavy bag and I'm heaving up a lung. These guys are going 45 minutes with no problem. Now THAT's conditioning.
Hearns' eyes at the beginning of this video. 😆 Dude looked possessed or something!😂
MAN TOMMY WAZ A NUT
The hit man was fantastic. That Haggler Hearns match was insane.
Can't believe I somehow missed this one. This was a great fight.
Benitez was one of the best in the world back then. Really liked the guy !
Everyone of those guys were incredible fighters youd have a hard time finding a group of fighters that talented
This era was the greatest in boxing history
Hearns was always one of favourites. He just seemed ... honest.
This was boxing at its best !!!
Thank you.
For that great speech, those beautiful words.Actually they describes benites accurately
If it were my life in DISTRESS "wouldn't" want-it BEING TOLD!
There were so many great middle weights at that time. Tommy Hearns was a great fighter.
I remember going to hockey arenas watching Leonard , Hearns , Duran , on a grainy satellite feed .🇨🇦
Oh the memories. Alot of good fighters came out the D. It wasn't just about the fame. It was about being the best and taking on the rest.
I never liked Benitez, but he deserves credit for beating Duran and having a competitive fight w/ both Hearns & SR. If there was a 5th King, he'd be it
And also Alexis Arguello
Why? What's not to like? Not a shit talker. Respectful. Always fought hard with no excuses. Now Leonard, there's one that's easy to dislike...
I liked Benitez because even though he was a very skilled fighter he was always the underdog against the kings. I wanted him to humble Hearns and Sugar Ray so bad. And I was and still is a fan of Hearns and Sugar Ray. And now he’s suffering from a brain disease SMH
@@dimedraweriv258 Arguello different weight class to the four kings...
@@robertmceuen3630why's that
I'm proud of my fellow Rican. He showed a lot of heart, skill and determination!
This division back then was the most incredible ever because of the boxers that were in it.
I worked at the same prison where Hearns brother was locked up in. Pretty quiet kid. Kept to himself. Tommy came to visit a few times as well.
Sean "The Irish Express" Fitzgerald fought Roberto one-of-the years Duran a "Shadow" of what he was... and Sean undefeated back then 17 matches I think it was... I fought my friend Sean before!
He's a C.O. in Worcester, MA. his native home port.
Hearne, Hagler was the best 3 round fight I've ever seen
The golden era of boxing!
#80s🥊
"Those were the days"
I was at ringside and can tell you that there was an audible gaspe from the crowd when a cornered Benitez slipped and ducked a flurry of Hearns blows. Wilfred was cool and precise but he lacked the reach and threw too few punches.
Benitez avoided no one and was a fantastic and courageous fighter. So sad that his health is not good.
Truly unbelievable conditioning for the pair of them. Made of steel. Heart of Lions.
The best satisfaction of my life as a fan!
A true golden era, and even at the time, that was obvious. Hearns was truly a great, a much overused word these days.