In his prime, boxer Wilfred Benitez lived the good life, he was a playboy away from the ring and he once dated Sugar Ray Leonard’s sister. He drove expensive cars and lived in expensive homes. He was also treated like a king in Puerto Rico and then his life took an unexpectant turn.

BACKSTORY:

Wilfred Benítez (born September 12, 1958 in New York, New York) was a boxer. He is remembered best as a skilled and aggressive fighter with exceptional defensive abilities who won world championships in three separate weight divisions, and was the youngest world champion in boxing history. Benitez has been a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame since 1996.

Benitez fought the biggest boxers of the day, including: Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran and Thomas Hearns.

Benitez’s career went downwards after the fight with Hearns, as did his lifestyle. In 1984, he tried a comeback under the hand of Yamil Chade, but this proved unsuccessful. On November 28, 1986, with his health declining, he went to Buenos Aires, Argentina to fight middleweight Carlos Herrera. Benitez was stopped in seven rounds. But that wasn’t the worst part of the trip. His money for the fight was stolen by the fight’s promoter, along with his documents and passport, and he was stranded in Argentina for one year. After much government huddling and talks, he was finally able to fly back home to Puerto Rico in 1988. A touching public moment in his life came when, upon leaving the airplane that brought him back, he handed his seven year-old daughter an Argentine toy doll he had bought for her before his fight there, and told her he hadn’t forgotten her one single day during his time away.

His last fight, took place in Winnipeg, Canada, and was defeated on a 10 round decision against Scott Papasadora.

After this, he returned to Puerto Rico, where he lived with his mother Clara, on a $200 a month pension provided by the World Boxing Council. Benitez now suffers from an incurable, degenerative brain condition many believe was caused by the blows he took in the ring. In 2002, Leonard visited Benítez, who by this time had forgotten his identity.

During the visit, the fight was shown on television. Consequently, Benítez remembered the event, only saying “Ray, I did not train for that fight.” In 2004, he was diagnosed with diabetes. Benitez’s mother died in the summer of 2008.

Ring 10, a non-profit organization that helps impoverished former fighters, provides a monthly stipend to Benitez and established “The Wilfred Benitez Fund” to raise more money to aid the fallen champion.

During 2012, Benitez was honored with a statue in Puerto Rico.

On November 27, 2012, a smiling and healthy looking Benítez attended the funeral of Hector Camacho in Puerto Rico, arriving on a wheelchair. Benítez, arrived with boxers like Felix Trinidad, Wilfredo Gomez, and Alfredo Escalera.[6] Surprising the mourners, Benitez rose to his feet for a boxing pose in front of Camacho’s coffin.

WILFRED BENITEZ STATS

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