Hey Anton, great matchup as usual sir. First of all though, Manny Pacquiao in 2007 was a Super Featherweight and Wilfred Benitez started at Light Welterweight and went all the way to Light Middleweight. In 1979, Benitez won the Welterweight title. So, this is probably 2008-2011 Pacquiao instead, at Light Welterweight or Welterweight.
Anyways, onto the matchup! Of course we all know Wilfred Benitez is one of the very best defensive fighters of all time, up there with the likes of Whitaker, Pep, Mayweather Jr., Locche, etc. Manny Pacquaio, being the volume puncher he is, he will make a very good fight out of this. Great offense vs great defense who wins? That's the kind of fight this is.
I'm a fan of both these fighters, and this matchup is a tough one to decide the winner. In the early rounds, Pacquiao will overwhelm Benitez with his hand speed and might hurt Benitez with a couple left hands. But in the middle rounds, Benitez will begin to avoid Manny's best shots, and counterpunch effectively. This fight reminds me of Pacquiao-Marquez 1-3 to be honest, except Benitez has better defense than Marquez, and won't be knocked down by Manny. I think Benitez's defense will help him outpoint Manny, and win a razor thin split decision.
Winner: Wilfred Benitez by split decision.
I could also see Pacquiao win a split decision with his volume punching, and this fight could go either way.
With all due respect to Manny, among other factors, one must look at strength of opponent (easily going to Benitez) and the fact that for most of his career, Benitez was prepared to go 15 rounds.
Looking at Manny’s career, he never faced the quality of opponent Wilfred did; Roberto Duran or Thomas Hearns - Benitez went 15 rounds with both, beating Duran and losing a HIGHLY controversial MD to Hearns who held a 71% KO rate at the time of their fight. Personally, I see Hearns putting Pacquiao on the canvas inside 3 minutes at ANY weight.
Benitez fought Mustafa Hamsho - a two-time Hagler victim at middleweight -
And Wilfred fought and beat Carlos Palomino, Randy Shields, Antonio Cervantes, Tony Petronelli, and Pete Ranzany.
Of course most know, he gave Sugar Ray Leonard all he could handle before losing on a TKO in the 15th round; and don’t forget, Ray had an awesome 62% KO rate at the time of their fight.
I don’t see Pacquiao hurting Wilfred; unanimous decision, Benitez.
Peace…..
Pacquiao, particularly v.2007, is stronger, faster and hits you non-stop with incredible power. I mean, not even Benitez's defensive wizardry would be able to withstand Pac's onslaught. Benitez couldn't handle Ray Leonard and he wouldn't be able to handle Pac either. Besides, Wilfred had that rep as very lax and lazy in training, which contributed to his fast decline and his failure to reach his full potential. He could've been up there with Leonard, Duran and Hearns.
even bums nowadays can beat pac after that KO...
Could the defensive minded Benitez beat Manny?
