Thread: Wilfredo Benitez

Does anybody know when & why Wilfredo Benitez dropped the 'O' from his name to be known as Wilfred?

Answer: Wilfredo didn't drop the "o". The stateside press dropped the "o". It's the tendency to want to "Americanize" foreign names, I guess.

Originally Posted by TitoFan

Answer: Wilfredo didn't drop the "o". The stateside press dropped the "o". It's the tendency to want to "Americanize" foreign names, I guess.

Thankyou for your help.

Originally Posted by Syntax Error

Originally Posted by TitoFan

Answer: Wilfredo didn't drop the "o". The stateside press dropped the "o". It's the tendency to want to "Americanize" foreign names, I guess.

Thankyou for your help.

Huh? Americanize? What's that suppose to mean?

Originally Posted by Ted The Bull

Originally Posted by Syntax Error

Originally Posted by TitoFan

Answer: Wilfredo didn't drop the "o". The stateside press dropped the "o". It's the tendency to want to "Americanize" foreign names, I guess.

Thankyou for your help.

Huh? Americanize? What's that suppose to mean?

To make something more in line with American culture. Lots of people have had to change names because they are advised it would be a good move so the American public can more easily pronounce or recognize your name. Yousef in Arabic is Joseph, and many arabs with the name who move to an English speaking country will take on the name Joseph. Its harder to memorize a name you can't say.

and Yosef is the one with the semtex jacket right ?

Originally Posted by althetruthhindley

and Yosef is the one with the semtex jacket right ?

hahahahahahahahahahahahah

^LOL

To be fair, a lot of foriegn guys with hard names will voluntarily change their ring names to make it easier. Hell even Marciano did it, didn't he?

Rocky Marciano was born Rocco Francis Marchegiano in Brockton, Massachusetts. Most of the Italian boxers in the 50's change their names. Graziano, LaMotta, many others. Had nothing to do about Americanization but every thing to do with easy pronouciation.

Italians period had to change their names. Tony Zale and Willy Pep are a couple others. Easier to pronounce is about right, this applied to other fighters with foreign names.

"Rocco Francis Marchegiano" -Try saying that ten times

"Italians period had to change their names." Are you Italian?

Originally Posted by Ted The Bull

Graziano,

I think he made up that name because he was wanted by the cops at the time and wanted to keep a low profile. I think his real name was Rocco Barbella or something like that haha, I read his book a year or so ago... great read!