Shockingly sad story of a Puerto Rican legend.....

[DaxxKahn]

Though I hate to see any fighter end up this way I have witnessed, known and heard about soo many pro fighters ending up broke, with mental problems or both due to boxing I have to say I am almost numb to it....

I know Greg Page, The G-Mans family, knew Patterson and watched him slip into his althzimers, Riddick Bowe, and a slew of others My heart used to really break and still it makes me sad but I have learned to accept it....Shows I have been around this business too long

There are a couple side-points to this story.
First, Benitez was long considered to be "simple", for lack of a better term The story goes that, when he lived and trained in Cus D'Amato's place in the Catskills, he would defecate in his closet, and that he would indulge on chicken and rice to the point of vomiting, which he would also do in the closet. I wasn't there, this is just what I've read.
Second, jacobs/Cayton set him up financially, as they did with Edwin Rosario. The father and mother of Benitez raided his trust funds and left him bankrupt, and this is not a new story. This came to light back in the early to mid 90s when it happened.
Third, it wasn't boxing that did him wrong. There is considerable evidence that he was something less than "normal" (again, for lack of a better word) when he started out. But he had a gift, in that he was very hard to hit, so maybe it wasn't boxing that got him "punchy". Also, when he left boxing, he had millions of dollars invested that would have paid him income for life. I would suggest reading up on his father, Gregorio, and some of his antics, none of which would be covered by any "boxing board" that you could concieve of.

I heard those same stories about the eating to the point he vomits...just never knew if they were truth or fiction

[CutMeMick]

Just thought I'd Merge these 2 topics since I think they go hand in had.

[Boxerharvey]

Man that article was so hard to read it brought a lump to my throat, to think that so many great boxers have put there lives on the line to box, won world titles and still end up broke.

This why I have so much respect to any fighter that enters the ring no matter what there ability.

[donnydarkoIRL]

I wasn't able to read it all.

[mickeyluvsu]

very sad story...i always think that people who do something dirty like his" SUPPOSEBLY" promoter get theirs in the end and they will eventually.

i just went to the wilfred benitez foundation and dropped a few bills, although i know its not much but it's devistating to see people especially a LEGEND in that position.

MY hopes and prayers for him and his mother and i wish for nothing but the best.

[mickeyluvsu]

very sad story...i always think that people who do something dirty like his" SUPPOSEBLY" promoter get theirs in the end and they will eventually.

i just went to the wilfredo benitez foundation and dropped a few bills, although i know its not much but it's devistating to see people especially a LEGEND in that position.

MY hopes and prayers for him and his mother and i wish for nothing but the best.

[Macho]

I want to add , if i made somebody feel sad with this article , excuse me , i just wanted to let know everybody that as the way that Wilfredo Benitez is rigth now with his condition , he looks in certainly way that you can remember how great Champion he was ..........

THANKS GUYS.......

[OumaFan]

sad to say but it got worse this past weekend, his mom who apparently was pretty much the sole caretaker for Benitez died apparently pretty unexpectedly. Apparently she was always worried that she'd die before him because she thought he'd end up homeless, without anybody to take care of him. Sad stuff. Seems like the boxing community should do something.

[LacosteDon]

Very Very Sad Story

[JT Rock]

You wonder what they can and will do for him.. Its sad to say it's a what have you done for me lately world... This guy was the best of the best a fine warrior that packed arenas and gave his people something to be proud of for many years... You think Puerto Rico could provide, water,food and electricity for him... Nothing extravagent just the comfortable necessites of life..

I hope the fuker who fled with his passport and winnings in argentina gets into a head on wreck and gets his eyes filled with glass and a steering wheel in his throat What a scumbag, this guy endures hell for a duration of a fight and you take his money and abandon him in a foreign country noing he was having trouble as it is

[Thread Stealer]

Here's another depressing article about El Radar.

PUERTO RICO HERALD: Wilfred Benítez: Ex-Champion Is A Shell Of His Former Self…Thanks For Memories Of 'Radar'

[CGM]

Here's another depressing article about El Radar.

PUERTO RICO HERALD: Wilfred Bení´¥z: Ex-Champion Is A Shell Of His Former Self…Thanks For Memories Of 'Radar'

Thanks for that. Good article.

I would recommend that anyone who hasn't seen his fight against Cervantes at age 17 should find a copy. It shows incredible defense and counterpunching.

[Plopeater]

Gud read ,thx man