Wilfred Benitez vs Pipino Cuevas, circa 1980, who would win......?

Question

15 rounds?

Answer 1

pipino cuevas late stoppage

Answer 2

Any match between any two of the "Welterweight Fantastic 5", as they were sometimes called, would be great.  Carlos Palimino, who fought both Duran and Benitez was sometimes included in this bunch but he was on the way out before Leonard and Hearns became big in the division.  

It's easy to pick Benitez to win this one by decision.  The truth is that it would depend on two factors.  Benitez' poor training habits and whether or not the fight took place before or after Cuevas' fight with Hearns.

Cuevas was a great fighter who is often not given much credit because many didn't see him fight before his fight with Hearns.  He also declined quickly after the Hearns fight.  Most of his "post-Hearns" fights were televised where many of his "pre-Hearns" fights were not.  

The most interesting fight would be the "Pre-Hearns" version of Pipino Cuevas vs a well trained Benitez.  Cuevas was always in shape.  Benitez was often not in shape.  A well condidioned Benitez would esacpe a few scares and win a decision over Cuevas.  He might stop Cuevas late if the fight took place after Cuevas' fight with Hearns.  

Pre-Hearns Cuevas might stop Benitez if he showed up as he often did, relying on his natural skills to get him through.  There was a marked difference between the Cuevas before Hearns and the one after.  Not many fighters declined so quickly after one fight.  But some do, just as Forman declined after his one fight with ALi.  Hearns bounced back fine after his loss to Leonard.  Cuevas did not do so well after losing to Hearns.  

Over all I would go with Benitez by decision.