Two fundraisers have been organized in New York to help ex-three time world boxing champ, Wilfredo Benitez. David Flores, proprietor of Monique’s Lounge (108 St Between Lexington & 3rd Ave.) loves salsa, but he is also a boxing aficionado who learned about Wilfredo’s present condition and after seeing him, his eyes got watery and knew he had to do more to help this once great champion.
David organized a fundraiser in his club, Monique’s 108 Lounge and asked me to help organize one in my hood, El Condado De La Salsa, The Bronx. The first one was held on Saturday June 3rd in El Barrio, NYC and the next one will be held next Tuesday, June 6 in the Bronx.
Wilfredo Benitez, AKA “El Radar” for his uncanny ability to foresee and dodge his opponent's blows gave many boxing fans some of the greatest memories in boxing. From his first major championship fight at the age of 17, still of High School age taking on the powerful more experience champion, Antonio Cervantes AKA, Known as Kid Pambele, the champion was 30 years old, had a record of 74-9-3 with 35 KO's, and had made 10 title defenses. The result was a fifteen-round split decision in Benitez's favor making him the youngest boxing champion in baseball history.
He then moved up to the welterweight division and took on the WBC World Champion, Carlos Palomino in San Juan on January 14, 1979, Benitez won a fifteen-round split decision to become a world champion in a second weight division.
After his loss to Sugar Ray, Benitez again moved up in weight, and on May 23, 1981, at age 22, he became the youngest three-time world champion in boxing history by knocking out WBC World Super Welterweight Champion, Maurice Hope in twelve rounds in Las Vegas. The knockout was named one of the knockouts of the year.
Today Wilfredo needs our help. He is being beaten by post-traumatic encephalitis. This is the boxer's disease, directly attributed to too many blows to the head. He is being taken care of by his two sisters in a modest home in the outskirts of San Juan, Puerto Rico. His sisters do what they can, but they need help to be able to make whatever time Wilfredo has left on this planet as comfortable as possible.
Thank you David Flores, thank all who supported and those who will support any future event to help Wilfredo, a gladiator in his last fight for survival.
The next findraiser to be held at El Maestro Boxing Gym 1300 Southern Blvd. Bronx, NY