Very good match-up. One I've not seen before. I like Benitez here, as he'd counter Taylor and at some point would get him under control, but if Taylor says fuck it and just keeps going in, I think he'd take it. I think it's absolutely insane that Benitez had enough stamina at 17 years old to go 15 rounds with a fighter like Cervantes. It's insane.
If Taylor says fuck and keeps going, all that's gonna happen is that he's open himself up to the brilliant counterpunching of Benitez, and he possibly gets stopped.
Nah, I highly doubt it'd play out that way. If he says fuck it and goes all out, he'd have enough speed and workrate to overwhelm a young Benitez IMO. We're not talking about a fighter whose power is fully developed, and even when it was, I don't it's on the level it took to put a prime Taylor away. It did take Chavez a lot of wearing down before he got the stoppage. If he chooses to box, which is what's likely IMO, then Benitez out-boxes him. He did well enough vs Leonard for me to pick him vs Taylor. Although I've always thought his success vs Leonard gets overrated.
Benitez's power at 140 is highly underrated. See his fights with Tony Petronelli and Ray Chavez as proof. He wasn't some frail kid at 140 - he was quite big and solid at the weight. Taylor had too many defensive holes to get caught consistently by Benitez and nothing happen.
There's nothing impressive about stopping Chavez and Petronelli. Taylor's chin was plenty good enough to take Benitez's shots. It took an abundance from Chavez before succumbing. I think it's perfectly reasonable to assume Taylor can overwhelm Benitez with speed and volume. I don't think that's what would happen, but it's perfectly reasonable.
Great match up but I think it all comes down to Benitez's counterpunching against Taylor's shoeshines. It's possible that Taylor will be the one to throw a lot more while missing punches while Benitez throws less punches but with more accuracy. Cleaner shots against high workrate.
