On March 6, 1976, a 17-year-old Wilfred Benítez (25-0, 20 KOs) got a shot at the WBA and The Ring super-lightweight titles held by 30-year-old Colombian boxer Antonio Cervantes (50-9-1, 27 KOs).
Benítez came in to the fight on a 25-fight win streak with a 80% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 2 months and 22 days. Cervantes was on a 19-fight win streak with a 45% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 3 months and 20 days.
Wilfred Benítez defeated Antonio Cervantes via split decision and wins the WBA and The Ring titles — in his first world-title fight. Benítez improves his record to 26-0, while Cervantes adds a loss to his record at 50-10-1.
On January 14, 1979, a 20-year-old Wilfred Benítez (36-0-1, 25 KOs) got a shot at the WBC and The Ring welterweight titles held by 29-year-old Mexican boxer Carlos Palomino (27-1-3, 15 KOs).
Benítez came in to the fight on a 8-fight win streak with a 67% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 1 month and 6 days. Palomino was on a 10-fight win streak with a 48% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 7 months and 18 days.
Wilfred Benítez defeated Carlos Palomino via split decision and wins the WBC and The Ring titles. Benítez improves his record to 37-0-1, while Palomino adds a loss to his record at 27-2-3.
On January 30, 1982, the 23-year-old WBC super-welterweight world champion, Wilfred Benítez (43-1-1, 28 KOs), faced a 30-year-old Panamanian boxer Roberto Durán (74-2, 56 KOs), in a title defense fight.
Benítez came in to the fight on a 5-fight win streak with a 62% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 2 months and 16 days. Durán was on a 2-fight win streak with a 73% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 4 months and 4 days.
Wilfred Benítez defeated Roberto Durán via unanimous decision and successfully defended his WBC super-welterweight title. Benítez improves his record to 44-1-1, while Durán adds a loss to his record at 74-3.
On May 23, 1981, a 22-year-old Wilfred Benítez (41-1-1, 27 KOs) got a shot at the WBC super-welterweight title held by Maurice Hope.
Benítez came in to the fight on a 3-fight win streak with a 62% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 5 months and 11 days.
Wilfred Benítez stopped the champion via TKO in the final round of the 12-round world-title fight, and is crowned the new WBC super-welterweight champion. Benítez improves his record to 42-1-1 (28 KOs)
On November 14, 1981, the 23-year-old WBC super-welterweight world champion, Wilfred Benítez (42-1-1, 28 KOs), faced Carlos Santos, in a title defense fight.
Benítez came in to the fight on a 4-fight win streak with a 63% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 5 months and 22 days.
Wilfred Benítez defeated Carlos Santos via unanimous decision and successfully defended his WBC super-welterweight title. Benítez improves his record to 43-1-1
On March 25, 1979, Wilfred Benítez and Harold Weston met again in a rematch.
Benítez came in to the fight on a 9-fight win streak with a 65% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 2 months and 11 days.
Wilfred Benítez defeated Harold Weston via unanimous decision in the rematch and successfully defended his WBC and The Ring welterweight titles. Benítez improves his record to 38-0-1
On February 4, 1978, a 19-year-old Wilfred Benítez (33-0-1, 24 KOs) and Bruce Curry met in the ring for the 2nd time,.
Benítez came in to the fight on a 5-fight win streak with a 70% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 2 months and 17 days.
In the rematch, Wilfred Benítez defeated Bruce Curry via majority decision in the 10-round fight. Benítez improves his record to 34-0-1
On December 3, 1982, the 24-year-old WBC super-welterweight world champion, Wilfred Benítez (44-1-1, 28 KOs), faced a 24-year-old American boxer Thomas Hearns (35-1, 32 KOs), in a title defense fight.
Benítez came in to the fight on a 6-fight win streak with a 60% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 10 months and 3 days. Hearns was on a 3-fight win streak with a 88% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 4 months and 8 days.
Thomas Hearns defeated Wilfred Benítez via majority decision and wins the WBC and The Ring titles. Hearns improves his record to 36-1, while Benítez adds a loss to his record at 44-2-1.
On November 30, 1979, the 21-year-old WBC and The Ring welterweight world champion, Wilfred Benítez (38-0-1, 25 KOs), faced a 23-year-old American boxer Sugar Ray Leonard (25-0, 16 KOs), in a title defense fight.
Benítez came in to the fight on a 10-fight win streak with a 64% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 8 months and 5 days. Leonard was on a 25-fight win streak with a 64% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 2 months and 2 days.
Sugar Ray Leonard stopped the champion via TKO in the final round of the 15-round world-title fight, winning the first world titles of his career, and is crowned the new WBC and The Ring welterweight champion. Leonard improves his record to 26-0 (17 KOs), while Benítez adds a loss to his record at 38-1-1.
On December 12, 1980, a 22-year-old Wilfred Benítez (40-1-1, 27 KOs) and Pete Ranzany met in the ring.
Benítez came in to the fight on a 2-fight win streak with a 64% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 4 months and 11 days.
Wilfred Benítez defeated Pete Ranzany via unanimous decision in the 10-round fight. Benítez improves his record to 41-1-1