Benitez's father, Gregorio Benitez, who had managed and trained his son from the beginning of his career, sold Wilfred's managerial contract to Jim Jacobs and Bill Cayton for $75,000 in 1977. The following year, Jacobs hired former welterweight and middleweight champion Emile Griffith to train Wilfred. Gregorio was not happy with the hiring. "You may be his manager now, but I'm still his trainer," he told Jacobs. "You can both train him," Jacobs responded. The arrangement did not go smoothly.
For Palomino, Griffith planned a defensive fight from the center of the ring. "Don't go for a knockout," Griffith instructed. "Palomino is a dangerous one-punch fighter. He can hit. He is dangerous. He punches over punches. Keep your hands up and fight to go the distance. Be sharp. If you listen to me, you will win."
Griffith didn't give Wilfred many compliments during training. "I tell him he's got to do better. I want a perfect fighter," Griffith said. "I got this from my manager, Gil Clancy."
Gregorio thought Griffith's plan was sheer nonsense. "All Griffith does is tell him about how it was when he was champion," he scoffed. He said Wilfred "doesn't listen to him. He only listens to me."
Griffith trained Wilfred at the gym behind the Benitez home in a San Juan suburb. He tried to avoid confrontations with Gregorio. Each day, Griffith would quietly work with Wilfred and then return to his hotel in the city.

Carlos Palomino vs Wilfred Benitez

In a stunning performance at Louis II Stadium, former WBA junior middleweight world champion Davey Moore scored a second-round technical knockout over Wilfred Benitez, before a crowd of 3,000 that included Prince Rainier. An overhand right in the first round had Benitez's legs giving out, with his right ankle breaking as he fell to the canvas. The second round saw Moore decisively overpowering a stationary Benitez until the referee ended the match. Moore's triumphant comeback is underscored by his trainer, Johnny Persol's words, "Nobody ever completely destroyed him like Davey did."

After the fight, Benitez, despite the loss and his broken ankle, remained optimistic about his future in boxing. Though he was overpowered by Moore in this bout, he expressed his intention to continue training and fighting, with a particular desire to enter the middleweight division. The event concluded on a curious and unexpected note, with both fighters calling out middleweight champion Marvin Hagler, suggesting intriguing possibilities for future matchups in the ring.

Benitez earned $60,000 to Moore's $110,000.

Carlos Palomino vs Wilfred Benitez

Davey Moore vs Wilfred Benitez

Maurice Hope vs Wilfred Benitez

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