Jose Benavidez
Encyclopedia
José Luis Benavidez is an undefeated Mexican-American professional boxer
in the Light Welterweight
division. He is the son of boxing trainer Jose Benavidez, Sr. of Arcelia, Guerrero
, Mexico
. From two years old until he was 17, Jose jr. was raised in Phoenix, Arizona
.
twice, qualifying for the Junior Olympics and earning a spot on the U.S. National Team, en route to a gaudy 120-5 amateur record. Benavidez is Also the 2009 National Golden Gloves Champion in the light welterweight division, Making him the youngest ever Golden Gloves Champion at only sixteen years old. He then reached the USA Boxing National Championship's title fight in Denver by beating the 2010 National Golden Gloves Champion Gary Allen Russell
. He would lose the final on points 11-9 to Frankie Gomez
.
s Jose has sparred with are 8-division world champion
Manny Pacquiao
, WBA
Light Welterweight champion Amir Khan
, WBO
Light Welterweight Champion Timothy Bradley
, WBO NABO Light middleweight Champion Shawn Porter
, and former IBF
Light middleweight champion Yori Boy Campas
.
's Top Rank
. Which was remarkable for someone without Olympic experience or a single pro bout under his belt.
He moved from Phoenix to the Wild Card Gym to be trained by 4-time Trainer of the Year
Freddie Roach, Roach, who also trains Manny Pacquiao
and several other notable fighters, has been quoted as calling Benavidez Jr. his best prospect.
His pro debut was highly anticipated because at seventeen years old he was approved for a license by the Nevada Athletic Commission
, He went on to Defeat Steven Cox by First Round TKO. A fight scheduled for July 17, 2010 in Arizona by Top Rank
was Cancelled due to Sponsors like Tecate and TV Azteca
pulling out over Arizona’s new immigration law. In his fight with Ronnie Peterson, Benavidez and his corner would wear shirts that had SB1070 crossed out.
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
in the Light Welterweight
Light welterweight
-Professional boxing:The light welterweight class is a weight division in professional boxing that has a limit of 63.5 kg or 140 pounds...
division. He is the son of boxing trainer Jose Benavidez, Sr. of Arcelia, Guerrero
Arcelia
Arcelia is a city and seat of the municipality of Arcelia, in the state of Guerrero, south-western Mexico....
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. From two years old until he was 17, Jose jr. was raised in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
.
Amateur career
Benavidez Jr. was a eleven time national champion, which include the Silver GlovesSilver Gloves
The Silver Gloves is an annual competition for amateur boxing in the United States. The contest is sponsored by Ringside, Inc.The Silver Gloves are open to all non-professional pugilists age 10 to 15 years old. The Silver Gloves is not the Golden Gloves amateur tournament, which is for amateur...
twice, qualifying for the Junior Olympics and earning a spot on the U.S. National Team, en route to a gaudy 120-5 amateur record. Benavidez is Also the 2009 National Golden Gloves Champion in the light welterweight division, Making him the youngest ever Golden Gloves Champion at only sixteen years old. He then reached the USA Boxing National Championship's title fight in Denver by beating the 2010 National Golden Gloves Champion Gary Allen Russell
Gary Allen Russell
Gary Allen Russell III is an American amateur boxer and the brother of Featherweight prospect Gary Russell.-Amateur Career:...
. He would lose the final on points 11-9 to Frankie Gomez
Frankie Gomez
Jesús Francisco Gómez , is an undefeated Mexican-American Professional boxer. He's currently signed with Oscar De La Hoya's company Golden Boy Promotions.-Amateur career:...
.
Sparring Partners
Some of the boxerBoxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
s Jose has sparred with are 8-division world champion
Septuple champion
In different sports when a sportsman wins seven crowns, titles, medals, belts or another distinctions is called a Septuple Champion.-Boxing:In boxing, a septuple champion is a boxer who has won world titles in seven different weight classes....
Manny Pacquiao
Manny Pacquiao
Emmanuel "Manny" Dapidran Pacquiao, PLH is a Filipino professional boxer and politician. He is the first eight-division world champion; having won six world titles, as well as the first to win the lineal championship in four different weight classes. He was named "Fighter of the Decade" for the...
, WBA
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
Light Welterweight champion Amir Khan
Amir Khan (boxer)
Amir Iqbal Khan , is a British Pakistani professional boxer who is currently the unified WBA & IBF light welterweight champion....
, WBO
World Boxing Organization
The World Boxing Organization is a sanctioning organization currently recognizing professional boxing world champions. The organization is recognized as one of the four major world championship groups by the IBHOF alongside the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Council and the...
Light Welterweight Champion Timothy Bradley
Timothy Bradley
Timothy Ray Bradley Jr. is an American boxer, fighting out of Palm Springs, California. He is the current WBO World Light Welterweight Champion. He is rated #2 in the Light Welterweight division behind Amir Khan.-Light Welterweight:...
, WBO NABO Light middleweight Champion Shawn Porter
Shawn Porter
Shawn Porter is an undefeated American professional boxer in the Welterweight division. He is known for being Manny Pacquiao's main sparring partner in his super bout against Miguel Cotto...
, and former IBF
International Boxing Federation
The International Boxing Federation or IBF is one of four major organizations recognized by IBHOF which sanction world championship boxing bouts, alongside the WBA, WBC and WBO.- History :...
Light middleweight champion Yori Boy Campas
Yori Boy Campas
Luis Ramón Campas is a Mexican boxer who was the IBF light middleweight champion. He is better known as Yory Boy Campas.-Background:...
.
Professional career
José is considered a Boxing Prodigy and one of the sport’s future stars. He also has drawn Comparisons to Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Benavidez signed a multi-year promotional deal with Bob ArumBob Arum
Robert "Bob" Arum is the founder and CEO of Top Rank, a professional boxing promotion company based in Las Vegas. He also worked for the US Attorney's Office for the southern district of New York in the tax division....
's Top Rank
Top Rank
Top Rank may refer to:*Top Rank, Las Vegas based boxing promotion company formed in 1973* Top Rank Records, 1950s subsidiary record label of the Rank Organisation, British company which ran from 1937 to 1996...
. Which was remarkable for someone without Olympic experience or a single pro bout under his belt.
He moved from Phoenix to the Wild Card Gym to be trained by 4-time Trainer of the Year
Futch-Condon Award
The Eddie Futch-John F.X. Condon Award, commonly referred to as the Futch-Condon Award and known alternatively as the Boxing Writers Association of America Trainer of the Year Award, has been conferred annually since 1989 by the Boxing Writers Association of America on the trainer, irrespective of...
Freddie Roach, Roach, who also trains Manny Pacquiao
Manny Pacquiao
Emmanuel "Manny" Dapidran Pacquiao, PLH is a Filipino professional boxer and politician. He is the first eight-division world champion; having won six world titles, as well as the first to win the lineal championship in four different weight classes. He was named "Fighter of the Decade" for the...
and several other notable fighters, has been quoted as calling Benavidez Jr. his best prospect.
His pro debut was highly anticipated because at seventeen years old he was approved for a license by the Nevada Athletic Commission
Nevada Athletic Commission
The Nevada Athletic Commission regulates all contests and exhibitions of unarmed combat within the state of Nevada, including licensure and supervision of promoters, boxers, kickboxers, mixed martial arts fighters, seconds, ring officials, managers, and matchmakers...
, He went on to Defeat Steven Cox by First Round TKO. A fight scheduled for July 17, 2010 in Arizona by Top Rank
Top Rank
Top Rank may refer to:*Top Rank, Las Vegas based boxing promotion company formed in 1973* Top Rank Records, 1950s subsidiary record label of the Rank Organisation, British company which ran from 1937 to 1996...
was Cancelled due to Sponsors like Tecate and TV Azteca
TV Azteca
Azteca, is the second largest Mexican television entertainment. It was established in 1983 as the state-owned Instituto Mexicano de la Televisión , a holding of the national TV networks channel 13 and 7 and was privatized under its current name in 1993 and now is part of Grupo Salinas...
pulling out over Arizona’s new immigration law. In his fight with Ronnie Peterson, Benavidez and his corner would wear shirts that had SB1070 crossed out.