Roberto Benitez is a professional boxer

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...

 from the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

.

Amateur career

Benitez was a highly decorated amateur boxer, and was a four-time United States Amateur champion, winning at Flyweight (1999, 2000, 2001) and Bantamweight (2004). Benitez also won two National Golden Gloves title at Flyweight (1997, 1999).

Amateur highlights

• In 1998 won the Goodwill Games Gold Medal.
• Won the Olympic trials in the 125 lbs division in 2004 but failed to qualify for the Olympic games.
• Won a gold medal in the 1996 US Junior Olympics at 112 lbs.
• Won a gold medal in 1996 at Junior Olympics International tournament at 112 lbs.
• Won a bronze medal in the 1997 United States championships at 112 lbs.
• Won a gold medal in the 1997 US Junior championships at 112 lbs.
• Won a bronze medal in the 1997 Muhammad Ali
  Muhammad Ali
  Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...
  
   Cup at 112 lbs.
• Gold medalist in the 1997 National Golden Gloves at 112 lbs.
• Won a bronze medal in the 1998 United States championships at 112 lbs.
• Won a silver medal in the 1998 Goodwill games
  Goodwill Games
  The Goodwill Games was an international sports competition, created by Ted Turner in reaction to the political troubles surrounding the Olympic Games of the 1980s...
  
   at 112 lbs.
• Won a gold medal in the 1999 National Golden Gloves at 112 lbs.
• Won a gold medal in the 2000 United States championships, beating Jose Navarro
  José Navarro (boxer)
  José Navarro is a professional boxer who competes in the Flyweight division. Navarro participated at the Summer Olympics in 2000 in Sydney, Australia. He is of Mexican descent.-Amateur career:...
  
   and Gabriel Elizondo.
• Competed in the Americas Olympic qualifiers representing the Dominican Republic, but losses to Andrew Koomer and Omar Narvaez meant he failed to qualify.
• Won 2001 United States Challenge tournament at 112 lbs. Won gold medal in the 2001 United States championships at 112 lbs. Competed in the 2001 World championships.
• Won a silver medal in the 2002 United States championships at 112 lbs, losing to Raul Martinez
  Raúl Martínez (boxer)
  Raúl Martínez is a Mexican-American professional boxer in the Super Flyweight division.-IBF Super Flyweight Championship:Martínez will fight Rodrigo Guerrero for the vacant IBF Super Flyweight Championship....
  
  .
• Won a silver medal in the 2002 National Golden Gloves at 112 lbs, losing to Ron Siler.
• Won a gold medal in the 2003 American Boxing Classics Tournament at 112 lbs.
• Won a silver medal in the 2003 United States championships at 112 lbs, losing to Raul Martinez
  Raúl Martínez (boxer)
  Raúl Martínez is a Mexican-American professional boxer in the Super Flyweight division.-IBF Super Flyweight Championship:Martínez will fight Rodrigo Guerrero for the vacant IBF Super Flyweight Championship....
  
  .
• Won a bronze medal in the 2003 National Golden Gloves at 112 lbs, losing to Ron Siler.
• Won a gold medal in the 2004 championships at 119 lbs.

Olympics

Benitez competed in the 2000 US Olympic Trials, beating Jose Aguiniga, Rasheem Jefferson, losing to Jose Navarro

José Navarro (boxer)

José Navarro is a professional boxer who competes in the Flyweight division. Navarro participated at the Summer Olympics in 2000 in Sydney, Australia. He is of Mexican descent.-Amateur career:...

, beating Aguiniaga again but losing to Jose Navarro in a box-off.
Benitez won the 2004 US Olympic trials at 119 lbs beating Miguel Albares, Eric Hunter, Sergio Ramos

Sérgio Ramos

Sérgio Bruno Antunes Selores Ramos is a Portuguese basketball player.He measures 2.00 metres and plays as a Forward . He announced the end of his international career, after Portugal's exit from the EuroBasket 2007...

 and Torrence Daniel then beating Hunter in a box-off. Benitez then lost in the Americas Olympic qualifiers to Juan Manuel Lopez

Juan Manuel López (boxer)

Juan Manuel "Juanma" López Rivera is a Puerto Rican professional boxer. As an amateur, Lopez represented Puerto Rico at numerous international tournaments including the 2002 Central American and Caribbean Games, 2003 Pan American Games and the 2004 Summer Olympics. López's professional career...

at 54 kg.

Pro career

Benitez turned professional in 2005 and won his first five bouts. He then was absent from the ring before returning in late 2009 with a victory.

External links