Jose Benavidez on Training With Roach, Top Rank Signing

By Ryan Burton

 

Junior welterweight Jose Benavidez makes his pro debut on January 16th at the Hard Rock versus Steven Cox.  The highly decorated amateur prospect talks about signing with Top Rank, winning the Gold Gloves tournament and how he managed to get connected with Freddie Roach at such a young age in this exclusive BoxingScene.com interview. Benavidez' team consists of Roach, his father Jose Benavidez Sr., Jim Murphey and Billy Khen.  The 17 year old also speaks about the pressure of trying to become the next Mexican American superstar and much more!

 

BoxingScene.com:  First off why did you decide to sign with Top Rank?

 

Jose Benavidez:  The decision to sign with Top Rank was easy.  To me right now Top Rank is the best at what they do.  They have been in the game a long time and they are going to take my career down a good path.  I felt this was the best decision.

 

BoxingScene.com:  You won the Golden Gloves championship last year and now at only 17 years old you are already pro.  How does that feel?

 

Jose Benavidez:  I just won the Golden Gloves about six months ago at sixteen years old.  It was at the 141 lb. limit.

 

BoxingScene.com:  You are fighting a guy who is 1-0 named Steven Cox.  Usually for a guys first fight its against a guy 5-10 or something.  How did this fight come about?

 

Jose Benavidez:  Well I was supposed to fight some other guy but they changed it up.  I don't really know what happened with that.  All I know is that I am ready to go and ready to fight.  I have sparred with Amir Khan and Shawn Porter.  I just sparred with Timothy Bradley so I think I am ready.  I don't think this guy is going to be better than them.

 

BoxingScene.com:  How is your career path outlined?  Are you going to try to get 8-10 fights in this year?

 

Jose Benavidez:  I think they want around eight fights this year.  It all depends on how I do.  I just want to keep getting better and better.  I have been training hard.

 

BoxingScene.com:  Are you still based in Phoenix or did you move to Southern California?

 

Jose Benavidez:  Actually I moved down to California about four or five months ago and I train out of Freddie's gym, Wild Card Gym.

 

BoxingScene.com:  How did you manage to get Freddie Roach as a trainer right at the beginning of your career?

 

Jose Benavidez:  It was crazy man.  The thing is that the owner of our gym in Arizona sent us out to California.  He said that he would pay our way out there for a week so we could train at Wild Card with Freddie.  We went and Freddie saw me spar this other guy and he liked the way I worked so he said he wanted to talk to us some more.  He talked to my dad and told him he liked how I fought and said he wanted to work with us.  It is crazy because we had no idea that would happen when we went out there.  Its like they say, work hard and good things happen.

 

BoxingScene.com:  How many people are coming out from Phoenix to see the fight?

 

Jose Benavidez:  I think probably like 50-60 people.

 

BoxingScene.com:  How does it feel to be training with Freddie?  You have Manny of course then Amir Khan and Vanes Maritosyan.  How does it feel to be in the same camp?

 

Jose Benavidez:  You mentioned Amir and Vanes and they are great fighters but I want to train even harder and try to be Freddie's number one fighter.  That is why I am trying to work hard and be the best I can be.

 

BoxingScene.com:  Being a Mexican American fighter with De la Hoya and Vargas retired, Marquez getting older and some of the younger guys suffering losses where do you think you will fit in that mix?

 

Jose Benavidez:  Ortiz was doing good then he lost.  Marquez is getting kind of old.  Hopefully I can be the next one.  I am aiming to be the next Mexican superstar.

 

BoxingScene.com:  Mexican fans are very loyal fans.  What is your take on that?

 

Jose Benavidez:  It seems like once you have a loss its not the same anymore.  The thing is that Mexican people are always there for you.  Once they like you they will stick with you even if you get a loss.

 

BoxingScene.com:  Do you have a message for the fans?

 

Jose Benavidez:  You are going to see a good fight on Saturday.  I want to wish everyone a happy New Years and I am ready to rock and roll.