Jose Benavidez Jr. A family man can be a tough guy too

Family and life have given Jose Benavidez Jr. a fresh perspective headed into his Saturday, July 30 boxing bout with Danny Garcia.

Jose Benavidez has a reputation as a tough guy. And why not? He makes a living beating people up, survived being shot and recuperated from the shooting when doctors told him he would never walk again.

However, Benavidez doesn’t see himself that way today.

A 2018 ESPN feature characterized Benavidez as a wildman with a history of living life in the fast lane. ESPN quoted one-time friend and alleged business associate Berny Montes once telling Benavidez: “You fight so beautifully. Either you’re going to be a boxer and make a lot of money, or you’re going to be a gang member. But let me tell you something, you suck at being a gangster.”

Benavidez admits that once upon a time, he relished the ‘tough guy’ persona, but that was a long time ago. Today, he’s focused on his family and boxing.

“It’s the best thing that could happen to my life,” Benavidez told FanSided about being a father. “You know, I live with my daughters, my family, my wife, my kids. You know, it’s not about being Mr. tough guy anymore. It’s about spending time with my daughters, you know, working hard and getting them the life I didn’t have.”

Benavidez is the father of four daughters ranging in age from four months to 10 years old. He cites enjoying fatherhood as the reason he didn’t fight from October 2018 to November 2021.

“I was off because, like, my wife got pregnant, you know?” Benavidez said. “I didn’t want to miss anything. You know, I wanted to be there 100 percent because I’ve had a long, you know, time in boxing. You know, I hadn’t really taken any breaks never. Never really celebrated Christmas, my birthday, or none of that. So I wanted to be there for my wife 110 percent.”

It’s a common occurrence for boxers. They begin training at 10 years old or less, turn professional in their late teens or early 20s, then compete as a pro until they retire. Eventually, breaks are needed, or burnout takes place.

Watch Danny Garcia vs. Jose Benavidez Jr. on Saturday, July 30, on Showtime at 9 p.m. ET

Besides, Benavidez was entitled to a break considering the severe trauma he endured in 2016. While walking his dog, Benavidez was attacked and shot in his right leg. The bullet tore his femoral artery and required emergency surgery.

Benavidez’s injury was so extreme that the function of his leg was questionable.

“The doctor said I was never supposed to walk again,” Benavidez said. “With your mind, your mind is very powerful. Your mind is very powerful. Anything you want to do, you can get done. So like right now, I don’t think about it.”

Benavidez defied the odds and stepped into the ring a year and a half after being shot. He stopped Matthew Strode in round 8 via TKO in February 2018.

Benavidez’s physical recovery is a miraculous and inspiring story. Even though his ability to walk was in jeopardy, he wouldn’t go back and change things if he could.

“Everything in life happens for a reason,” Benavidez said. “You have to learn from your mistakes, you know. In the end, you could see that it opened my eyes more and maybe mature more. Everything in life happens for a reason, and I wouldn’t take it back because I learned a lot from that, and just made me a stronger person in life and in general.”

Benavidez’s resolve has been tested. His right leg seemed to give him problems in his 2018 TKO loss to Terence Crawford. In his last contest against Francisco Torres in November, Benavidez and Torres fought to a majority draw in a fight many thought Benavidez deserved to lose.

His next opponent is two-time world champion Danny Garcia on Saturday, July 30, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. Garcia is a massive obstacle for Benavidez, but Garcia has also been inactive. Like Benavidez, Garcia also told FanSided he needed a break from boxing.

Things between Benavidez and Garcia seem respectful and relatively tame, but both are built for war inside the ring. Benavidez noted that despite what’s on the surface, everyone has a little crazy in them.

“I personally, I don’t know him,” Benavidez said of Danny Garcia. ” Seems like a good dude. Seems like a nice guy. Nothing against him. His dad seems like he’s a cool player. I mean, I feel like we’re all crazy. You know? We’re all crazy in some way, or somehow you know. Sometimes I get crazy. I’m pretty sure you get crazy even though you got a good smile on there.”

Benavidez might have a point. Inside, everyone has something going on. It just depends on what rises to the surface to be let out.

On Benavidez’s exterior, he seems like a content, balanced father of four. We’ll see how much of his inner beast he lets out on Garcia, but maturity looks good on the 30-year-old from Phoenix, AZ. Benavidez has been through a lot, but his wisdom is showing.