By Patrick Lujan
Behind every good striker, there’s a pad holder who has helped sharpen those skills. With Guam’s love for the fight game comes the hard work and dedication.
Twenty eight year old Benny Benavente is one of the main guys behind the scenes as he holds the pads for the combatants preparing for competition.
All padded up from waist to chest with hand mitts, Benavente helps fighters with their hand speed, agility and instincts in an old-time boxing training tradition.
Benavente and his brothers were hooked to unarmed combat since watching the early days of the UFC on videos and they’ve been training ever since. His brothers Peter (27) and Zach (30) have gone on to kick off their pro MMA careers in recent years.
“I started training since I was 11 and started mitting around 13,” Benavente recollects growing up in Anao, Yigo.
Self-taught in the art of holding pads, Benavente has not only helped his brothers along the way but also for he likes of Alex Castro, Frank Camacho, Jon Tuck, Trev Jones and even Brandon Vera. “Of course, I’m always happy to add other fighters to the list.”
If you watch videos of Benavente’s pad work, you’ll notice the smooth flow between him and the striker with the mental synchronicity required between trainee and trainer.
“It’s pretty easy. Of course, every fighter is different so it’s more so adjusting to their style and maybe cleaning up some of their basic fundamentals and working on any other detailed moves they want to work on…and I apply a little bit of my own personal style.”
WHAT THEY SAY….
“He has massive skills and has the eye for striking. I really love the way he holds pads and you see how it translates with all his brothers too. Massive work ethic and dedication to the art. Huge fan of his brother and him and stoked to be able to work with him. He’s constantly evolving and always open to share.” – Frank ‘The Crank’ Camacho
“We have great chemistry… you need to have chemistry with your pad holder… timing is everything… I never had that issue issue with him.” – Alex Castro
Check out Benny’s Instagram page @benaventestriking to see his pad work for yourself.
GPS Sports Calendar
March 2024
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for February
1st
ISA SOFTBALL
IIAAG MS GIRLS SOCCER FINALS
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
HS RUGBY PLAYOFFS
Events for March
2nd
HS RUGBY
ISA GIRLS SOFTBALL
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL FINALS
Events for March
2nd
Events for March
4th
ISA HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS
ISA SOFTBALL ALL-ISLAND COACHES MEETING
Events for March
5th
HS RUGBY PLAYOFFS
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
Events for March
8th
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL FINALS
ISA HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS PLAYOFFS
Events for March
9th
ISA SOFTBALL FINALS
HS RUGBY FINALS
Events for March
9th
Events for March
14th
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
Events for March
16th
Events for March
17th
Events for March
18th
Events for March
19th
Events for March
20th
Events for March
22nd
Events for March
24th
Events for March
25th
Events for March
27th
Events for March
28th
Events for March
29th
- 31
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Events for March
30th
Basketball
TENORIO NAMED IIAAG HOOPS MVP
Basketball
TENORIO NAMED IIAAG HOOPS MVP
Volleyball
ST. FRANCIS’ GUERRERO IS VOLLEYBALL MVP
Volleyball
CHEN, EUGENIA ARE EMPRESSES OF THE BEACH
COMING SOON …
4th Quarter Sports
- Guam Marathon