
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
December 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for November
1st
ISA BOYS SOCCER
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
2nd
IRON LEGENDS THROWDOWN
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
Events for December
4th
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER
ISA BOYS SOCCER
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
5th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
Events for December
5th
Events for December
7th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER PLAYOFFS
Events for December
9th
40th GRC PLUMERIA ROAD RACE
GUAM RUGBY INTERNATIONAL 7s TOURNAMENT
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
Events for December
10th
TOUR OF GUAM 2023
GUAM RUGBY INTERNATIONAL 7s TOURNAMENT
Events for December
11th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
Events for December
12th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL FINALS
Events for December
12th
Events for December
14th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER FINALS
Events for December
16th
3rd GUAM NINJA CHAMPIONSHIP
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
Events for December
16th
Events for December
18th
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER ALL-ISLAND MEETING
Events for December
19th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
19th
Events for December
23rd
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
ISA HS BASEBALL FINALS
Events for December
23rd
Events for December
24th
Events for December
25th
Events for December
27th
Events for December
29th
- 31
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Events for December
30th

Basketball
FAMILIAR FOES TO MEET FOR HOOPS CROWN

Basketball
ISLANDERS AVENGE EARLY SEASON LOSS
COMING SOON …
- IIAAG Girls Basketball Playoffs
- True Grit Rugby Tournament
- IIAAG Boys Soccer Playoffs