Benavidez boxing family given place of honor at iconic Phoenix gym

The traffic on Van Buren Street near downtown Phoenix zipped by, but José Benavidez Sr. was oblivious, trembling inside as he stood in front of the artwork bearing his image.

Those in the boxing community in town know what the Central Boxing Gym means to the sport, the old building bearing paintings of fighters who put Arizona on the national and international boxing map, plus plenty of other legends who have inspired the many fighters who have walked through its doors.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Benavidez family got its place on the exterior walls of the gym. José Sr., José Jr. and David Benavidez were honored with the unveiling of a mural of the three of them, prominently featured near the front entrance to the gym.

The Benavidez brothers grew up in Phoenix, and even though life and boxing have taken them to other places to live and train, they are home this week for fights at the Footprint Center on Saturday night. David, a two-time WBC super middleweight champion, is in the main event with José as the co-main event on a full card, their fights to be aired on Showtime.

The mural depicts the brothers holding their respective title belts — José a former interim WBA super lightweight champion and Golden Gloves winner — flanking their father and trainer.

The family spent countless hours at Central training, from when José was a teenager and David even younger when he started. On Wednesday, they returned for an official proclamation from Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego's office, with Saturday, Nov. 13 as David Benavidez Day in the city. Then, the unveiling of the mural that really struck a chord with the family and those in attendance.

They worked out in the gym before and after the ceremonies outside.

"It brought a lot of sentimental things and a lot of memories," José Sr. said. "When they became professionals, I didn't even think they were going to be world champions. It's a dream come true. I just hope that they're good people. I don't care about belts, I don't care about money. Having good kids, being good kids and giving back to the community, it means a lot to me."

Life has brought its ups and downs for the brothers. José Jr., at one point a rising star in the welterweight division, was shot in the leg in Phoenix one night five years ago and has gone more than three years since his last big fight.

David has had to give up his belt once for not making weight, and another time for testing positive for cocaine use.

But now they are older, presumably wiser with children of their own, and it was an emotional day for their father with his boys, his grandkids and others in his inner circle there to see the family honored.

"I feel that I'm in a dream," José Sr. said. "I don't even know what to say. It's just the happiness and the emotion. It's beautiful, something that no money can buy."

David, 24, didn't expect a mural. He knew plenty of people in town are excited to see him fight, and he was highly motivated by being in Phoenix and having his 12-month old son with him. But the ceremony on Wednesday fired him up even more.

"It makes me feel good, because I'm on the right track," David said. "I never really asked for nothing else, I just work hard and put in the hard work and dedication, and all of this came on its own. So I'm very happy with how everything in my career is going and I just want to keep progressing and keep being a better person and a better fighter."

David expressed his gratitude to his brother and father.

José Jr. remembered all the times he and David would walk down to the nearby Jack In The Box after workouts as kids.

"We have a lot of support, but we’re still humble people. I’ve put my life into boxing and I’m going to keep doing that until the day I retire," he said. "I can’t wait for Saturday night to get in the ring in front of all our people here. ... It’s going to be fireworks on Saturday night. I’m coming with a bang and I’m stopping everyone at 154 pounds.”

Get in touch with Jose Romero at Jose.Romero@gannett.com. Find him on Twitter at @RomeroJoseM.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Benavidez family gets emotional with unveiling of mural in their honor