Boxing Referee Benjy Esteves, Jr. Visits Fraims Boys & Girls Club in DE!
By Ken Hissner, Doghouse Boxing (April 8, 2011) Doghouse Boxing (Photo © John DiSantos, PhillyBoxingHistory)
-  

Benjy Esteves, Jr. is one of the world’s top boxing referees.  On March 21st he took the time to drive from his home in Sayreville, NJ, to Wilmington, DE, to give back to a community and share his life’s experiences at the Fraims Boys & Girls Club. 

Dave Ruff is head of boxing activities at the club and invited Benjy.   In January Ruff had former world bantamweight champion Jeff Chandler now a transplant in Newark, DE, though from South Philadelphia, come in to participate with the kid’s and ended with a talk.  Ruff himself was a veteran of some 60 exhibitions in spite of having been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy when he was six months.

Benjy grew up in Manahattan, NY, where his father left when he was 3.  “I played sports to keep my brother (Norberto) and me straight.  My mother (Irene, called Jenny) kept us away from gangs, drugs and prostitution,” said Benjy.  He had worked at IBM for 11 years and started being a referee in the amateur system from 1982 to 1992.  “I worked in NY for 7 years and was chief of officials.  I then worked in NJ for 3 years.  The boxing commissioner Larry Hazzard liked what he saw and asked him to work the professionals.   Since 1992 he has been the referee in at least 32 world title fights.

Benjy recently worked a small show in Harrington, DE, and a week later was in Ekaterinburg, Russia, for a WBO Middleweight title fight.  No show too small or too big for him.  He has worked in countries such as Russia (1), Germany (2), Dominican Republic (1), Bermuda (1), Ireland (1), Italy (1), Panama (1) and Poland (1).  He did his first world title bout in September of 1996.  “One of my life long ambitions is to work a fight in my homeland of Puerto Rico, even if it were just a 4 round fight I would be satisfied,” said Esteves.   He stated his favorite place to work was Germany.  “The vacation spot I love is Aruba because of all the ethnic flavors (individuals) on the island.  I love diversity,” said Esteves. 

Benjy has already worked 5 shows in the first 3 months of 2011.  “I have licenses in NJ, NY, PA and CT, “said Benjy.  In 2010 he worked 20 shows as an example.  Sometimes he may work just a main event or he may work as many as 4 fights on the average.  If it’s a small show he might work every bout.  He was not only a referee but a judge per www.boxrec.com for the Kassim Ouma-Martinus Clay bout in Philadelphia Oct 4, 2008.  He stopped the bout in the sixth round.

“I take care of my body,” said Benjy.  He is a good looking man of 56 who has an immaculate appearance.   He is small in stature but loves the challenges of the bigger men.  “I love working the heavyweights for they can be a challenge.  You let the boxers know you are in charge,” said Benjy.  When he is not working as a referee he said, “I enjoy detailing cars and doing interior paint work on homes”.  I could only imagine he is a perfectionist.

In talking to 20+ kids at the center he made it clear they should have a role model.  Not someone they don’t know but preferably a relative.  “My mother (Irene but called Jenny) was always my role model.  I had a favorite athlete in Cazzie Russell (NY Knicks) but feel those closest to you should fulfill that role.  I believe a man should always be respectful toward a woman,” said Benjy.

The kids were paying close attention as he was talking to him.  “I try to do 2 good deeds a day to make the world a better place.  Whether it’s holding a door for someone or helping an older person with their groceries.  I work a food pantry every 3rd Saturday in North Perth Amboy, NJ.  When I referee I feel it’s important always to do a good job for the game that I love,” said Benjy. 

“My wife’s name is Nelsie and we have 2 sons in Benjy III and Julian.  My son’s gets upset when they see my name spelled Benji and asks “why don’t you inform these people its Benjy?”  I don’t let little things like that bother me.  My son Benjamin and his wife Kristina have a daughter Eva Maria who just turned 2 months old on March 28th, while Julian just got engaged to this wonderful young lady named Kristin.  We are all very happy over this engagement.” said Benjy.  He also has 2 sisters, Nellie and Rosie with a brother named Obed all from his father’s side.

This writer asked Benjy about his bout with Teon Kennedy and Francisco Rodriguez at the Blue Horizon in Philadelphia.  The bout was stopped in the 10th round.  “I walked Francisco Rodriguez back to his corner.  Ironically I was probably the last person to have wrapped my arms around him while he was still coherent.  God rest his soul,” said Esteves.  Rodriguez passed away 2 days later in a hospital. 

“I asked his corner several times and brought the doctor in but they felt he was all right to continue.  It wasn’t until after the fight while sitting on the stool that he slumped over.  I went immediately to the hospital.  Since his passing I have a picture of him at my exercise area in my basement at home.  I see him every day,” said Benjy.  Though this writer was attending another show in Atlantic City I talked to those at ringside and no one blamed Benjy for not stopping the fight.  “I wouldn’t have done anything different,” said Benjy.

“Benjy is one of the top referee’s in the world today and it’s an honor to work with him.  He knows exactly when to stop a fight.  It’s amazing,” said Julie Lederman.  “Benjy is truly a great guy and a competent referee,” said Steve Smoger.

He talked about growing up in Manhattan and tried to enforce to the kids to stay away from things such as drugs.  “I lost 2 cousins to drugs and someone close to me is in prison for life.  There is no freedom locked up.  He was a driver in a robbery and a woman was shot,” said Benjy.  

Here was a very humble person who appreciated life and with a world of respect for his mother, his role model.  “You and I met on my first bout ever in Philadelphia.  I remember you paid me a compliment after I was done working for the night.  After my second show in Philadelphia again after I was done you came over and whispered ‘I am glad they called you back here to work’.  I will always remember that.  Very nice of you,” said Esteves.   When one’s covering fights at ringside you get a feel pertaining to the work of referees.  It is not an easy job.

“I would like to thank Benjy for his time.  Miss Toni, Mr. Phil, Mr. Todd and Rachel helped me put it all in place.  It went over great with the kids at the club.  Benjy gave a lot of insight on his life as a kid and in boxing.  The kids ate it up,” said Ruff. 

In a world where an unnamed former world heavyweight champion gets inducted into the IHOF and tries selling his autographed pictures and someone like Benjy who gave out his picture (working a fight) and autographed each picture to the person receiving it tells a lot about a person.

Photographer Mike Lumpkin took many pictures of the activities.  Omar Douglas and his 20 year-old son “O” who has fought in 140 amateur fights joined the group.  “O” was gracious enough to show the kids some “shadow boxing” and answered questions.  “The Boys & Girls Club has been good to me most of my life and it doesn’t take much to give back.  I want to thank all who were there,” said Ruff.

Too many times works of kindness go unnoticed.  Benjy Esteves, Jr. reached out to these boys and girls and gave them something they can carry with them the rest of their lives.  Like he said, “I like to do 2 good deeds a day to make the world a better place”.  I have a feeling Benjy exceeds that on some days.



NEW: Follow Doghouse Boxing on FaceBook!
For more Boxing News 24/7 and so much more... 
visit our homepage now!


© Copyright / All Rights reserved: Doghouse Boxing Inc. 1998-2011