Benjy Esteves Jr.
Name: Benjy Esteves Jr
Hometown: New York, New York, USA
Referee: Record
Benjy Esteves Jr. was born in Milwaukee, Wisconisin in 1954 to Puerto Rican parents. He grew up in the Hell's Kitchen section of Manhattan. His brother Norberto, a retired New York City social services worker boxed, as did his uncle, featherweight Victor Melendez, a solid pro who compiled a 16-0-4 (0KOS) record in his first twenty matches, between 1963-69. Melendez retired with a final professional record of 17-2-4 his two losses were decisions to Ismael Laguna and Carlos Teo Cruz, both of whom held world titles. His cousins Carlos Pacheco and Angel Nieves also boxed competitively. [1]
His refereeing career began 1982 when he joined the ranks of the amateur Boxing Federation of New York City under the tutelage of Frankie Martinez. Esteves Jr. served as the amateur “Chief of Officials” in New York for 5 years, and then relocated to New Jersey where he was “Chief of Officials” for 2 years before turning professional in 1992. As a professional referee, he was mentored by Larry Hazzard. Esteves Jr. primarily works bouts in the northeastern United States, but has also refereed internationally in Aruba, Panama, China, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Russia, Germany, the Dominican Republic, Bermuda, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Poland. He is a member of the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame.
Notable Bouts
2013
- Paul Malignaggi vs. Adrien Broner for the WBA Welterweight Title.
- Guillermo Rigondeaux vs. Nonito Donaire for the WBO, WBA, The Ring Magazine Super Bantamweight Titles.
- Orlando Salido vs. Miguel Angel Garcia for the WBO and The Ring Magazine Featherweight Titles.
2012
- Danny Garcia vs. Erik Morales (2nd meeting) for the WBC, WBA, The Ring Magazine Light Welterweight Titles.
- Antonio DeMarco vs. Adrien Broner for the WBC Lightweight Title.
2011
- Nonito Donaire vs. Omar Andres Narvaez for the WBC and WBO Bantamweight Titles.
- Akifumi Shimoda vs. Rico Ramos for the WBA World Super Bantamweight Title.
2010
- Devon Alexander vs. Juan Urango for the WBC and IBF Light Welterweight Titles.
- Steven Luevano vs. Juan Manuel Lopez for the WBO Featherweight Title.
2009
- Lucian Bute vs. Librado Andrade (2nd meeting) for the IBF Super Middleweight Title.
- Teon Kennedy vs. Francisco Rodriguez for the USBA Super Bantamweight Title - Esteves stopped the fight in the tenth as Rodriguez was taking punishment. After the fight, Rodriguez collapsed in his corner. He was rushed to the hospital for emergency brain surgery and died two days later.
- Miguel Angel Cotto vs. Michael Jennings for the WBO Welterweight Title.
2008
2007
- Miguel Angel Cotto vs. Shane Mosley for the WBA Welterweight Title.
- David Diaz vs. Erik Morales for the WBC Lightweight Title.
2006
- Antonio Margarito vs. Joshua Clottey for the WBO Welterweight Title.
- Antonio Tarver vs. Bernard Hopkins for the IBO and NBA Light Heavyweight Titles.
2004
2003
- Rosendo Alvarez vs. Victor Burgos for the WBA, IBF, The Ring Magazine Light Flyweight Titles.
2000
- Arturo Gatti vs. Joey Gamache - Gamache, who was knocked out in the second round, spent a week in the hospital and did not fight again.
1999
- Felix Trinidad vs. Pernell Whitaker for the IBF Welterweight Title.
1998
1997
- Naseem Hamed vs. Kevin Kelley for the WBO Featherweight Title.
- Arturo Gatti vs. Gabriel Ruelas for the IBF Super Featherweight Title. - Fight was named The Ring Magazine Knockout of the Year and The Ring Magazine Fight of the Year for 1997.
- Kostya Tszyu vs. Vince Phillips for the IBF Light Welterweight Title - Fight was named The Ring magazine Upset of the Year for 1997.
1995
- Felix Trinidad vs. Larry Barnes for the IBF Welterweight Title - It was the first known world-title bout for Esteves Jr.