In Natural Born Killers, Oliver Stone narrates how violence in the media has affected American life as it currently is. People used to watch sitcom television shows and laugh at everything, without realizing, sometimes, that even a sitcom show could hint at a dormant streak of violence. From there, audiences went on to see Spaghetti Westerns, and on to Clint Eastwood and, currently, The Rock?s feature films.
Whether or not the viewing of action films and video games actually leads one to violence is questionable, but Stone?s message is carried out clearly and out loud in that history?s relatively violent tunes have led us to this society in which we can sometimes find ourselves in a very fine mess. It must be deduced, if one believes Stone?s account, that everything is relative, and everything relative to everything will eventually end up suffering because of its relative connections.
In boxing, we have a lot of families whose problems have been discussed on the public forum, and other families, which are basically composed by boxers and the success of one or more of them. Out of the former, I want to mention the Carbajal family. Michael Carbajal and his family have been involved in deep problems and tragedy as of recently, with deep accusations from one side or the other. Of the latter, we have the Ali?s, the Frazier?s and the Chavez family. We also have the Ayala?s, the Lopez, the Benitez, and the Solis family and many more. Being on friendly terms with the Benitez family and living close to the Carbajal family?s scandals, I could tell you that boxing can strengthen a family or break it apart. It is all relative, after all.
There are many angles in which family relations in boxing can be studied. We have the parents who force their children to fight or participate, just like most sports and entertainment activities. These, I may say, are the Joe Jacksons of boxing, treating their children as if all of us were destined to become the Jackson 5?s in the future. It?s hard to point out at someone when not too many people have come forward and said they were victims of their parents in boxing, but we know those are around too. Then, we have the families where everyone centers on boxing. That is the case of the Benitez family. Yet another type of boxing family is the one where one or more people will grow either over joyous or jealous of one member?s success.
The Benitez family, of Carolina, Puerto Rico, includes Wilfred Benitez, of course, the three time World Champion and International Boxing Hall of Fame member. It also includes Frankie and Gregory Benitez, and mother Clara Benitez. Clara Benitez is the matriarch of Puerto Rico?s top boxing family, and noted sportscaster and writer Angel Oliveras once called her the ?true Champion? of the Benitez clan. At over 80 years old, she radiates admirable youth and passion, caring for Wilfred and flying him around the world for boxing related activities. She went to South Africa and recently had to turn down a trip to Mexico with Wilfred, because the company sponsoring the trip wanted them to pay the airfare. Wilfred Benitez, sadly, is suffering the consequences of many tough fights inside a ring. Even sadder, Gregory Benitez, a noted challenger in the past, passed away last year. Frankie Benitez was also a well noted challenger in the 1970?s. While saddened by her sons? fate, Clara Benitez is fiercely proud of them and a major backer of boxing.
Then there are the Ali?s. Muhammad Ali is suffering from Parkinson?s disease, and his daughter Laila is busy becoming the Greatest of women?s boxing. As it is, she may end up imitating another all time great, Rocky Marciano, and retire undefeated. The Ali?s have a notable feeling of love between each other, it is hard to talk about them in unison without mentioning how much they back each other up, father and daughter.
Not everything, as I noted, however, is rosy among boxing families. Freddie Roach and his brothers had to fight to satisfy their father. This is a well known fact because Roach himself disclosed this with ESPN a few years ago. If they did not box, Mr. Roach would beat up his wife. My heart goes out to Freddie Roach and his brothers. No one should abuse their spouse, and especially not in front of children. For all the tough battles Freddie Roach had, as it turns out, he enjoyed it much better when he was inside a ring than when he was outside it.
Then we have the Pacquiao?s. Nothing wrong that we know about them except Manny is a superstar and rightfully son, while Bobby has not proved worthy of carrying his brother?s water bucket. For sure, Bobby Pacquiao is a good, solid fighter with a lot of important bouts, and he will be remembered at least by hard core fans when his day on the sun is over, but Manny Pacquiao is an all time great, a hero in their country and more than just the current fashion. The question there is, does Bobby actually feel proud of Manny or does he secretly envy his brother?
There are two ways in which success can affect a family in the sport of boxing. One of them, the ideal one, is when everyone leaves the ghetto and settles into a nice sized home like those on The Cosby Show or That?s So Raven, while everyone enjoys the success of the primary one or two persons who are famous and good at fighting. The other one is when a fighters? parents actually suffer the blows their kid takes even harder than their own kids, and a mother implores her children to leave boxing because they already, in the mother?s eyes at least, proved everything they wanted to. The same goes for the fighter?s suffering spouse, children and siblings. There are a few times when having a townhouse or a mansion like the ones we see in ?Desperate Housewives? or an apartment like in ?I Love Lucy? really isn?t worth the suffering of one?s family.
As in with Oliver Stone?s theory of violence, one cannot for sure come to a foregone conclusion when it comes down to boxing, boxing families and how the sport affects them. It would be too easy to say boxing makes all families happy because it provides them with an income, or it makes them sad because of the risk one or more participants and family members are taking when they fight.
But like Stone?s Natural Born Killers did with violence in the media and society, one can conclude that as far as boxing families and the way they change after success, it is all relative.
