Coming home: Benavidez confident he can

PHOENIX – It’s a line as old as a jab. It’s about going home. It says that you can’t. But Jose Benavidez, Jr., can look around and know that he can.

Benavidez was there a few days ago, surrounded by bags that Mike Tyson, Julio Cesar Chavez, Kostya Tszyu and Floyd Mayweather Jr. used to hit. Central Boxing’s rebuilt walls are covered by aging posters that recall fights involving Tyson, Chavez, Tszyu, Mayweather and others.

They’ve passed through, moved on. Tyson, Chavez and Tszyu will be inducted Sunday to the Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, N.Y. The old gym near Arizona’s state capitol has always been a good training stop. But never home, at least not until Benavidez (11-0, 10 KOs).

Benavidez grew up there, learned how to throw a long, quick jab there. One day, he might become its identity. A clue at his chances should begin to unfold Saturday night when he finally makes his home-state as a pro at Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino in Chandler, a Phoenix suburb, Saturday night, against well-traveled Corey Alarcon (14-17-1 4 KOs), a 33-year-old veteran from Denver who expects to be licensed Friday by the Arizona State Boxing Commission at a formal weigh-in.

“It’s been something like three years since I’ve even fought in my hometown and that’s when I was an amateur,’’ said Benavidez, who will appear in his first main event on a seven-fight card scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. (PST). “I’ve been wanting to do this for such a long time.’’

There was lot of attention on Benavidez after he first joined Top Rank as a 17-year-old junior-welterweight prospect. YouTube video of him sparring with Amir Kahn at famed trainer Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles got a lot of people talking. Then, there were quick and efficient stoppages in his first few fights. For a young talent, nothing goes awry in the early days.

But Benavidez has been at a plateau lately. First, he left the Wild Card amid internet speculation about problems between Benavidez trainer-and-dad, Jose Sr., and Roach, who is already busy with Manny Pacquiao, Khan and Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr.

“No, that was just people talking, making stuff up,’’ Benavidez said. “I still talk to Freddie Roach. We’re friendly. The last time I talked to him he told me to use more lateral movement and throw more punches from angles.’’

Whatever happened at Roach’s Wild Card Gym, Benavidez and his dad came home, confronted by adjustments. There was some disappointment in February with Benavidez’ first fight that didn’t end with him winning by stoppage. Instead, he scored a six-round, unanimous decision over Fernando Rodriquez on Jan. 22.

In that frustration, however, there was renewed commitment. Benavidez, still only 19, changed his diet. No more soda pop.

“No more trouble making weight either,’’ said Benavidez, a junior-welterweight who has agreed to fight the 33-year-old Alarcon at 143-144 pounds in a bout scheduled for six rounds.

No more doubts about where he belongs either.

First, there is the task of establishing his Phoenix identity. His pro debut in his hometown was delayed by controversy over Arizona’s immigration legislation, SB 1070. A Phoenix card featuring Benavidez a year ago was canceled when TV-Azteca, a Mexican network, and beer sponsor Tecate told Top Rank that they didn’t want to do business in the state.

But Benavidez knew that eventually business would bring him home. In California, Nevada and Texas, Phoenix was always there in red stitching on the waistband of his trunks

“During the next couple of years, I see us fighting six, seven times a year with maybe two a year in Phoenix,’’ said Jose Sr., who foresees his son reaching his prime as a junior middleweight. “Coming home to fight is kind of a new stage in his career.’’

Inevitable, too.