Benítez subsequently quit CF Extremadura and took a year out studying in England and Italy.

The pair subsequently went into managing boxers, guiding such fighters as Wilfred Benítez, Edwin Rosario, and Iron Mike Tyson to world titles.

He subsequently worked for Premier League club Liverpool for nine years, assisting Gérard Houllier and Rafael Benítez.

| align = left | Wilfred Benítez

Vázquez was scheduled to participate in Don King's Carnival of Champions card, where Gómez and Wilfred Benítez competed, but an injury suffered during training left him out of the event.

He left by mutual consent with the club and was swiftly replaced by Valencia coach Rafael Benítez.

In 2001 the club was again promoted, led by Rafael Benítez, who promptly left to take up the manager's job at Valencia CF ; the promotion was achieved in the last match of the campaign, thanks to a goal from Hugo Morales.

The following year, Benítez left to manage Liverpool and was replaced by Claudio Ranieri.

Houllier was replaced by Rafael Benítez at the end of the 2003 – 04 season.

Watt lasted fifteen rounds, but the judges gave Argüello a unanimous 15-round decision, thus making him only the sixth boxer to win world titles in 3 divisions, and the second Latin American ( after Wilfred Benítez had become the first by beating Maurice Hope one month before ) to do it.

The Benitez troop was largely directed by their mother, Clara Benítez.

The theme was written by Jellybean Benítez.

Among those to have been recognized by the WBC as world champions were the Undefeated Rocky Marciano ( 49-0 ), Roy Jones, Jr., Wilfred Benítez, Wilfredo Gómez, Julio César Chávez, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Sugar Ray Leonard, Mike Tyson, Salvador Sánchez, Héctor Camacho, Marvin Hagler, Carlos Monzón, Roberto Durán, Juan Laporte, Félix Trinidad, Edwin Rosario, Bernard Hopkins, Alexis Argüello, Nigel Benn, Lennox Lewis, Vitali Klitschko, Erik Morales, Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Carazo was considered to be a boxing reincarnation of Wilfred Benítez or Wilfredo Gómez by many of his fans, and he won his first five professional bouts by knockout in 1984.

* November 30 in Las Vegas, dual world championship undercard: Vito Antuofermo retains his world Middleweight title with a 15 round draw ( tie ) against Marvin Hagler, and Sugar Ray Leonard wins his first world title, beating WBC world Welterweight champion Wilfred Benítez by knockout in round 15.

Gavilan was managed by Yamil Chade, a part Lebanese, part Cuban boxing manager ( based in Puerto Rico ) who also directed the careers of Wilfredo Gómez, Wilfred Benítez, Carlos De León and Félix Trinidad among others.

This made Agrelot the second Puerto Rican-born person, after Wilfred Benítez, to earn a world record certified by the Guinness Book of World Records ( The late local children television host Joaquin Montserrat would be the third were he not a native of Barcelona ).

He endured what were considered below-average seasons by most in the 2002 – 03 and 2003 – 04 seasons, but he rediscovered his form in 2004 – 05 following the appointment of Rafael Benítez as manager.

Despite courting controversy by accusing manager Rafael Benítez of ' treating him like a slave ', he insisted that he had no ill feelings towards the club or anyone associated with it and only wanted to leave after failing to make Poland's World Cup squad, but still stayed on for another year at the manager's request.

His championship run ended in 1979, when he traveled to Puerto Rico, where he was defeated on January 13 by hometown boxer Wilfred Benítez via a controversial fifteen round split decision.

The side's highest position during this 11-year stint was seventh in 1996 – 97, being coached in the previous seasons by former Real Madrid Castilla's coach Rafael Benítez, as various players from there also would later appear for Valladolid.

* Lucecita Benítez wins the Festival de la Canción Latina in Mexico, ( 1969 ) with the song Génesis, by Puerto Rican composer, Guillermo Venegas Lloveras.

Kewell was controversially selected by manager Rafael Benítez ahead of the defensive midfielder Dietmar Hamann, signaling the club's intent to attack from the outset.

In November 2005, after recovering from the injury sustained during the final, Kewell spoke to the official Liverpool website, saying that he had a strong desire to repay his manager Rafael Benítez for showing confidence in him by fielding him in the Champions League Final.

In March 2006, manager Rafael Benítez commented on Fowler's work and progress by saying, " to buy a Robbie Fowler who is fit and scoring goals would cost a lot, maybe £ 10m or more ".

The burial ceremony was also attended by thousands of spectators, with La Borinqueña being sung by Lucecita Benítez prior to the procession.

* May 23-Wilfred Benítez becomes the first Hispanic and Puerto Rican to be a three time world champion, as well as the fifth boxer to do it and the first one to do it since Henry Armstrong four decades before, when he defeats Maurice Hope by knockout in round twelve to win the WBC's world Jr. Middleweight title in Las Vegas

De Jesus, a native of the town of Carolina, Puerto Rico, was a gymmate of Wilfred Benítez and an acquaintance of Benitez's mother, Clara Benítez.

He was part of an early 1980s ' junior middleweight and middleweight division scene that included Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, Wilfred Benítez, Davey Moore, and Roberto Durán-an era which many boxing fans rank as one of the most exciting times ever in those weight classes.

While performing with his sister Nelly in New York's Teatro Puerto Rico in 1973, Tony was introduced to New York bred but Puerto Rico born vocalist Roberto Tirado who suggested that he compose a hit song for his idol Lucecita Benítez who was going through hard times in her career.

After his return, Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez stated on the club's website and to other members of the media that a new contract for Kewell to continue his career at Anfield was not out of the question.

Benítez revealed that Kewell was in extra training with the reserves in a bid to win a new contract.

After an alleged bust-up with manager Rafael Benítez, Cissé was loaned to Olympique Marseille for the 2006 – 07 season.

Another important aspect of boxing in the 1980s was the rivalry between five world champions: Wilfred Benítez, Roberto Durán, Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns and Sugar Ray Leonard.

Aeroperú Flight 603 was a scheduled flight from Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima, Peru ( SPIM ), to Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport in Santiago, Chile ( SCEL ), which crashed on October 2, 1996.

Helped by Alfred D. Herger, he was a member of a group of teen sensations that included Lissette Alvarez ( to whom Avellanet got married ), Lucecita Benítez, Yolandita Monge, Ednita Nazario and Charlie Robles, among others.

The airline was founded by Chilean Air Services Commander Arturo Merino Benitez ( for whom the Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport was named some years later ), and began operations on March 5, 1929 as Línea Aeropostal Santiago-Arica.

As it was, Houllier resigned and was replaced by Rafael Benítez.

Diao was played in his correct position by Rafa Benítez but several poor displays saw him displaced by Xabi Alonso notably after a 4 – 2 win at Fulham.

* 1960 – Rafael Benítez, Spanish football manager

In April 2009 Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez invited Dalglish to take up a role at the club's youth academy.

** Rafael Benítez, Spanish football manager

Adding fuel to these rumours was Liverpool's purchase of Peter Crouch from Southampton, along with the decision by manager Rafael Benítez not to play Baroš in any of Liverpool's Champions League qualifying-round ties.

Ranieri took over after Rafael Benítez, the manager who had led Valencia to the UEFA Cup and La Liga double the previous season, resigned and then promptly joined Liverpool.

Rafael " Rafa " Benítez Maudes ( born 16 April 1960 ) is a football manager, and former player.

On 16 May 2008, he took up the role of assistant manager to Rafael Benítez after signing a 2-year contract.

Subsequently, García played another season in the second level, being instrumental in CD Tenerife's promotion, scoring 16 league goals under the guidance of manager Rafael Benítez.

Instead he concentrated on integrating with the new Spanish contingent at Liverpool under the guidance of former Valencia manager, Rafael Benítez.

Alonso was praised for his pivotal influence on the team's comeback and manager Benítez reinforced his importance to the team.

" His decision to place his family ahead of an Champions League tie caused much friction with manager Rafa Benítez.

Having initially played as a full back, the arrival of manager Rafael Benítez in 2004 saw Carragher move to become a centre back, where he has remained since.

New manager Rafael Benítez moved him to centre-half where he managed 56 appearances alongside Sami Hyypiä.

In March 2008, manager Rafael Benítez stated in an interview with The Times that Torres was acquired for around £ 20 million, although this figure takes into account García's move to Atlético.

On 24 December 2010, after days of speculation, it was confirmed Leonardo would take over as head coach of fresh FIFA Club World Cup champions Internazionale, replacing Rafael Benítez in a somewhat controversial move, due to the Brazilian's long career with rivals Milan as both player and manager ; he agreed a 18-month contract due to expire on 30 June 2012.

Giants general manager Brian Sabean acknowledged that Benítez was not liked by the Giants fanbase, saying he had become a " whipping boy ", adding " the fans, the press and maybe some people in the clubhouse felt he needed to go ".