Legendary Boxing Coach Jose ‘Joe’ Joven laid to rest
Jose “Joe” Joven, a renowned boxing coach and father of the Mayor of Odessa Javier Joven, was laid to rest Tues., Sept. 19 at Sunset Memorial Gardens in the city, according to a City of Odessa Facebook post. The elder Joven was 93-years-old.
A boxing glove was displayed at Tuesday’s service so those who trained and fought for Joe could sign it, per the post. Joven was remembered during the services as a man of deep faith who loved his family and friends, and who was a hard worker, entrepreneur and a peacemaker.
His son, Mayor Joven, was known to have worked diligently to help care for his father throughout his final days, often serving him breakfast and lunch.
Joven’s family recalled a story demonstrating his peacemaking skills, when he paid someone else’s debt to save their reputation. Along with his wife, Joven also mentored young couples involved in domestic violence situations, underscoring that he wanted them to live and find the goodness in life. Other stories of the boxing coach’s many efforts to make a difference in the community abounded during the services.
The elder Joven first arrived in Odessa in the 1950s, per the post, and in April, was honored as among the local sports figures with a picture displayed at Patrick Clay’s Icon Tavern. During his boxing days in Mexico, Joven won a championship in the Light Weight Division and went on to train numerous boxers in Odessa, chief among them being the late boxing legend Ruben Munoz, Jr.
