George Benton
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George Benton (May 15, 1933 – September 19, 2011) was a boxer and a boxing trainer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Information
His first amateur bout was when he was thirteen. He turned professional three years later at the age of sixteen. He boxed professionally from 1949 to 1970 and defeated future world champions Freddie Little, Jimmy Ellis, and Joey Giardello. In seventy-six professional fights, he was never knocked down and was stopped just twice, on a cut against Luis Manuel Rodriguez and when he didn't come out for the final round of his fight with Bennie Briscoe. Benton had a professional record of 62–13–1 (37 KOs).[1]
Benton became the #1 ranked middleweight in the world in the early 1960s, but he never got a shot at the world title. In 1962, after he beat Giardello, Benton thought that he would get a title shot. However, Giardello's manager, Lou Duva, was well connected and was able to get Giardello a fight with Dick Tiger for the World Middleweight Championship, which Giardello won by decision. "Yeah, I screwed George out of his shot," Duva said. "He didn't even know about it till I told him many years later."[2]
Benton's boxing career ended in 1970 after he was shot. The shooter had tried to pick up Benton's sister in a bar, and Benton's brother beat him up. Vowing to kill someone from the Benton family, the man shot Benton in the back. He was in and out of the hospital for two years. The bullet is still lodged near Benton's spine.
With his boxing career over, he turned to training. He studied under Eddie Futch and was in Joe Frazier's corner for his third fight with Muhammad Ali, the Thrilla in Manila. He was also in the corner of Leon Spinks when he upset Ali to win the World Heavyweight Championship.
For seventeen years, Benton worked with Lou Duva and the Duva family's promotion company, Main Events, as the head trainer for many of their fighters. Among the fighters he trained were Evander Holyfield, Mike McCallum, Meldrick Taylor, and Pernell Whitaker.
In 1989 and 1990, Benton was named "Trainer of the Year" by the Boxing Writers Association of America.
In 2001, he was elected to the International Boxing Hall Of Fame.
He died on 19 September 2011 after a battle with pneumonia.[3]
Professional boxing record
| 62 Wins (37 knockouts, 25 decisions), 13 Losses (2 knockouts, 11 decisions), 1 Draw | |||||||
| Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes |
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 35-7-5 |  Juarez De Lima |
UD | 10 | 03/04/1970 |  Felt Forum, New York City |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 22-10-3 | Eddie Owens |
UD | 10 | 25/03/1970 | The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 7-6 |  David Beckles |
KO | 1 | 13/01/1970 | The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Beckles knocked out at 2:44 of the first round. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 33-5-5 | Juarez De Lima |
SD | 10 | 01/05/1969 | Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
49-46, 46-45, 42-49. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 14-12 | Bobby Warthen |
TKO | 1 | 24/09/1968 | Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Referee stopped the bout at 1:58 of the first round. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 9-14-3 |  Danny Garcia |
TKO | 2 | 15/04/1968 | Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 17-13-1 | Oscar Freeman |
KO | 2 | 11/03/1968 | Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Freeman knocked out at 2:24 of the second round. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 6-2 | Hilton Whitaker |
KO | 8 | 09/11/1967 | Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Whitaker knocked out at 2:21 of the eighth round. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 17-4 | Dick Young |
KO | 4 | 02/10/1967 | Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 18-3 | Bennie Briscoe |
RTD | 9 | 05/12/1966 | Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 20-6-5 |  Milo Calhoun |
UD | 10 | 25/08/1966 | Portland Exposition Building, Portland, Maine |
|
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 70-4 |  Luis Manuel Rodriguez |
TKO | 9 | 07/03/1966 | Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Referee stopped the bout at 1:41 of the ninth round. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 7-3-2 | Larry Barrett |
TKO | 7 | 12/04/1965 | Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 15-4 | Jimmy Ellis |
MD | 10 | 30/11/1964 | Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
46-45, 46-45, 46-46. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 24-7 | Johnny Morris |
SD | 12 | 18/05/1964 | Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Pennsylvania Middleweight Title. 56-55, 58-51, 54-56. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 31-13-1 | Ernest Burford |
KO | 4 | 16/03/1964 | Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 23-7 | Johnny Morris |
UD | 12 | 19/11/1963 | Pittsburgh Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
Pennsylvania Middleweight Title. 52-57, 53-55, 51-58. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 22-6 | John Henry "Bad News" Smith |
KO | 2 | 31/08/1963 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California |
Smith knocked out at 2:26 of the second round. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 20-1-1 | Allen Thomas |
UD | 10 | 20/07/1963 | Madison Square Garden, New York City |
6-4, 6-3, 8-2. |
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 15-3 | Rubin Carter |
SD | 10 | 25/05/1963 | Madison Square Garden, New York City |
5-4, 4-6, 2-7. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 21-30-5 | Clarence Riley |
TKO | 6 | 04/04/1963 | The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 17-9-1 | Clarence Alford |
KO | 3 | 07/03/1963 | The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 25-8-4 | Allan Harmon |
KO | 9 | 19/11/1962 | Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 89-23-8 | Joey Giardello |
UD | 10 | 06/08/1962 | Philadelphia Convention Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
48-43, 48-44, 46-45. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 40-8-4 | Jesse "Crazy Horse" Smith |
PTS | 10 | 28/05/1962 | Philadelphia Convention Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 34-24-4 |  Rudolph Bent |
KO | 2 | 12/04/1962 | The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 17-8-2 | Eddie Thompson |
TKO | 8 | 08/03/1962 | The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 12-3 | Joe Louis Adair |
KO | 4 | 08/02/1962 | The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 7-32-4 | Chico Corsey |
TKO | 3 | 03/11/1961 | The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 26-3 |  John "Cowboy" McCormack |
PTS | 10 | 02/11/1960 | Ice Rink, Paisley |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 22-1 | Freddie Little |
MD | 10 | 18/10/1960 | New Orleans Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana |
4-4, 5-2, 5-4. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 14-3-1 | Gene Washington |
KO | 10 | 10/12/1959 | Alhambra A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 37-10-1 | Henry Hank |
UD | 10 | 26/10/1959 | New Orleans Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana |
|
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 47-19-6 | Holly Mims |
UD | 10 | 15/07/1959 | Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida |
94-98, 94-97, 95-98. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 52-11-3 | Robert B. Boyd |
UD | 10 | 18/05/1959 | Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 17-3 | Young Beau Jack |
KO | 1 | 16/02/1959 | Philadelphia Convention Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Jack knocked out at 1:44 of the first round. |
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 49-10-1 | Charley Joseph |
UD | 10 | 17/11/1958 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana |
3-7, 2-7, 1-8. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 47-9-1 | Charley Joseph |
UD | 10 | 26/08/1958 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana |
6-2, 6-2, 4-4. |
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 22-6-3 | Willie Dockery |
SD | 10 | 07/07/1958 | St. Nicholas Arena, New York City |
4-6, 6-4, 4-6. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 17-3-1 | Jim Robinson |
KO | 4 | 12/06/1958 | Connie Mack Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 10-9 | Archie Whitfield |
TKO | 6 | 16/04/1958 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 1-2 | Henry Ray |
KO | 2 | 02/08/1956 | Charlotte Park Center, Charlotte, North Carolina |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 33-8 | Clarence Hinnant |
PTS | 8 | 21/10/1955 | Cambria A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 33-7 | Clarence Hinnant |
PTS | 8 | 30/09/1955 | Cambria A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 12-2-1 | Joseph Dorsey, Jr. |
TKO | 7 | 02/05/1955 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana |
Referee stopped the bout at 1:30 of the seventh round. |
| Draw | 37-11 | Leroy Coleman |
PTS | 8 | 14/05/1954 | Madison Square Garden, New York City |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 44-12-3 | Kid Charolito Spirituano |
UD | 10 | 27/04/1954 | Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 33-19-8 | Bobby Jones |
SD | 10 | 28/12/1953 | Boxing From Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, New York |
7-3, 5-4, 4-5. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 13-3 | Jimmy Franklin |
KO | 6 | 13/08/1953 | Toppi Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Franklin knocked out at 2:16 of the sixth round. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 17-4 | Chuck Goldsby |
UD | 8 | 23/07/1953 | Toppi Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 63-20-8 | Joe Blackwood |
SD | 10 | 24/03/1953 | Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 55-10-3 | Lester Felton |
PTS | 8 | 27/01/1953 | Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 30-22-7 | Bobby Lee |
TKO | 6 | 20/01/1953 | Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida |
Referee stopped the bout at 2:53 of the sixth round. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 23-0-1 | Charley Joseph |
UD | 10 | 23/12/1952 | Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 31-9 | Leroy Coleman |
TKO | 3 | 08/12/1952 | Arena, Trenton, New Jersey |
Referee stopped the bout at 1:48 of the third round. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 61-12-4 | Jackie Burke |
KO | 6 | 05/06/1952 | Philadelphia Municipal Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 8-1-2 | Moses Ward |
KO | 5 | 26/03/1952 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 43-14-2 | Bobby Rosado |
KO | 4 | 21/03/1952 | Madison Square Garden, New York City |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 25-10-4 | Holly Mims |
UD | 8 | 10/01/1952 | Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 12-2 | Chuck Goldsby |
KO | 3 | 29/11/1951 | Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Goldsby knocked out at 2:57 of the third round. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 7-2 | Georgie Johnson |
KO | 5 | 11/10/1951 | Atlantic City, New Jersey |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | -- | Buddy Newly | KO | 2 | 24/08/1951 | Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 17-6-1 | Emmett Norris |
TKO | 6 | 02/07/1951 | Toppi Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 16-17-2 | Van Butler |
PTS | 6 | 11/06/1951 | Toppi Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 26-26-5 | Jimmy Moore |
KO | 1 | 19/04/1951 | Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 15-0 | Jetson Arnold |
PTS | 8 | 16/04/1951 | Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 9-4-1 | Billy Whye |
PTS | 6 | 05/03/1951 | Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 4-0-2 | Al Niang |
TKO | 2 | 06/02/1951 | Arena, Trenton, New Jersey |
Referee stopped the bout at 0:10 of the second round. |
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 52-28-5 | Al Mobley |
PTS | 6 | 05/06/1950 | Philadelphia Municipal Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 5-2 | Frank Gubas |
TKO | 2 | 15/05/1950 | New Haven Arena, New Haven, Connecticut |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 11-5-4 | Bucky Slocum |
PTS | 6 | 02/02/1950 | Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 5-0-1 | Gene Landers |
PTS | 6 | 05/01/1950 | Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 22-45-5 | Harold Alle |
UD | 6 | 21/11/1949 | Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 19-8-1 | Dave Peters |
TKO | 5 | 03/11/1949 | Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 4-6 | Whitman Dorsch |
PTS | 4 | 08/08/1949 | Toppi Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | -- | Chico Wade | KO | 1 | 18/07/1949 | Toppi Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|
References
- ↑ "George Benton Obituary". Sport & Note. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
- ↑ http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1004435/index.htm Sports Illustrated The Master
- ↑ "George Benton dies; was legendary Philadelphia boxer and trainer - ESPN". Espn.go.com. 2011-09-22. Retrieved 2011-11-17.
- Sports Illustrated The Master
- Boxing Writers Association of America Trainer of the Year Award
- George Benton International Boxing Hall of Fame
- George Benton's Professional Record
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