George Benton

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 September 19, 2011 after a battle with pneumonia.[3] A veteran of the United States Army, he was buried at the Washington Crossing National Cemetery in Upper Makefield Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.[4]

Professional boxing record

62 Wins (37 knockouts, 25 decisions), 13 Losses (2 knockouts, 11 decisions), 1 Draw [5]
Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
Loss 35-7-5 Brazil Juarez De Lima UD 10 1970-04-03 United States Felt Forum, New York City
Win 22-10-3 United States Eddie Owens UD 10 1970-03-25 United States The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win 7-6 Trinidad and Tobago David Beckles KO 1 1970-01-13 United States The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Beckles knocked out at 2:44 of the first round.
Win 33-5-5 Brazil Juarez De Lima SD 10 1969-05-01 United States Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 49-46, 46-45, 42-49.
Win 14-12 United States Bobby Warthen TKO 1 1968-09-24 United States Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Referee stopped the bout at 1:58 of the first round.
Win 9-14-3 Dominican Republic Danny Garcia TKO 2 1968-04-15 United States Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win 17-13-1 United States Oscar Freeman KO 2 1968-03-11 United States Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Freeman knocked out at 2:24 of the second round.
Win 6-2 United States Hilton Whitaker KO 8 1967-11-09 United States Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Whitaker knocked out at 2:21 of the eighth round.
Win 17-4 United States Dick Young KO 4 1967-10-02 United States Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Loss 18-3 United States Bennie Briscoe RTD 9 1966-12-05 United States Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Loss 20-6-5 Jamaica Milo Calhoun UD 10 1966-08-25 United States Portland Exposition Building, Portland, Maine
Loss 70-4 Cuba Luis Manuel Rodriguez TKO 9 1966-03-07 United States Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Referee stopped the bout at 1:41 of the ninth round.
Win 7-3-2 United States Larry Barrett TKO 7 1965-04-12 United States Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win 15-4 United States Jimmy Ellis MD 10 1964-11-30 United States Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 46-45, 46-45, 46-46.
Win 24-7 United States Johnny Morris SD 12 1964-05-18 United States Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Middleweight Title. 56-55, 58-51, 54-56.
Win 31-13-1 United States Ernest Burford KO 4 1964-03-16 United States Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Loss 23-7 United States Johnny Morris UD 12 1963-11-19 United States Pittsburgh Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Middleweight Title. 52-57, 53-55, 51-58.
Win 22-6 United States John Henry "Bad News" Smith KO 2 1963-08-31 United States Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California Smith knocked out at 2:26 of the second round.
Win 20-1-1 United States Allen Thomas UD 10 1963-07-20 United States Madison Square Garden, New York City 6-4, 6-3, 8-2.
Loss 15-3 United States Rubin Carter SD 10 1963-05-25 United States Madison Square Garden, New York City 5-4, 4-6, 2-7.
Win 21-30-5 United States Clarence Riley TKO 6 1963-04-04 United States The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win 17-9-1 United States Clarence Alford KO 3 1963-03-07 United States The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win 25-8-4 Jamaica Allan Harmon KO 9 1962-11-19 United States Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win 89-23-8 United States Joey Giardello UD 10 1962-08-06 United States Philadelphia Convention Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 48-43, 48-44, 46-45.
Win 40-8-4 United States Jesse "Crazy Horse" Smith PTS 10 1962-05-28 United States Philadelphia Convention Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win 34-24-4 Belize Rudolph Bent KO 2 1962-04-12 United States The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win 17-8-2 United States Eddie Thompson TKO 8 1962-03-08 United States The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win 12-3 United States Joe Louis Adair KO 4 1962-02-08 United States The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win 7-32-4 United States Chico Corsey TKO 3 1961-11-03 United States The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Loss 26-3 Scotland John "Cowboy" McCormack PTS 10 1960-11-02 Scotland Ice Rink, Paisley
Win 22-1 United States Freddie Little MD 10 1960-10-18 United States New Orleans Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana 4-4, 5-2, 5-4.
Win 14-3-1 United States Gene Washington KO 10 1959-12-10 United States Alhambra A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Loss 37-10-1 United States Henry Hank UD 10 1959-10-26 United States New Orleans Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana
Loss 47-19-6 United States Holly Mims UD 10 1959-07-15 United States Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida 94-98, 94-97, 95-98.
Win 52-11-3 United States Robert B. Boyd UD 10 1959-05-18 United States Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win 17-3 United States Young Beau Jack KO 1 1959-02-16 United States Philadelphia Convention Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Jack knocked out at 1:44 of the first round.
Loss 49-10-1 United States Charley Joseph UD 10 1958-11-17 United States Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana 3-7, 2-7, 1-8.
Win 47-9-1 United States Charley Joseph UD 10 1958-08-26 United States Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana 6-2, 6-2, 4-4.
Loss 22-6-3 United States Willie Dockery SD 10 1958-07-07 United States St. Nicholas Arena, New York City 4-6, 6-4, 4-6.
Win 17-3-1 United States Jim Robinson KO 4 1958-06-12 United States Connie Mack Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win 10-9 United States Archie Whitfield TKO 6 1958-04-16 United States Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Win 1-2 United States Henry Ray KO 2 1956-08-02 United States Charlotte Park Center, Charlotte, North Carolina
Win 33-8 United States Clarence Hinnant PTS 8 1955-10-21 United States Cambria A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win 33-7 United States Clarence Hinnant PTS 8 1955-09-30 United States Cambria A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win 12-2-1 United States Joseph Dorsey Jr. TKO 7 1955-05-02 United States Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana Referee stopped the bout at 1:30 of the seventh round.
Draw 37-11 United States Leroy Coleman PTS 8 1954-05-14 United States Madison Square Garden, New York City
Win 44-12-3 Cuba Kid Charolito Spirituano UD 10 1954-04-27 United States Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida
Win 33-19-8 United States Bobby Jones SD 10 1953-12-28 United States Boxing From Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, New York 7-3, 5-4, 4-5.
Win 13-3 United States Jimmy Franklin KO 6 1953-08-13 United States Toppi Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Franklin knocked out at 2:16 of the sixth round.
Win 17-4 United States Chuck Goldsby UD 8 1953-07-23 United States Toppi Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Loss 63-20-8 United States Joe Blackwood SD 10 1953-03-24 United States Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida
Win 55-10-3 United States Lester Felton PTS 8 1953-01-27 United States Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win 30-22-7 United States Bobby Lee TKO 6 1953-01-20 United States Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida Referee stopped the bout at 2:53 of the sixth round.
Win 23-0-1 United States Charley Joseph UD 10 1952-12-23 United States Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida
Win 31-9 United States Leroy Coleman TKO 3 1952-12-08 United States Arena, Trenton, New Jersey Referee stopped the bout at 1:48 of the third round.
Win 61-12-4 United States Jackie Burke KO 6 1952-06-05 United States Philadelphia Municipal Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win 8-1-2 United States Moses Ward KO 5 1952-03-26 United States Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Win 43-14-2 United States Bobby Rosado KO 4 1952-03-21 United States Madison Square Garden, New York City
Win 25-10-4 United States Holly Mims UD 8 1952-01-10 United States Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win 12-2 United States Chuck Goldsby KO 3 1951-11-29 United States Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Goldsby knocked out at 2:57 of the third round.
Win 7-2 United States Georgie Johnson KO 5 1951-10-11 United States Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win -- Buddy Newly KO 2 1951-08-24 United States Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win 17-6-1 United States Emmett Norris TKO 6 1951-07-02 United States Toppi Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win 16-17-2 United States Van Butler PTS 6 1951-06-11 United States Toppi Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win 26-26-5 United States Jimmy Moore KO 1 1951-04-19 United States Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win 15-0 United States Jetson Arnold PTS 8 1951-04-16 United States Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win 9-4-1 United States Billy Whye PTS 6 1951-03-05 United States Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win 4-0-2 United States Al Niang TKO 2 1951-02-06 United States Arena, Trenton, New Jersey Referee stopped the bout at 0:10 of the second round.
Loss 52-28-5 United States Al Mobley PTS 6 1950-06-05 United States Philadelphia Municipal Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win 5-2 United States Frank Gubas TKO 2 1950-05-15 United States New Haven Arena, New Haven, Connecticut
Win 11-5-4 United States Bucky Slocum PTS 6 1950-02-02 United States Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win 5-0-1 United States Gene Landers PTS 6 1950-01-05 United States Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win 22-45-5 United States Harold Alle UD 6 1949-11-21 United States Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts
Win 19-8-1 United States Dave Peters TKO 5 1949-11-03 United States Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win 4-6 United States Whitman Dorsch PTS 4 1949-08-08 United States Toppi Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win -- Chico Wade KO 1 1949-07-18 United States Toppi Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

References

  1. ↑ "George Benton Obituary". Sport & Note. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
  2. ↑ http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1004435/index.htm Sports Illustrated The Master
  3. ↑ "George Benton dies; was legendary Philadelphia boxer and trainer – ESPN". Espn.go.com. 2011-09-22. Retrieved 2011-11-17.
  4. ↑ George A Benton at Find a Grave
  5. ↑ Boxing record for George Benton. BoxRec.com.

External links

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