George Benton

George Benton (May 15, 1933 – September 19, 2011) was an American boxer and boxing trainer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1]

Not to be confused with George Benson.
George Benton
Statistics
Nickname(s)The Mayor of North Philadelphia
NationalityAmerican
BornMay 15, 1933
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
DiedSeptember 19, 2011
StanceOrthodox

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).[2]

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."[3]

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 remained lodged near Benton's spine for the remainder of his life.

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, Oliver McCall, Mike McCallum, Meldrick Taylor, and Pernell Whitaker. Also he coached Marvis Frazier during his amateur career.

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.[4] A veteran of the United States Army, he was buried at the Washington Crossing National Cemetery in Upper Makefield Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.[5]

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

References
  1. "George A. Benton (1933-2011) - Find A Grave...", Findagrave.com, retrieved May 13, 2020
  2. "George Benton Obituary". Sport & Note. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
  3. "George Benton has a lifetime's worth of boxing wisdom - 11.02.92 - SI…", archive.vn, January 19, 2013, retrieved May 13, 2020
  4. "George Benton dies; was legendary Philadelphia boxer and trainer – ESPN". Espn.go.com. September 22, 2011. Retrieved November 17, 2011.
  5. Spiritnews.org
  6. "George Benton : Boxer", archive.vn, January 18, 2013, retrieved May 13, 2020
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