# George Benton

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

## Boxing career
### Fighting

His first amateur bout was when he was thirteen. He turned professional three years later. 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).
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."
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 George 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.

### Training

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.

## Personal life

Benton died on September 19, 2011, after a battle with pneumonia. A veteran of the United States Army, he was buried at the Washington Crossing National Cemetery in Upper Makefield Township, Pennsylvania.

## Legacy

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.

## Professional boxing record

| 75 fights | 61 wins | 13 losses |
| By knockout | 36 | 2 |
| By decision | 25 | 11 |
| Draws | 1 | 1 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date, | Age | Location | Notes |
| 75 | Loss | 61–13–1 | Juarez de Lima | UD | 10 | Apr 3, 1970 | 36 years, 323 days | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 74 | Win | 61–12–1 | Eddie Owens | UD | 10 | Mar 25, 1970 | 36 years, 314 days | Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 73 | Win | 60–12–1 | David Beckles | KO | 1 (10) | Jan 13, 1970 | 36 years, 243 days | Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 72 | Win | 59–12–1 | Juarez de Lima | SD | 10 | May 1, 1969 | 35 years, 351 days | Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 71 | Win | 58–12–1 | Bobby Warthen | TKO | 1 (10) | Sep 24, 1968 | 35 years, 132 days | Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 70 | Win | 57–12–1 | Danny Garcia | TKO | 2 (10) | Apr 15, 1968 | 34 years, 336 days | Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 69 | Win | 56–12–1 | Oscar Freeman | KO | 2 (10) | Mar 11, 1968 | 34 years, 301 days | Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 68 | Win | 55–12–1 | Hilton Whitaker | KO | 8 (10) | Nov 9, 1966 | 33 years, 178 days | Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 67 | Win | 54–12–1 | Dick Young | KO | 4 (10) | Oct 2, 1966 | 33 years, 140 days | Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 66 | Loss | 53–12–1 | Bennie Briscoe | RTD | 9 (10) | Dec 5, 1966 | 33 years, 204 days | Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 65 | Loss | 53–11–1 | Milo Calhoun | UD | 10 | Aug 25, 1966 | 33 years, 102 days | Exposition Building, Portland, Maine, U.S. | |
| 64 | Loss | 53–10–1 | Luis Manuel Rodriguez | TKO | 9 (10) | Mar 7, 1966 | 32 years, 296 days | Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 63 | Win | 53–9–1 | Larry Barrett | TKO | 6 (10) | Apr 12, 1965 | 31 years, 332 days | Philadelphia A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 62 | Win | 52–9–1 | Jimmy Ellis | MD | 10 | Nov 30, 1964 | 31 years, 199 days | Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 61 | Win | 51–9–1 | Johnny Morris | SD | 12 | May 18, 1964 | 31 years, 3 days | Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | Won USA Pennsylvania State middleweight title |
| 60 | Win | 50–9–1 | Ernest Burford | KO | 4 (10) | Mar 16, 1964 | 30 years, 306 days | Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 59 | Loss | 49–9–1 | Johnny Morris | UD | 10 | Nov 19, 1963 | 30 years, 188 days | Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. | For USA Pennsylvania State middleweight title |
| 58 | Win | 49–8–1 | John Henry Smith | KO | 2 (10) | Aug 31, 1963 | 30 years, 108 days | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |
| 57 | Win | 48–8–1 | Allen Thomas | UD | 10 | Jul 20, 1963 | 30 years, 66 days | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 56 | Loss | 47–8–1 | Rubin Carter | SD | 10 | May 25, 1963 | 30 years, 10 days | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 55 | Win | 47–7–1 | Clarence Riley | TKO | 6 (10) | Apr 4, 1963 | 29 years, 324 days | Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 54 | Win | 46–7–1 | Clarence Alford | TKO | 3 (10) | Mar 7, 1963 | 30 years, 188 days | Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 53 | Win | 45–7–1 | Allan Harmon | TKO | 8 (10) | Nov 19, 1962 | 29 years, 188 days | Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 52 | Win | 44–7–1 | Joey Giardello | UD | 10 | Aug 6, 1962 | 29 years, 83 days | Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 51 | Win | 43–7–1 | Jesse Smith | UD | 10 | May 28, 1962 | 29 years, 13 days | Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 50 | Win | 42–7–1 | Rudolph Bent | KO | 2 (10) | Apr 12, 1962 | 28 years, 332 days | Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 49 | Win | 41–7–1 | Eddie Thompson | TKO | 8 (10) | Mar 8, 1962 | 28 years, 297 days | Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 48 | Win | 40–7–1 | Joe Louis Adair | KO | 4 (10) | Feb 8, 1962 | 28 years, 269 days | Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 47 | Win | 39–7–1 | Chico Corsey | TKO | 3 (8) | Nov 3, 1961 | 28 years, 172 days | Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 46 | Loss | 38–7–1 | John McCormack | PTS | 10 | Nov 2, 1960 | 27 years, 171 days | Ice Rink, Paisley, Scotland, U.K. | |
| 45 | Win | 38–6–1 | Freddie Little | MD | 10 | Oct 18, 1960 | 27 years, 156 days | Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 44 | Win | 37–6–1 | Gene Washington | TKO | 9 (10) | Dec 10, 1959 | 26 years, 209 days | Alhambra A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 43 | Loss | 36–6–1 | Henry Hank | UD | 10 | Oct 26, 1959 | 26 years, 164 days | Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, Florida, U.S. | |
| 42 | Loss | 36–5–1 | Holly Mims | UD | 10 | Jul 15, 1959 | 26 years, 61 days | Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 41 | Win | 36–4–1 | Bobby Boyd | UD | 10 | May 18, 1959 | 26 years, 3 days | Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 40 | Win | 35–4–1 | Young Beau Jack | KO | 1 (10) | Feb 16, 1959 | 25 years, 277 days | Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 39 | Loss | 34–4–1 | Charley Joseph | UD | 10 | Nov 17, 1958 | 25 years, 186 days | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 38 | Win | 34–3–1 | Charley Joseph | UD | 10 | Aug 26, 1958 | 25 years, 103 days | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 37 | Loss | 33–3–1 | Willie Dockery | SD | 10 | Jul 7, 1958 | 25 years, 53 days | St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 36 | Win | 33–2–1 | Jim Robinson | KO | 4 (8) | Jun 12, 1958 | 25 years, 28 days | Connie Mack Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 35 | Win | 32–2–1 | Archie Whitfield | TKO | 6 (6) | Apr 16, 1958 | 24 years, 336 days | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 34 | Win | 31–2–1 | Clarence Hinnant | MD | 8 | Oct 21, 1954 | 21 years, 159 days | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 33 | Win | 30–2–1 | Clarence Hinnant | SD | 8 | Sep 30, 1954 | 21 years, 138 days | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 32 | Win | 29–2–1 | Joe Dorsey | TKO | 7 (10) | May 2, 1954 | 20 years, 352 days | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 31 | Draw | 28–2–1 | Leroy Coleman | PTS | 8 | May 14, 1954 | 20 years, 364 days | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 30 | Win | 28–2 | Charolito Spirituano | UD | 10 | Apr 27, 1954 | 20 years, 347 days | Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 29 | Win | 27–2 | Bobby Jones | SD | 10 | Dec 28, 1953 | 20 years, 227 days | Eastern Parkway Arena, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 28 | Win | 26–2 | Jimmy Franklin | TKO | 6 (8) | Aug 13, 1953 | 20 years, 90 days | Toppi Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 27 | Win | 25–2 | Chuck Goldsby | UD | 8 | Jul 23, 1953 | 20 years, 69 days | Toppi Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 26 | Loss | 24–2 | Joe Blackwood | MD | 10 | Mar 24, 1953 | 19 years, 313 days | Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 25 | Win | 24–1 | Lester Felton | PTS | 8 | Jan 27, 1953 | 19 years, 257 days | Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 24 | Win | 23–1 | Bobby Lee | TKO | 6 (10) | Jan 20, 1953 | 19 years, 250 days | Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 23 | Win | 22–1 | Charley Joseph | UD | 10 | Dec 23, 1952 | 19 years, 222 days | Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 22 | Win | 21–1 | Leroy Coleman | TKO | 3 (6) | Dec 8, 1952 | 19 years, 207 days | Arena, Trenton, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 21 | Win | 20–1 | Jackie Burke | TKO | 6 (6) | Jun 5, 1952 | 19 years, 21 days | Municipal Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 20 | Win | 19–1 | Moses Ward | TKO | 5 (8) | Mar 26, 1952 | 18 years, 316 days | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 19 | Win | 18–1 | Bobby Rosado | KO | 4 (6) | Mar 21, 1952 | 18 years, 311 days | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 18 | Win | 17–1 | Holly Mims | UD | 8 | Jan 10, 1952 | 18 years, 240 days | Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 17 | Win | 16–1 | Chuck Goldsby | KO | 3 (8) | Nov 29, 1951 | 18 years, 198 days | Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 16 | Win | 15–1 | Georgie Johnson | KO | 5 (?) | Oct 11, 1951 | 18 years, 149 days | City Auditorium, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 15 | Win | 14–1 | Buddy Newby | TKO | 2 (6) | Aug 24, 1951 | 18 years, 101 days | Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 14 | Win | 13–1 | Emmett Norris | TKO | 6 (8) | Jul 2, 1951 | 18 years, 48 days | Toppi Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 13 | Win | 12–1 | Van Butler | PTS | 6 | Jun 11, 1951 | 18 years, 27 days | Toppi Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 12 | Win | 11–1 | Jimmy Moore | KO | 1 (6) | Apr 19, 1951 | 17 years, 339 days | Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 11 | Win | 10–1 | Jetson Arnold | PTS | 8 | Apr 16, 1951 | 17 years, 336 days | Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 10 | Win | 9–1 | Billy Whye | PTS | 6 | Mar 5, 1951 | 17 years, 355 days | Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 9 | Win | 8–1 | Al Niang | RTD | 1 (6) | Feb 6, 1951 | 17 years, 267 days | Arena, Trenton, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 8 | Loss | 7–1 | Al Mobley | PTS | 6 | Jun 5, 1950 | 17 years, 21 days | Municipal Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Frank Gubas | TKO | 2 (6) | May 15, 1950 | 17 years, 0 days | Arena, New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Bucky Slocum | UD | 6 | Feb 2, 1950 | 16 years, 263 days | Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Gene Landers | PTS | 6 | Jan 5, 1950 | 16 years, 235 days | Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Dave Peters | UD | 6 | Nov 21, 1949 | 16 years, 190 days | Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Dave Peters | TKO | 5 (6) | Nov 3, 1949 | 16 years, 172 days | Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Whitman Dorsch | PTS | 4 | Aug 8, 1949 | 16 years, 85 days | Toppi Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Chico Wade | KO | 1 (4) | Jul 18, 1949 | 16 years, 64 days | Toppi Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |