# Bernard Benton

Bernard Benton (born January 6, 1957) is an American retired professional boxer in the Cruiserweight division who held the WBC and The Ring cruiserweight titles.

## Professional career

Known as "The Bull", Benton turned pro in 1981 and won the WBC and lineal cruiserweight titles with a decision win over Alfonso Ratliff in 1985. He was due to defend against David Pearce who had knocked him out in a previous amateur bout. Benton declined to fight Pearce and subsequently lost the belt in his first defense to Carlos De León via decision the following year. He retired in 1995.

## Professional boxing record

| 28 fights | 21 wins | 6 losses |
| By knockout | 9 | 2 |
| By decision | 12 | 4 |
| Draws | 1 | 1 |
Key to abbreviations used for results :
| DQ | Disqualification | RTD | Corner retirement |
| KO | Knockout | SD | Split decision / split draw |
| MD | Majority decision / majority draw | TD | Technical decision / technical draw |
| NC | No contest | TKO | Technical knockout |
| PTS | Points decision | UD | Unanimous decision / unanimous draw |
Boxing record :
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round(s) | Time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 16 | Win | 21–6–1 | Jim Huffman | UD | 12 | N/a | 13 Jan 1995 | Regal Hotel, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. | Won Ohio Heavyweight Title |
| 27 | Win | 20–6–1 | Rocky Bentley | PTS | 8 | N/a | 15 Jan 1993 | Seagate Convention Center, Toledo, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 26 | Win | 19–6–1 | Bruce Johnson | KO | 4 | ? | 4 Nov 1992 | Club Bijou, Toledo, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 25 | Loss | 18–6–1 | Alex García | TKO | 2 | 2:42 | 9 Oct 1990 | La Mancha Athletic Club, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. | |
| 24 | Loss | 18–5–1 | Pierre Coetzer | KO | 1 | ? | 28 Sep 1987 | Standard Bank Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| 23 | Loss | 18–4–1 | Carlos De León | MD | 12 | N/a | 2 Mar 1986 | Riviera Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | Lost WBC and Lineal cruiserweight titles |
| 22 | Win | 18–3–1 | Alfonso Ratliff | UD | 12 | N/a | 2 Sep 1985 | Riviera Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | Won WBC and Lineal cruiserweight titles |
| 21 | Loss | 17–3–1 | Boone Pultz | UD | 12 | N/a | 27 Mar 1985 | Harrah's Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 20 | Win | 17–2–1 | Stanley Ross | UD | 10 | N/a | 5 Feb 1985 | Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 19 | Loss | 16–2–1 | Marvis Frazier | UD | 10 | N/a | 23 Oct 1984 | Atlantis Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 18 | Win | 16–1–1 | Rickey Parkey | MD | 12 | N/a | 11 Sep 1984 | Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | Won USBA Cruiserweight Title |
| 17 | Win | 15–1–1 | Pierre Coetzer | UD | 10 | N/a | 16 Jul 1984 | West Ridge Park Tennis Stadium, Durban, South Africa | |
| 16 | Win | 14–1–1 | Monte Masters | TKO | 8 | 1:51 | 12 Jun 1984 | Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 15 | Win | 13–1–1 | Mark Young | TKO | 2 | ? | 22 May 1984 | Park Center, Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. | |
| 14 | Win | 12–1–1 | Mike Croley | PTS | 6 | N/a | 15 May 1984 | Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 13 | Win | 11–1–1 | Larry Roberson | UD | 8 | N/a | 3 May 1984 | Cobo Hall, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 12 | Draw | 10–1–1 | Jim Lemming | PTS | 6 | N/a | 10 Apr 1984 | Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 11 | Win | 10–1 | Jeff Sherman | KO | 4 | ? | 8 Jan 1983 | Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 10 | Win | 9–1 | Terry Mims | TKO | 3 | ? | 20 Oct 1982 | Public Hall, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 9 | Win | 8–1 | Reggie Fleming | KO | 3 | ? | 27 Jun 1982 | Front Row Theater, Highland Heights, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 8 | Win | 7–1 | Henry Patterson | UD | 4 | N/a | 9 Apr 1982 | Stouffer's Inn, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 7 | Win | 6–1 | Johnny Pitts | PTS | 4 | N/a | 27 May 1982 | Playboy Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 6 | Win | 5–1 | Brady Wills | PTS | 4 | N/a | 30 Jan 1982 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 5 | Win | 4–1 | Frank Farmer | KO | 2 | ? | 23 Oct 1981 | Swayne Hall, Toledo, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 4 | Loss | 3–1 | Donnie Long | PTS | 4 | N/a | 27 Sep 1981 | Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Columbus, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Aaron Sherlock | TKO | 2 | ? | 9 Aug 1981 | Public Hall, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Tim Johnson | KO | 2 | ? | 2 Jul 1981 | Toledo, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Charles Wooten | UD | 4 | N/a | 12 Jun 1981 | Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |