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George Benton was born in 1933, one of eleven children. He grew up in Philadelphia and discovered boxing as a teenager. He turned pro at the age of 16, and became a highly ranked middleweight contender in the early 1960s. Known for his classic boxing skills, he posted wins over the likes of Joey Giardello and Jimmy Ellis.
After he defeated Giardello in 1962, Benton thought he would get a title shot, but it never happened. Giardello's manager was well connected and was able to get Giardello a fight with world middleweight champion Dick Tiger. Giardello's manager was Lou Duva. "Yeah, I screwed George out of his shot," Duva told Sports Illustrated. "He didn't even know about it til I told him many years later." Benton never fought for a world title, but he did win the Pennsylvania State middleweight title in 1964.
Benton's boxing career ended when he was shot in 1970. The shooter, known around the neighborhood as Chinaman, had tried to pick up Benton's sister at a bar and Benton's brother knocked him out. Vowing to kill someone from the Benton family, Chinaman shot Benton in the back as he was walking to work. The bullet is still lodged near his spine.
Benton turned his attention to training. He studied under Eddie Futch and was in Joe Frazier's corner for The Thrilla in Manilla. He also devised the strategy for Leon Spinks's upset of Muhammad Ali.
Known for his quiet demeanor, the "Professor" has imparted his boxing knowledge to such fighters as Johnny Bumphus, Evander Holyfield, Rocky Lockridge, Mike McCallum, Meldrick Taylor, and Pernell Whitaker, among others.
For 17 years, Benton worked with Lou Duva and Main Events as the head trainer for many of their fighters. In 1989 and 1990, he received the Futch-Condon Award for "Trainer of the Year" by the Boxing Writers Association of America.
In 2001, Benton was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame for his work as a trainer. He was also inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 2007.
Boxers Trained
George Benton's plague at the International Boxing Hall of FameBennie Briscoe
Johnny Bumphus
Randall (Tex) Cobb
Evander Holyfield
Joe Frazier
Rocky Lockridge
Oliver McCall
Mike McCallum
Willie (The Worm) Monroe
Michael Moorer
Alex Ramos
Leo Randolph
Leon Spinks
Meldrick Taylor
Pinklon Thomas
Pernell Whitaker
Jimmy Young (later in Young's career)
Curtis Parker
http://www.boxrec.com/media/index.php/George_Benton
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George Benton was a smooth boxer, with outstanding defensive skills. His famous philosophy on fighting was, "Win this fight, look good in the next one," which may explain why he neither was popular nor ever received a tile match. Among the top fighters Benton beat were: Holly Mims, Lester Felton, Freddie Little, Jesse Smith, Joey Giardello, and Heavyweight title claimant Jimmy Ellis. After retiring, Benton became a successful trainer, his most notable disciples being Evander Holyfield and Pernell Whitaker, who to a great extent adopted Benton's boring style.