George Benton

I read he sparred with Sonny Liston in the early 60s and Liston was unable to land anything

 

As a trainer Eddie Futch had George Benton as part of Joe Frazier's team and if you watch the Channel 4 produced documetary Thrilla in Manila he was interviewed as part of Joe's corner the UK DVD has some bonus features and where Benton talks about his boxing career if rememeber correctly he taks about his boxing career and surviving being shot. Lou Duva also hired him to work with Evander Holyfield as part of his set up when he turned over pro which included many of 1984 USA Olympic Team that Meldrick Taylor (who also started at Joe Frazier's gym) was also a part of. He was also in Oliver McCall's corner during the Lennox Lewis rematch where McCall broke down in tears.

As a trainer he would tell his fighters " you need to step with your opponent" and taught them how to block, catch and counter. Evander Holyfield from (1988-1992) as a heavyweight was like Benton's ideal prototype in a way. You can see how he fights against Tillis (1988) , Dokes (1989), Douglas (1990), Foreman (1991), Cooper (1991) and Bowe (1992) all have that George Benton influence.

 

Don't forget Pernell Whitaker, Benton trained him for 35 fights and molded his entire professional style and skillset. He also did a lot of work with Mike McCallum and McCallum has mad old school skillz abound. He also structured Leon Spinks upset of Muhammad Ali. That's just part of his work.

He was an absolute beast of a trainer.

 

He is extremely underrated and one of the greatest trainers the sport of boxing has known.
Lou Duva always got the credit because he was loud and always in the spot light with his personality but it was Benton who molded the fighters into the pros they would become.

 

I always thought when the Duva camp got rid of Benton----it was a big subtraction. Big, not a small subtraction.

 

Benton executed the shoulder roll style better than any other fighter I've ever watched. Reasons being he used it offensively just as well as he applied it defensively. He never needed to constantly hold after he got his combos off like Mayweather did or retreat to the ropes and hold. He would sit in the pocket punch roll catch repeat. Complete master of this style. He applied it as it was designed to be used.
Great fighter and a great trainer. When he had his own gym in Philadelphia his ring was only about 15 feet because he never wanted his fighters against the ropes. He would teach his fighters to be center ring constantly turning the opponent. He laid the foundation for Holy and Taylor. He always said Pernell was his masterpiece.
One of my favorite boxers to watch on film