Was supposed to be the Top European Junior Middleweight. If he beat Ayub Kalule, he was mentioned as a possible opponent for Sugar Ray Leonard, at 154 lbs. Many thought that this powerful Croatian had just the right style to defeat Ayub Kalule (June 1980) Much like a smaller version of Curtis Parker, bull-strong and muscular, with a crushing right hook. Both Rocco Mattioli {1978} and Maurice Hope {1980} declined, in fighting him in Yugoslavia. And he was turned down as a possible opponent for Wilfred Benetiz in 1980, in a 10-Round bout. (Benetiz accepted Tony Chiaverini instead, August 1980)
Yeah, but he lost to Kalule. Very interesting clash of styles, though. Our own lora posted it up on Youtube for us to view.
He shook the Great Ugandan several times, but couldn't unload the 'haymaker'. He clearly was better than Tadashi Mihara or Rocky Fratto. Too bad, he suffered eye damage early in his career, which hampered his skills.
There is a documentary(that shows him scoring some brutal knockouts) and some amatuer footage on youtube as well. He was a wide swinging unpredictable maniac of a fighter, not at all what you would expect of an eastern-euro former top amatuer of that time. Would make for a good fight with a lot of the 154'lbers since.Someone like Vargas would be epic. The european scene had a number of solid junior middles alongside Hope, Kalule and Benes, all were good enough to be at the top of the division today. Luigi Minchillo....slightly less talented, but better-schooled and immensely tough Vito Clone Louis Acaries...basically a lazier Winky Wright.Should have done more with his career Said Skouma....very big puncher with serviceable/average skills that fought well before being brutally worn down against McCallum and Drayton.Had McCallum backing off, stiff legged and slightly hurt looking at one point after landing a combo flush. Herol Graham was there for the first five or six years of his career as well. Those guys were all better than the likes of Cotto and Margarito.Tougher division however.
lora,,,,,,,,,,,Great follow-up, Marijan had one heck of an amateur career. He won the European Commonwealth Games, and pretty much steam-rolled over everyone. Had a shocking-loss early in his career, to one Tiger Quaye, which he suffered damage to his eye (thumbed), and could not continue. That eye problem, hampered him throughout his professional career. The Wilfred Benetiz team turned him down as an opponent for an August 1980 bout. He was clearly a Top 10 Junior Middleweight 1979/1980/1981.
Goat,, From what I have, the first bout he lost, to Tiger Quaye, was a result from a thumb in the eye in Round 2. It was just a record-padder fight. Marijan won the 1st Round big, and was clobbering Quaye pretty much all through Round 2. Then Marijan caught a thumb in the left eye, and his eye closed immediately. The fight was stopped soon after. It went down as a Loss by TKO 3.
Marijan Benes, from Yugoslavia was a favorite to win the 1976 Olympic Gold Medal in the Welterweight Division, along with U.S.A representative Clinton Jackson. He was upset in the 2nd Round, by the eventual Silver Medalist, Pedro
