{{Short description|American boxer (born 1957)}} {{Infobox boxer |name=Bernard Benton |image= |image_size= |caption= |realname=Bernard Benton |nickname=The Bull |weight={{plainlist| *Cruiserweight *Heavyweight}} |height=5 ft 11+1/2 in<ref>{{cite web | url=https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/18397 | title=BoxRec: Login }}</ref> |reach= |birth_date={{Birth date and age|1957|01|06|mf=y}} |birth_place=Toledo, Ohio, U.S. |style=Orthodox |total=28 |wins=21 |KO=9 |losses=6 |draws=1 |no contests= }}
'''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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1985/09/21/Bernard-Benton-won-the-World-Boxing-Council-cruiserweight-title/5697496123200/|title=Bernard Benton won the World Boxing Council cruiserweight title...|publisher=United Press International|access-date=2022-09-27}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/03/23/sports/berbick-wins-wbc-crown.html|title=BERBICK WINS W.B.C. CROWN|work=The New York Times|date=23 March 1986 |access-date=2022-09-27}}</ref> He retired in 1995.
==Professional boxing record== {{BoxingRecordSummary |draws=1 |nc= |ko-wins=9 |ko-losses=2 |dec-wins=12 |dec-losses=4 |dq-wins= |dq-losses= }} {{Boxing record start|round-time-split=y}} |- |16 |{{yes2}}Win |21–6–1 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Jim Huffman |UD |12 |N/a |13 Jan 1995 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|Regal Hotel, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.}} |align=left|{{small|Won Ohio Heavyweight Title}} |- |27 |{{yes2}}Win |20–6–1 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Rocky Bentley |PTS |8 |N/a |15 Jan 1993 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|Seagate Convention Center, Toledo, Ohio, U.S.}} |align=left| |- |26 |{{yes2}}Win |19–6–1 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Bruce Johnson |KO |4 |? |4 Nov 1992 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|Club Bijou, Toledo, Ohio, U.S.}} |align=left| |- |25 |{{no2}}Loss |18–6–1 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Alex García |TKO |2 |2:42 |9 Oct 1990 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|La Mancha Athletic Club, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.}} |align=left| |- |24 |{{no2}}Loss |18–5–1 |align=left|{{flagicon|South Africa|1928}} Pierre Coetzer |KO |1 |? |28 Sep 1987 |align=left|{{flagicon|South Africa|1928}} {{small|Standard Bank Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa}} |align=left| |- |23 |{{no2}}Loss |18–4–1 |align=left|{{flagicon|PUR}} Carlos De León |MD |12 |N/a |22 Mar 1986 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|Riviera Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.}} |align=left|{{small|Lost WBC and Lineal cruiserweight titles}} |- |22 |{{yes2}}Win |18–3–1 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Alfonso Ratliff |UD |12 |N/a |2 Sep 1985 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|Riviera Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.}} |align=left|{{small|Won WBC and Lineal cruiserweight titles}} |- |21 |{{no2}}Loss |17–3–1 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Boone Pultz |UD |12 |N/a |27 Mar 1985 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|Harrah's Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.}} |align=left| |- |20 |{{yes2}}Win |17–2–1 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Stanley Ross |UD |10 |N/a |5 Feb 1985 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.}} |align=left| |- |19 |{{no2}}Loss |16–2–1 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Marvis Frazier |UD |10 |N/a |23 Oct 1984 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|Atlantis Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.}} |align=left| |- |18 |{{yes2}}Win |16–1–1 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Rickey Parkey |MD |12 |N/a |11 Sep 1984 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.}} |align=left|{{small|Won USBA Cruiserweight Title}} |- |17 |{{yes2}}Win |15–1–1 |align=left|{{flagicon|South Africa|1928}} Pierre Coetzer |UD |10 |N/a |16 Jul 1984 |align=left|{{flagicon|South Africa|1928}} {{small|West Ridge Park Tennis Stadium, Durban, South Africa}} |align=left| |- |16 |{{yes2}}Win |14–1–1 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Monte Masters |TKO |8 |1:51 |12 Jun 1984 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.}} |align=left| |- |15 |{{yes2}}Win |13–1–1 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Mark Young |TKO |2 |? |22 May 1984 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|Park Center, Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.}} |align=left| |- |14 |{{yes2}}Win |12–1–1 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Mike Croley |PTS |6 |N/a |15 May 1984 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.}} |align=left| |- |13 |{{yes2}}Win |11–1–1 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Larry Roberson |UD |8 |N/a |3 May 1984 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|Cobo Hall, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.}} |align=left| |- |12 |{{draw}}Draw |10–1–1 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Jim Lemming |PTS |6 |N/a |10 Apr 1984 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.}} |align=left| |- |11 |{{yes2}}Win |10–1 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Jeff Sherman |KO |4 |? |8 Jan 1983 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.}} |align=left| |- |10 |{{yes2}}Win |9–1 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Terry Mims |TKO |3 |? |20 Oct 1982 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|Public Hall, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.}} |align=left| |- |9 |{{yes2}}Win |8–1 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Reggie Fleming |KO |3 |? |27 Jun 1982 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|Front Row Theater, Highland Heights, Ohio, U.S.}} |align=left| |- |8 |{{yes2}}Win |7–1 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Henry Patterson |UD |4 |N/a |9 Apr 1982 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|Stouffer's Inn, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.}} |align=left| |- |7 |{{yes2}}Win |6–1 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Johnny Pitts |PTS |4 |N/a |27 May 1982 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|Playboy Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.}} |align=left| |- |6 |{{yes2}}Win |5–1 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Brady Wills |PTS |4 |N/a |30 Jan 1982 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.}} |align=left| |- |5 |{{yes2}}Win |4–1 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Frank Farmer |KO |2 |? |23 Oct 1981 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|Swayne Hall, Toledo, Ohio, U.S.}} |align=left| |- |4 |{{no2}}Loss |3–1 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Donnie Long |PTS |4 |N/a |27 Sep 1981 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.}} |align=left| |- |3 |{{yes2}}Win |3–0 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Aaron Sherlock |TKO |2 |? |9 Aug 1981 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|Public Hall, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.}} |align=left| |- |2 |{{yes2}}Win |2–0 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Tim Johnson |KO |2 |? |2 Jul 1981 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|Toledo, Ohio, U.S.}} |align=left| |- |1 |{{yes2}}Win |1–0 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Charles Wooten |UD |4 |N/a |12 Jun 1981 |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} {{small|Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.}} |align=left| {{Boxing record end}}
==See also== *List of world cruiserweight boxing champions
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Boxrec|id=18397}} *[http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/benton-bernard.htm Bernard "Bull" Benton - CBZ Profile]
{{s-start}} {{s-sports}} {{s-text|style=background:#C1D8FF; font-weight: bold;|text=World boxing titles}} {{s-bef|rows=2|before=Alfonso Ratliff}} {{s-ttl|title=WBC cruiserweight champion |years=September 21, 1985 - March 22, 1986}} {{s-aft|rows=2|after=Carlos De León}} {{s-ttl|title=''The Ring'' cruiserweight champion |years=September 21, 1985 - March 22, 1986}} {{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Benton, Bernard}} Category:1957 births Category:Living people Category:American male boxers Category:African-American boxers Category:Boxers from Toledo, Ohio Category:Heavyweight boxers Category:World cruiserweight boxing champions Category:World Boxing Council champions Category:The Ring (magazine) champions Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen Category:20th-century American sportsmen