Marijan Beneš

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Marijan Beneš (11 June 1951 – 4 September 2018) was a Yugoslavian boxer from Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He is considered one of the best boxers in Yugoslav history. After a brilliant amateur career, culminating in the gold medal in European Amateur Boxing Championships in Belgrade, he turned professional in 1977, and won the European Boxing Union title in the light welterweights in 1979. Next year he fought for the WBA World super welterweight title but lost to title holder Ayub Kalule on points. Beneš withdrew from the ring in 1983, after a severe eye injury. In 2020 he was named as the best Bosnian boxer in 20th century.[1][2]

Biography

Beneš was born in Belgrade[3][4] to Croat father Josip and Serb mother Marija (née Vukić).[5] Under the influence of his father, a music teacher, Beneš played piano and violin in his childhood. He had three brothers and one sister.[3][6] He spent his childhood in Tuzla. Marijan was one of the famous four Beneš brothers (Antun, Ivica, Josip, Marijan) that competed for Sloboda Tuzla. His life took a radical turn when he (allegedly) entered the ring in Tuzla at the age of 10 and won against an 18-year-old opponent. His first coaches were Bego Huseljić and Miloš Todorović. When he was 16, he left Bokserski klub Sloboda Tuzla and joined Bokserski klub Slavija in Banja Luka, where he would stay during his entire amateur career.[7]

Beneš described himself as being staunchly opposed to "Greater Serbs" and "Greater Croats", maintaining a Yugoslav identity.[3][5]

Career

During his amateur career, Beneš won nine titles in Bosnia, four titles of Yugoslav champion, and a number of other competitions.[8] In 1973, he won the European title in light welterweight in Belgrade and he received the "Golden Badge", an award for the Best Athlete of the year in Yugoslavia. Soon after he caught hepatitis, which could have meant the end of the career. "Radically stubborn" (as he said himself),[3] and devoted to boxing, he decided to continue. He also participated in the 1976 Montreal Olympics, but lost in the second round.

Highlights

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Script error: No such module "sort". 1973 European championships, Belgrade, Yugoslavia,[9]Light welterweight
  • 1/8: Defeated Neville Cole (England) TKO 2
  • 1/4: Defeated Paul Dobrescu (Romania) TKO 2
  • 1/2: Defeated Ulrich Beyer (East Germany) TKOI 2
  • Finals: Defeated Anatoli Kamnev (Soviet Union) TKOI 2
Script error: No such module "sort". 1973 Balkan Championships, Athens, Greece[10]Light welterweightScript error: No such module "sort". 1976 Balkan Championships, Zagreb, Yugoslavia[11]Welterweight
  • 1/4: Defeated Sabahattin Burcu (Turkey) 5:0
  • 1/2: Defeated Viktor Tushev (Bulgaria) 5:0
  • Finals: Defeated Vasile Cicu (Romania) 5:0

He turned professional in 1977, rising quickly to the European top. On 17 March 1979, in his hometown Banja Luka, he won the EBU title knocking down the defender, French boxer Gilbert Cohen,[12] in the fourth round.[13] He defended the title successfully four times, and lost on points in 1980 to then WBA world junior middleweight champion Ayub Kalule, for the WBA's world championship in a match regarded as one of toughest in Denmark ever.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". He eventually lost the EBU crown to Louis Acaries in 1981.[4]

A severe injury of his left eye effectively sealed his career. It is not exactly known which match caused it; by one account, it was a match with Luigi Minchillo in 1983,[4] and by another, it originated from the 1979 match with Sandy Torres in Zenica, and the condition worsened since.[8] During the career, he had a number of other injuries: 26 bone fractures and damaged vocal cords, that caused him to speak quietly and slowly.[3] He withdrew from the ring in 1983, fighting only two more exhibition matches in 1990s. The ring injury eventually left Beneš blind in his left eye.[3]

After boxing and death

Beneš's brother was killed in 1992, during the Bosnian War.[3] Beneš also participated in the war.[3] At the end of the war in 1995, he was forced to leave Banja Luka after a number of threats. He sold his possessions cheaply, and during the war he stayed in Medulin and Zagreb, in Croatia, in poverty. He divorced his wife Stana, who moved to Niš, Serbia, with their daughters Žanet and Marijana.[3][8] As he put it, "everything turned around; people started hating each other overnight...there are great people, but the war helped me realize who is the real people and who is scum."[3] He returned to Banja Luka in 1996, after the end of the war, continuing to live modestly. "I lived in Croatia, people respected me, but I'm used to the old friends".[3]

In 2004, a documentary film of Beneš's life, titled Bio jednom jedan šampion (Once Upon a Time There Was a Champion) was recorded in the production of Independent Television Banja Luka. Despite modest ambitions, it toured all over the former Yugoslavia, and Beneš was frequent guest on promotions.[3][6]

Beneš lived the rest of his life in Banja Luka under modest circumstances, mostly financed by his sister Ljiljana. He published a book of poems Druga strana medalje (Another Side of Coin), devoted to sports, and he said that he had written a dozen more, and that he planned to publish them. Despite regular physical activity and a healthy diet, his boxing career and advanced age caused some health complications. In 2017, Beneš had Alzheimer's disease and was a wheelchair user.[14] He died on 4 September 2018 at the age of 67.[3][8][15]

Boxing record as a professional

32 Wins (21 knockouts, 11 decisions), 6 Losses (3 knockouts, 3 decisions), 1 Draw[16]
Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
Win --Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Cliff McCourry KO 2 02/02/1997 Template:Flagicon Požega, Croatia
Win 9-2Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Flagicon Salvatore Di Salvatore TKO 5 03/05/1991 Template:Flagicon Banja Luka, Yugoslavia
Win 25-14-2Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Flagicon Maurice Bufi KO 6 02/12/1983 Template:Flagicon Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle, Stuttgart, West Germany
Loss 20-32-1Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Flagicon Johnny Heard KO 1 16/04/1983 Template:Flagicon Salzburg, Austria
Win 7-4Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Flagicon Mbayo Wa Mbayo RTD 6 31/03/1983 Template:Flagicon Split, Yugoslavia
Win 11-3-1Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Flagicon Darwin Brewster PTS 10 27/01/1983 Template:Flagicon Rijeka, Yugoslavia
Loss 39-2Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Flagicon Luigi Minchillo MD 12 28/10/1982 Template:Flagicon San Severo, Italy For European light-middleweight title.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Win 7-4-2Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Flagicon Gordie Lawson KO 4 10/06/1982 Template:Flagicon Titograd, Yugoslavia
Win --Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Tony Desroche KO 2 09/03/1982 Template:Flagicon Sarajevo, Yugoslavia
Win 14-11-3Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Flagicon Randy Milton KO 1 19/12/1981 Template:Flagicon Split, Yugoslavia
Win 15-5-2Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Flagicon Franz Dorfer TKO 4 06/11/1981 Template:Flagicon Vienna, Austria
Win 8-2-4Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Flagicon Andre Mongelema PTS 10 18/09/1981 Template:Flagicon Vienna, Austria
Loss 29-3Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Flagicon Louis Acaries PTS 12 19/03/1981 Template:Flagicon Paris, France Lost European light-middleweight title.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Win 12-4-1Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Flagicon Antonio Alejandro Garrido TKO 9 09/02/1981 Template:Flagicon Vienna, Austria
Win 32-14-4Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Flagicon Sandy Torres PTS 10 20/12/1980 Template:Flagicon Split, Yugoslavia
Win 37-8-5Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Flagicon Georges Warusfel TKO 5 06/10/1980 Template:Flagicon Paris, France Retained European light-middleweight title.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Loss 33-0Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Flagicon Ayub Kalule UD 15 12/06/1980 Template:Flagicon Randers Hallen, Randers, Denmark For WBA light-middleweight title.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Win 10-8-2Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Flagicon Freddie Boynton KO 3 28/03/1980 Template:Flagicon Berlin, West Germany
Draw 29-4-1Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Flagicon Damiano Lassandro PTS 12 13/02/1980 Template:Flagicon Pesaro, Italy Retained European light-middleweight title.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Win 19-0-2Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Flagicon Adrie Huussen TKO 3 05/11/1979 Template:Flagicon Rotterdam Ahoy Sportpaleis, Rotterdam, Netherlands Retained European light-middleweight title.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Loss 29-12-4Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Flagicon Sandy Torres TKO 6 25/08/1979 Template:Flagicon Zenica, Yugoslavia
Win 26-0Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Flagicon Andoni Amana TKO 8 06/06/1979 Template:Flagicon Bilbao, Spain Retained European light-middleweight title.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Win 23-13-1Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Flagicon Zip Castillo KO 1 28/04/1979 Template:Flagicon Belgrade, Yugoslavia
Win 20-2-1Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Flagicon Gilbert Cohen KO 4 17/03/1979 Template:Flagicon Banja Luka, Yugoslavia Won European light-middleweight title.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Win 72-17-27Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Flagicon Everaldo Costa Azevedo PTS 10 18/11/1978 Template:Flagicon Berlin, West Germany
Win 68-5-4Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Flagicon Elisha Obed PTS 10 02/09/1978 Template:Flagicon Berlin, West Germany
Win 3-11Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Flagicon Tiger Quaye PTS 8 29/05/1978 Template:Flagicon Rotterdam Ahoy Sportpaleis, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Win 8-4-2Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Flagicon Peter "Cricket" Neal KO 5 06/05/1978 Template:Flagicon Frankfurt, West Germany
Win 3-10Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Flagicon Tiger Quaye KO 1 07/04/1978 Template:Flagicon Berlin, West Germany
Loss 2-10Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Flagicon Tiger Quaye TKO 3 15/02/1978 Template:Flagicon Rotterdam Ahoy Sportpaleis, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Win 28-7-3Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Flagicon Pat Thomas PTS 8 16/01/1978 Template:Flagicon Rotterdam, Netherlands
Win 12-8Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Flagicon Wa Bukasa KO 3 16/12/1977 Template:Flagicon Vienna, Austria
Win 21-7-1Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Flagicon Steve Angell TKO 4 10/12/1977 Template:Flagicon Berlin, West Germany
Win 19-5-1Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Flagicon Alain Ruocco PTS 8 18/11/1977 Template:Flagicon Vienna, Austria
Win 10-8-2Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Flagicon Mick Minter TKO 2 31/10/1977 Template:Flagicon Rotterdam Ahoy Sportpaleis, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Win 23-32-4Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Flagicon Scottish John Smith PTS 8 10/10/1977 Template:Flagicon Rotterdam Ahoy Sportpaleis, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Win --Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Flagicon Rhida Hakima KO 2 01/10/1977 Template:Flagicon Vienna, Austria
Win 15-12-5Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Flagicon Pascal Zito PTS 6 24/09/1977 Template:Flagicon Vienna, Austria
Win 31-11-4Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Flagicon Clement Tshinza PTS 4 06/08/1977 Template:Flagicon Deutschlandhalle, Charlottenburg, West Germany

See also

References

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  5. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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External links

Template:Sister project

Awards
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/checkTemplate:Succession box/check Template:Flagicon The Best Athlete of Yugoslavia
1973 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
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