MICHAEL BENTT had a boxing career fit for Hollywood – before taking his talents to the big screen.
Bentt famously knocked out Tommy Morrison for the title and later portrayed Sonny Liston after becoming in actor.
Michael Bentt was the heavyweight champion-turned actor
Michael Bentt was born in London but raised in New York
But he so nearly gave up on the sport, having fallen out of love with boxing at an early age.
Bentt was born in London to Jamaican parents but grew up in New York after moving to America at a young age.
And he was made to box along with his older brother Winston by their dad, whose cousin Rudolph Bent was also a fighter.
Bentt went onto have a successful amateur career, winning four New York City Golden Gloves and five US titles.
He even won bronze at the 1986 world championship but after twice missing out on the Olympics, he thought his days were up.
That was until legendary trainer Emanuel Steward phoned and convinced him to turn professional.
But the heavyweight prospect – who had a 178-10 amateur record – suffered disaster on his debut.
He was knocked out by journeyman opponent Jerry Jones inside a round which left his boxing hopes facing the KO.
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Bentt told Boxing News in 2019: “With my amateur pedigree, should that have happened ? No.
“But I had no respect for him. I didn’t think he would punch back. I was beyond depressed after the fight. I was suicidal.
“It was like having your heart broken by a woman you love and I wanted to cover my head in shame every day.
“People had reason to judge me as a loser and I started to see myself as a loser. I had a broken spirit. My confidence as a boxer was shattered.”
Bentt got a job at a hospital in Queens after the shock loss and spent almost two years out of the ring.
But iconic British boxing promoter Mickey Duff gave Bentt a fighting chance by organising some sparring with feared puncher Gary Mason.
Bentt would make his return in 1990 at London’s Royal Albert Hall and went on to notch nine more wins on the bounce over three years.
By that time, Morrison was the new kid on the block, a hulking blonde American primed for big things after starring in Rocky 5.
He had just won the WBO title by beating George Foreman and was in line for a super-fight with Lennox Lewis.
Morrison had an $8million purse against Lewis waiting for him but opted to take a homecoming bout in Tulsa to pass the time.
What he did not know was that Bentt came to spoil the party and scored a stunning first-round KO to rip the title and payday away from him.
Morrison was a punch or two away from winning himself, before a right hand turned the tie on its head within a matter of moments.
Bentt remembered: “When you knock someone down and the stakes are so high, you can get caught up in it.
Michael Bentt knocked out Tommy Morrison to win the heavyweight title
“He was hurt, but I knew I had to be careful. He was known for getting up from knockdowns and winning fights – and he was known for his monster left hook.
“After the first knockdown, I kept my right hand glued to my chin. He threw a big left hook, I caught it and countered.”
Following the upset, Bentt travelled back to England for his first defence of the belt, which he lost just as quickly as he had won it.
Bentt was brutally knocked out by Britain’s Herbie Hide in round seven, in what would be his last ever fight.
He spent four days in a coma but recovered within two weeks – although it was enough to spark a retirement from boxing.
Bentt said: “The emotional scars were there. Nobody likes to lose, but I think that fight saved my life.
“I would still be fighting today if that hadn’t happened and I never wanted to end up damaged.”
Michael Bentt, Herbie Hide and promoter Barry Hearn
Herbie Hide beat Michael Bentt for the title
After hanging up his gloves, Bentt went to college and studied journalism and acting.
It was there that he found his calling for performing and before long, he mixed his new passion with his old.
Bentt landed the role of Sonny Liston in the 2001 Muhammad Ali biopic, where Will Smith starred as The Greatest.
He also helped Smith – who received an Oscar nomination for the performance – with his training regime.
Bentt said in 2012: “It was a fantastic experience. It’s my first major film and it’s like I hit the lottery.
“I’m working with Will Smith and Michael Mann, and I’m working with people like Jon Voight. I just couldn’t go wrong.”
Bentt has gone on to star in several TV and film roles, but his life and career was in 2019 remembered in an episode of the Netflix series “Losers.”
And in 2022, he was inducted into the New York Hall of Fame, ensuring his name will live long in the history books.
Will Smith, left, as Muhmmad Ali against Michael Bentt, playing Sonny Liston
Michael Bentt at the Telluride Film Festival in 2021
Frequently Asked Questions
How to defend yourself:
You must protect your head whenever you are attacked. It is your goal to not get punched. To do this, you will need to learn how to prevent an incoming punch. Here’s what you need to do:
- Elevate your shoulders high and straighten your shoulders.
- Keep your elbows close to your sides.
- Block the punch from coming with your forearm.
- Counterattack immediately.
- Continue blocking the attacker until he runs away.
- Keep fighting for your rights.
What is the average time it takes to become a professional fighter?
It takes years of hard work and dedication to become a professional boxer. To become a professional fighter, you will need to devote at least 10 hours per weeks to training.
How can I learn how to defend myself against boxing?
Boxing is one of the oldest martial arts known to man. Boxing is considered one of the most difficult sports to practice. You don’t just punch someone in the face and knock him out. You should know how to defend against punches, kicks, and other attacks.
Locate a boxing club near you. Once you have found a suitable place to train you’ll need some gloves or headgear. The gloves protect your hands, while the headgear protects you. Shorts and a Tshirt are also required.
Once you have all your equipment, you need to heat up. Begin slowly, then gradually increase your speed. Once you feel comfortable, go for it and spar with another boxer. Don’t be disappointed if you do not succeed. You can always try again until it is perfect.
How can you box punches properly?
A punching bag is used for practicing boxing punches. The bag is used to practice boxing punches until you feel confident. Next, move on to the next section of your body. Once you feel at ease with one area you will move on.
How many punches is a human capable of taking?
A punch can be defined as “a blow delivered with a fist”. The human body can only take one punch at a given time. If someone punches your face in the face, it’s a punch. You cannot hit him/her back. It would be impossible to hit him/her back with two punches.
How long does it take to learn boxing?
Learning boxing takes around 3 months. It takes 3 months to learn the basics of boxing, including footwork, stance and balance. Remember that boxing is more than just throwing punches. It’s important to be able to block and dodge punches.
Statistics
- You want to be running at roughly 75-80% of your top speed..5 mile slow, easy recovery jog at the end.[6]X Research source 2Mix in long runs, shadow boxing, and short sprints on non-interval days. (wikihow.com)
- It is just like normal sparring with a partner, but you want to throw punches at 75% of your normal speed. (wikihow.com)
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How To
How to learn to box for exercise
How to box for exercise
You learn boxing to increase your physical fitness and self-confidence. Boxing is one the most loved sports in the world. It requires strength, speed, agility, stamina, coordination, balance, power and accuracy.
Boxing is a great way of getting fit and feeling good about yourself. You will find that the activity is enjoyable and you want to continue doing it.
There are many different types of boxing training programs available. Some require you to train at home while others are done in gyms or health clubs. You can also take online courses that allow you access from anywhere in this world.
It is important to find a program that suits your needs and your lifestyle. The best programs focus on exercises that increase muscle mass, flexibility and cardiovascular endurance. They also promote overall well being.
It is important to consider whether you would prefer a beginner’s or an advanced course. Beginner’s programs typically teach fundamental techniques and drills like shadowboxing, sparring and mitt work. Advanced programs typically offer a wider variety of exercises and cover more complex movements.
The beginner’s program usually lasts around 8 weeks and costs less than $100. These programs don’t give any nutritional, weight loss, or injury prevention advice.
Advanced programs generally last around six months and cost approximately $300. They can include nutrition advice, stretching routines, warm up exercises, and instructions on proper technique. Some programs offer resistance training (such lifting weights) as well as aerobic conditioning (such running).
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