For boxers, the fitness center is a sanctuary. It’s additionally a spot the place a father and son have shaped a singular bond.
Kevin Benford trains his son Adrian “Playtime” Benton, who additionally goes by A.J.
“I ended boxing once I was 27 years previous, and I began teaching soccer, and every single day after follow my son could be taking part in with the gloves with the youngsters,” Benford stated. “After soccer season was over with, when he was eight years previous, we took him to the fitness center and the primary day within the fitness center he sparred. I stated, effectively this is perhaps your new sport.”
Benton is a boxing prodigy, who trains at Actual Deal Boxing Health club in Mount Wholesome and enjoys coaching along with his dad, despite the fact that it may be powerful.
“Something you’ll be able to consider, he is most likely made me do it,” Benton stated. “It is a cool relationship. He is my dad first however he is additionally like my finest good friend. He is aware of what he is speaking about as a result of he is carried out it earlier than so it’s going to be simpler for him to point out me the right way to do it than another coach.”
Benford stated he by no means lets up on his son.
“You bought to press him a bit of more durable,” Benford stated. “Whenever you have a look at him and see that he desires to give up, as a dad or mum you need to loosen up however as a coach, the aggressive nature kicks in. I do not prefer to lose and he would not prefer to lose both.”
Benford stated he thinks he was a greater boxer than his son, however the construction round Benton offers him a better benefit to achieve success.
“There’s nothing like that stability,” Benford stated. “He is had a neater path than I had as a result of he had me, however he was prepared to place the work in, little doubt.”
The 20-year-old Benton went 287-16 as an novice, with a number of nationwide championship belts to point out for it.
“We’d exit of city and it would be a week-long journey,” Benford stated. “I by no means had an issue about worrying about coming dwelling early as a result of AJ was going to get knocked out the event. We at all times have been both successful the event or we have been there within the finals.”
Benton’s efficiency caught the attention of top-of-the-line to ever do it: Floyd Mayweather Junior.
“He went on the market to Las Vegas and sparred a few Floyd’s guys and we traveled round a pair different states and did some extra sparring and phrase acquired again to Floyd,” Benford stated.
Mayweather appreciated what he noticed after seeing Benton in individual and signed him to a profitable multi-year deal as the latest member of his model, The Cash Workforce.
“I by no means thought it will’ve occurred,” Benton stated. “He stated I am a wonderful fighter. He really advised me that I’ll be a future world champion. He is the most effective boxer to ever placed on a pair of gloves, to me. So, it was like, ‘for actual, that is what you consider me?'”
Benton turned professional in March of 2019. He is Four-Zero with three knockouts.
Now he desires to show it up a notch.
“I need to set an instance for my little brothers within the fitness center, maintain my household and develop into a World Champion,” Benton stated.
Benford hopes Mayweather’s backing helps his son develop into a star, but additionally desires to verify he stays humble.
“Floyd’s made his cash. He’ll the Corridor of Fame and we’re simply hoping we may use his platform to get us there additionally,” Benford stated. “We would like individuals to know there is a gifted child out of Cincinnati named ‘AB’ however not Adrien Broner. It is Adrian Benton.”
