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Bennie Goldberg (25 December 1918 – 29 September 2001) was a Polish people-born Americans bantamweight Boxing and a top rated contender for the Bantamweight title for a five-year stretch in the 1940s. His professional boxing career spanned from 1937 to 1946. Entry at Cyber Boxing Zone After his boxing career, he appeared in television and movies, worked as a ring announcer, and performed in clubs, often as a comedian, with the stage name Ben Bentley.Silver, Mike (2016). Stars of the Ring, Published by Rowman and Littlefield, Los Angeles, p. 163.
Goldberg did not turn pro until 1937, after completing an outstanding amateur record.
Goldberg defeated Johnny Marselline on June 2, 1941, flooring him for a six count in the third. Goldberg was often sloppy and shy in his ring generalship as evidenced in this match, and did not entirely impress the audience in this early stage of his career. Marselline was a talented featherweight who would amass an impressive record in his career."Marcelline Loses", The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, pg. 24, 3 June 1941
Jimmy Gilligan lost to Goldberg On March 23, 1942, in an eight-round decision at Civic Auditorium in Toledo, Ohio. Goldberg had previously beaten Gilligan on March 21, 1941 in an eight-round decision in Detroit where he floored his opponent three times in the convincing win. Gilligan was a competent bantamweight who had once beaten Joey Archibald. Though a talented and experienced opponent, he was nearing the end of his ten-year career."Goldberg Victor", The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California, pg. 14, 22 March 1941
Though suffering from a significant disadvantage in height, Goldberg defeated talented bantamweight and former USA New England featherweight champion Abe Denner On April 27, 1942 at Arena Gardens in Detroit in a ten-round points decision. The win was considered an upset against the talented Denner, and elevated Goldberg's standings as a world bantamweight contender. Denner was ranked fourth in the world among featherweights at the time of the match."Abe Denner is Beaten By Goldberg", Detroit Free Press, Detroit, Michigan, pg. 14, 28 April 1942 Goldberg knocked Denner to the mat in the fourth round, and achieved a large margin in points scoring, despite giving up six pounds in weight as well as many as five inches in reach."Benny Goldberg Batters Denner in Detroit Arena", The News-Palladium, Benton Harbor, Michigan, pg. 6, 28 April 1942Denner top featherweight in "Scores Upset", The Salt Lake City Tribune, Salt Lake City, Utah, pg. 11, 28 April 1942
Goldberg defeated Joey Archibald, former World Featherweight Champion, on July 21, 1942, in Toledo, Ohio, in a ten-round points decision. The important win was considered an upset over such a skilled opponent, and made Goldberg a boxer to watch."Savold, KO Victor Over Poland", The Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati, Ohio, pg. 16, 22 July 1942
On December 14, 1942, Goldberg impressively knocked out Lou Transparenti in the fourth round at Arena Gardens in Detroit. Transparenti, a quality opponent, had competed unsuccessfully for the World Bantamweight title against Lou Salica in March 1941, and had performed well in the first ten rounds, holding the favor of the crowd. Ironically, Transparenti had convincingly beaten Salica just one month earlier, but in a non-title bout.
Goldberg defeated Tony Olivera on April 30, 1943 in ten rounds at Legion Stadium in Hollywood. Though outweighed, Goldberg defended Olivera's attack with fast counterpunching to the body and head. By the sixth and seventh, Olivera had adjusted to Goldberg's unusual southpaw stance and had opened a slight margin in points. In the last three rounds, Goldberg used his leading southpaw left to score to the stomach and face of Olivera, gradually building his point's margin enough to win the close decision. There were no knockdowns in the bout between the two well matched competitors. The bout spotlighted Goldberg as a serious contender for the World Bantamweight Title. Goldberg had formerly drawn with Olivera in July 1938.Lowry, Paul, "Goldberg in Close Victory Over Olivera", The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California, pg. 10, 1 May 1943 Goldberg was ranked third in the world among Bantamweights prior to the bout.Goldberg ranked third in "Olivera nudged by Ben Goldberg", The Nevada State Journal, Reno, Nevada, pg. 11, 2 May 1943
After his loss to Ortiz on January 1, 1944, Goldberg lost to Billy Miller before a crowd of 4,500 in a ten-round unanimous decision in Detroit. Goldberg fell behind in the early rounds and didn't rally enough in the later rounds to offset Miller's lead on points. Though Goldberg was leading in betting by 2-1 before the bout, Miller won in an upset. Miller was a rising star in his own right, having won 21 consecutive bouts prior to facing Goldberg."Billy Miller Wins From Goldberg", The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, pg. 22, 2 January 1944
On May 18, 1945, nearing the end of his career, Goldberg defeated one of his better opponents, Luis Castillo in a ten-round unanimous decision for the Duration Bantamweight Title, at Legion Stadium in Hollywood. At the time, Castillo was the ranked fifth in the world among bantamweights. The LA Times gave Castillo only the third, fifth, and tenth, and a sizable points margin of 57 to 43. Goldberg's best round was the fourth, landing a flock of left hooks, and once again demonstrating an advantage with his Southpaw stance. Castillo was unable to get inside Goldberg's long right, which he had to defend against with his left, a more awkward arm for the more traditional right-handed Castillo.Bell, Stuart, "Goldberg in Unanimous Victory Over Castillo", The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California, pg. 6, 19 May 1945
Goldberg suffered from heat exhaustion in his last recorded bout, a decisive 10-round decision against Pedro Ramirez at Hollywood's Legion Stadium, on April 12, 1946. Goldberg sent Ramirez to the canvas twice in the second round with left hooks, but was unable to gain a win by knockout in the succeeding rounds. Ramirez doggedly attempted to win by knockout in several clashes, but each were broken up by Goldberg. Goldberg looked fatigued by the eighth round, though clearly retained the lead even in the tenth when both boxers fought a long rally for the decision. Shortly after the match, Goldberg fainted from exhaustion in his corner.Bell, Stuart, "Benny Goldberg Collapses After Winning Scrap", Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California, pg. 7, 18 August 1945
His movie work featured him often as a boxer or referee. He appeared as a boxer in the movie "All Fall Down" (1962), as a prisoner in "Al Capone" (1959), as a boxer in "Fight for the Title" (1957), as a boxer in "Telephone Time (TV)" (1957), as a referee in "The Harder They Fall", (1956), as an uncredited boxer in "Kid Monk Baroni" (1952), and as a fighter in "Fighting Fools (1949)."
He died on September 29, 2001, in Los Angeles, and was buried in Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery.
In 2003 he was inducted into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
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