They called him “The Magician” and on his best day, whether as an amateur or professional boxer, Dennis Milton of the Bronx, Novel York was indeed a very clever boxer who could stun his ring rivals. Today the gloomy news broke that Milton had passed away at the age of 64. People in the sport who knew Dennis are sending their tributes.
Milton, who won no fewer than four Golden Gloves titles in the 1980s and, in his amateur career, also scored victories over future three-weight world champion Iran Barkley, was, it’s safe and sound to say, a fighter who largely went unnoticed. Perhaps a more exact description of Milton’s not-so-well-documented career is that he worked in the shadows.
Turning professional in July 1985, Milton posted a 5-0 record before being defeated by another somewhat underrated fighter, Ismael Negron, who defeated Milton by split decision over six sessions in Atlantic City in May 1986. Both Milton and Negron would one day face the wrath of the terrifyingly punchy Julian Jackson.
Milton returned to action just three months after the defeat to Negron and racked up five more wins before being stopped in the fifth round by Angel Sindo. Milton was already finding it arduous to emulate his amateur success in the paid ranks. But in the summer of 1989, Milton, now 27, organized a run that, looking back, was quite special.
In June, while fighting again in Atlantic City, Milton met a guy named Gerald McClellan. Six rounds later, future 160-pound terrorist McClellan was 10-1, and Milton, in retrospect, had the biggest win of his career. In later interviews, Milton referred to “G-Man” McClellan as “the most risky man I have ever fought.”
Milton, riding a sizzling streak, scored a good win over Robbie Sims, half-brother of great middleweight champion Marvin Hagler, and “The Magician” handed the talented and tough Michael Olajide a close decision defeat – “the toughest, dirtiest guy I’ve ever fought,” Milton would later say of Olajide. So, on his best night or night, Milton was able to defeat a world-class warrior, the future ruler of the world.
Unfortunately, Milton’s career peaked with three wins over McClellan, Sims and Olajide. Milton’s reward for this good spell was a shot at the fearsome Julian Jackson, the current WBC middleweight champion. In September 1991, within seconds, Milton would see first-hand just how powerful “The Hawk’s” power punch truly was.
Defeats to future world champion Bernard Hopkins and another world champion, previously Aaron Davis, ended Milton’s career, with both defeats coming after a break.
Retiring with a fairly respectable record of 16-5-1 (4 KOs) after his loss to Davis, Milton became a coach who wanted to give back to the sport he knew he would always love.
Dennis Milton was an accomplished boxer and met many huge names and world champions during his amateur and professional campaigns. We offer our condolences to his family and friends at this time.