Michael Bentt

Born in London, England, to Jamaican parents and raised in Queens, New York,Michael attended Northhampton College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania after retiring from boxing. Studied journalism and acting. As Northampton's first Artist-in-Residence played the title role of 'Othello' in the colleges 2003 production. Michael was the subject of Anna Deavere Smith's "Skipping Rope," which was part of her evening of 'journalistic portraits and sketches' at New York City's Carnegie Hall. After retiring from boxing in 1994, enrolled in Northampton College where he contributed articles on various subjects to the campus newspaper. Among the topics covered: the murder of Tupac Shakur and Evander Holyfield's resounding knockout victory of "Iron" Mike Tyson in 1996. His work eventually appeared in the New York Daily News and The HBO Boxing website. His essay "Anatomy of a Knockout" featured in "Bert Sugar's FightGame" (see Bert Sugar) led to an opportunity to audition for and win the coveted role Charles "Sonny" Liston (Sonny Liston) in Michael Mann's Ali (2001). Was the captain of the US National Boxing team that competed in the inaugural Moscow Goodwill Games and the 1987 Pan Am Games. In addition to his role of Sonny Liston in Ali (2001), also served as the chief sparring partner and assistant trainer for Will Smith in Smith's Academy Award nominated portrayal of Muhammad Ali. Has also instructed Terence Blanchard, Damon Dash, Heavy D, Paul Schulze, Harold Perrineau, and Anna Deavere Smith among others on the virtues and benefits of being "fighting fit." Studied acting with the late Tina Satin. Four months after scoring a shocking and decisive first round knockout over the heavily favored Tommy Morrison, was himself KO'd in seven rounds in his last fight in March of 1994, the result of which left him in a coma for 96 hours. On the match that resulted in his being placed in a coma: "I nearly paid the ultimate price for a moment that allowed me to briefly realize my full potential as a boxer. If getting dismantled to the point of near death in my last fight was the price I had to pay for a victory over Tommy Morrison, I'll never question the price of success."