The Spectacular Rise and Fall of Middleweight Dennis The Magician Milton, A Historical Look Back
By Robert Brizel, Head RCM Boxing Correspondent
Born on August 23, 1961, Dennis ‘The Magician’ Milton of Bronx, New York, rose to prominence in boxing the hard way. From nowhere, Milton was four New York Golden Gloves championships. In 1981, Milton won the 165 pound open championship. In 1982, 1983 and 1984, Milton won the 156 pound open championship. Milton trained at the Webster Center on the Police Athletic League in the Bronx, New York. He also won the Spring and Winter 1982 AAA National light middleweight championships.
After the amateurs, fought professionally from 1985 to 1995 at 156 to 162 pounds. His career record was 16 wins, five losses and one draw, with five knockouts.
From May of 1989 to June of 1991, Milton enjoyed the highlight of his brief but memorable career with five consecutive victories which were highly significant. Milton won an eight round decision over Pedro Rivera in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on May 30, 1989. Next, Milton won a six round decision over the then unbeaten 10-0 Gerald McClellan in Atlantic City on June 24, 1989, less than one month after defeated Riviera. Next, Milton won a ten round decision over Robbie Simms, the half-brother of Marvin Hagler, in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on September 12, 1989.
Milton then won a ten round split decision in Albany, New York, on December 1, 1989, over Michael Olajide, who had been ranked number one in the middleweight division previously. Milton then won a ten round decision over Juan Antonio Martinez in ten rounds in Atlantic City on March 8, 1990. Milton then traveled to Las Vegas, where stopped Pat Brennan in the second round on June 28, 1991.
Julian ‘The Hawk’ Jackson then spoiled Milton’s dreams by knocking him out in the first round of their World Boxing Council Middleweight title bout in Las Vegas on July 14, 1991. Bernard Hopkins stopped Milton in four rounds at the Blue Horizon in Philadelphia on January 31, 1991. On January 14, 1995, Aaron Davis stopped Milton in the third round in Atlantic City and ended his career. Milton was 33 years old, and wisely chose to retire from boxing at that point.
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