Michael Benjamin suffered his third consecutive stoppage when South African David Potsane won by TKO in the fifth round. The fight was staged at the DLI Hall in Durban, South Africa on June 1, 1994. In his previous fight Benjamin was Knocked Out by Pascal David in round nine.
That contest was held on October 1, 1993 at the National Sports Hall and had the Guyana welterweight title at stake.
Prior to fighting David, Benjamin had travelled to Cardiff, Wales to challenge Irishman Eamonn Loughran for the Commonwealth welterweight title. The Irishman Knocked Out the Guyanese in the sixth round.
After losing to Potsane, the stocky Benjamin took a three year hiatus from the sport and returned with a bang in February 1997 with a third round Knock Out of Mexican Armando Ramos.
Benjamin became a pro in August 1986 and rallied to 8-0 before meeting American Victorio Belcher in Canada on August 1, 1987.
Referee Harry Davis stopped the fight at two minutes and 31 seconds of the fifth round to save the Guyanese further punishment. Later on Benjamin won two epic battles with Raul Frank and decisioned former world champion Saoul Mamby.
Benjamin, who will turn 50 next March is one of Guyana’s leading sports journalists.