Marijan

Dino

The whole town was talking about the Yugoslav champion!

The whole of Banja Luka remembers the day when the charismatic Marijan, a world-renowned boxer, brought the first BMW car to his beloved city. Banja Luka marked Yugoslavian Rocky Balboa in many ways, and he remained faithful to it until the very end. He moved there as a sixteen-year-old in order to join the Slavija boxing club at the time. Since his arrival, the whole town has been talking about the arrived Yugoslavian child miracle. The reason for that nickname was the incredible victory that Beneš achieved as a ten-year-old kid. The first time he entered the boxing ring, he defeated an eighteen-year-old young man. Because of this, everyone predicted a significant career for him. However, he left without fulfilling one great wish...

Beneš won the title of boxing champion of Yugoslavia four times. In his long amateur career, he played 299 matches, of which 272 wins, 16 losses and 11 draws. In his professional career, he won as many as 50 out of 56 matches. He defended the belt of the European champion four times, and his crocs were known all over the world. Therefore, it is not surprising that the whole of Yugoslavia came to Banja Luka to challenge this champion of world fame.

In this city, he also opened a cafe where, as he himself explained, he fought five times a day. He often told how one fateful day he had to fight as many as fifteen times, and he would come home covered in blood several times a month. But outside the ring, he was never the first to insult or hit anyone. He was most often attacked by jealous guys because of their girlfriends.

For a long time he was courted by the girlfriend of a mobster. When her boyfriend found out about it, nine young men beat up Beneš in the Petar Kočić park. Then they broke his arcade. But he would always mention that he paid them back over the years, he "greeted" them one by one.
 
Few people know that this macho boxer wrote lyrics in his spare time. The song followed Marijana in all dimensions of life. The whole audience, all of Banja Luka, but often all of Yugoslavia, would shout his name. "Marjan, Marjan", the crowd would chant, "you will be the champion of the world!", they would add. However, due to various adversities in life, Marijan was never able to realize his great desire. He never became a world champion. There was an eye injury, then war and exile, confiscation of property. Despite this, his physical condition and health followed him almost to the end of his life. And he always came back to two things. Banja Luka and his songs.

Rocky from Banja Luka

No one knew that beneath the rough exterior of the boxing champion was a gentle poetic soul...

Marijan Beneš was a legend of Yugoslav boxing. As a ten-year-old kid, he defeated an eighteen-year-old boy in the ring. In his long amateur career, he played 299 matches, and won as many as 272 of them. In his professional career, he defended the belt of the European champion four times. But almost no one knew that beneath the rough exterior of the boxing champion was a gentle poetic soul...

Beneš loved art from an early age. He attended a music school, and besides playing the violin and piano, he also wrote poetry. Because of this, he was often teased at school, telling him that he was "feminine". But he did not blame them. He became the fear and trembling of the whole of Yugoslavia, and thanks to his romantic nature, he managed to seduce one of the biggest Yugoslav film divas...

Entering the studio of the Yugoslav Radio and Television in 1973, Beneš was shaking like a whip. That nervousness was greater than the one he had right before the iconic match in which he defeated the European champion Gilbert Cohen. The fearless boxer was squinting as he approached the television stage, which was illuminated by strong spotlights. She was standing there. The blonde and blue-eyed diva of Yugoslavian cinema in a long yellow dress.

After the host listed Beneš's sporting successes, Milena Dravić got the chance to speak. She said to him: - Marijan, I heard that you also write verses. – The champion's cheeks are slightly reddened. He stirred. It seemed as if he was preparing for something...

Suddenly, to Milena's surprise, but also to the shock of everyone present, the world-famous boxer began reciting: - Like the early morning dew that shines on the sleeping grass, I caressed your hair and kissed your blond strand. –

Marijan recited the poem in a calm and trembling voice, constantly looking a little at Milena, a little at the audience, and a little at the floor. When he finished, Milena looked at him, smiling from ear to ear. She clapped her hands for joy. She asked everyone gathered: - Is Marijan always this gentle? - Marijan blushed completely at that, and the audience just laughed out loud...

Boxer with a soft heart

Beneš remained a true Yugoslav until his death. He was extremely loyal to Tito, but he did not hesitate to respond to provocations, neither in the ring nor outside it.

As a European boxing champion and Yugoslavian champion, Beneš had everything except height. At only 170 centimeters, he was often the subject of jokes.

Thus, the most important man of Yugoslavia, seeing him, said to him: - And you are the LITTLE one who beats you so dangerously. –

But Marijan, quick on the tongue, indifferent to authority and prone to jokes, immediately retorted:
- I also thought that you, comrade Tito, were taller. –

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Rocky from Banja Luka

Boxer with a soft heart

How did Beneš answer Tito?