Marijan Beneš (11 June 1951 – 4 September 2018) was a Yugoslavian boxer from Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

[1][2] Beneš was born in Belgrade[3][4] to Croat father Josip and Serb mother Marija (née Vukić).

His life took a radical turn when he (allegedly) entered the ring in Tuzla at the age of 10 and won against an 18-year-old opponent.

[8] In 1973, he won the European title in light welterweight in Belgrade and he received the "Golden Badge", an award for the Best Athlete of the year in Yugoslavia.

On 17 March 1979, in his hometown Banja Luka, he won the EBU title knocking down the defender, French boxer Gilbert Cohen,[12] in the fourth round.

[8] During the career, he had a number of other injuries: 26 bone fractures and damaged vocal cords, that caused him to speak quietly and slowly.

[3] In 2004, a documentary film of Beneš's life, titled Bio jednom jedan šampion (Once Upon a Time There Was a Champion) was recorded in the production of Independent Television Banja Luka.

[3][6] Beneš lived the rest of his life in Banja Luka under modest circumstances, mostly financed by his sister Ljiljana.

Despite regular physical activity and a healthy diet, his boxing career and advanced age caused some health complications.