Dave Hilton Sr.

Dave Hilton Sr. (August 29, 1940 – July 2023) was a Canadian professional boxer. He won the Canadian championship in three different weight divisions. Hilton was the father of former super middleweight world champion, Dave Hilton Jr., and light middleweight world champion of boxing, Matthew Hilton.

Hilton fought between 1958 and 1976, winning 65 of his 81 fights. As a teenager, he fought as a Featherweight, winning the national championship in 1959. From 1958 onward, Hilton was a close friend of the gangster Frank Cotroni.[1] In 1959, Cotroni drove Hilton from Montreal to Quebec City, where he won the Featherweight national championship.[1] Cotroni told Hilton he liked to do a "little rassling" himself and noted that his nickname in Montreal was "the Cyclone" as he considered to be one of the toughest fighters in the Cotroni family.[1] Hilton had a "savage fighting style", but was only paid $500 dollars per fight.[2] During this time, Hilton started to abuse alcohol and often showed up drunk at his fights.[3] Hilton came to be dependent on Cotroni to motivate him.[3] Likewise, Cotroni paid Hilton's rent and for his groceries, making him and his family very much dependent on Cotroni.[3] In 1990, Hilton stated that allegation that he and his sons lost matches for Cotroni were "lies" and called Cotroni his best friend, saying: "I have no regrets whatsoever. He's still my friend".[4]

As Hilton developed, he gained weight and moved up in class to the Welterweight division where he fought for more than ten years. In 1971, he won the Canadian Light Middleweight championship and that same year, he earned his third title, winning the Canadian Middleweight championship.

While Dave Hilton Sr. gained recognition during his fighting career, it was as manager and trainer for his three sons that he received the most publicity, each winning a Canadian championship, and two of them winning world championships.

Over the years, the Hilton family has been plagued by troubles with the law and tragedy.[5]

Hilton Sr. was barred from entering the United States temporarily after a discovery of past crimes.[6]

Dave Hilton Sr. died in July 2023, at the age of 83.[7]