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Good read. Good times.

Great blog Ben...and nice to see a boxer come out the other end with something still between his ears!

Great blog/article. I respect Nigel even more now. I'm not religious but the Mark 8:36 quote is good advice to anyone.

Good read yeah. Thanks

Great read.

I was in my late teens and early twenties when these guys were around, and it was an awesome time to be a boxing fan. You could turn on the telly on a Friday or Saturday night and there seemed to be a high quality world title fight on every week.

Sadly these days you wait months (years sometimes) for fighters to get it on, and then you have to pay through the nose to see average bouts.

i remember watching the benn v eubank fights in the 90s, i was 10 in 1990 so fairly young but man oh man were they good fights, two seemingly completely different fighters and styles both at their peaks, a real shame boxing is nothing now, although i know eubank jnr is now a pro and im sure benn jnr wants to be a pro boxer too, now wouldnt that be somthing ...

Thank you Benn, you're an inspiration to us all.

Great read. I was a child of 90s boxing as well, it was Bruno-Tyson in '89 that got me watching. Eubank was my chosen guy in this rivalry but you just had to like Benn (and Watson too).

Glad to see Benn in a good place these days.

Favourite Benn in-ring story is about the Iran Berkley fight. In the ring, just after the intros, one of Benn's corner overheard the American's corner telling Berkley over and over to watch for the straight right from Benn when the fight starts, look for the right, dodge the right, remember the right, we planned for this and so on.

Benn's corner man tells Benn "They telling him you're going to throw the straight right at the start."

Benn goes "****ing right I'm gonna throw the straight right!", marches out there and immediately throws a huge straight right that nearly takes Berkley's head off.

Thanks Nige, you were tremendous.

Benn-Eubank. Very different men, very different fighters, linked by one shared quality: massive courage.

Bruno v Tyson 89, aw poor Frank never stood a chance, cant fault his courage and determination though, bring back the good old days of boxing please!!

9.
At 11:14 30th Nov 2011, MightyQuin wrote:

Benn-Eubank. Very different men, very different fighters, linked by one shared quality: massive courage.

Yeah and massive something else as well!

'10.
At 11:20 30th Nov 2011, tee222111 wrote:

Bruno v Tyson 89, aw poor Frank never stood a chance, cant fault his courage and determination though, bring back the good old days of boxing please!!'

Ahh but he did stand a chance. He hurt Tyson, and hesitated (Tyson himself said he'd never been hit so hard before or after). Had he followed up immediately, Tyson would have been knocked out. Tyson's camp even changed his normal plan of attack by wearing down opponents with body shots so the arms would drop and leave the head exposed. They decided that because of Bruno's conditioning and 6" of muscle around his stomach that it would be a waste of energy.

Great read and i'm glad that Benn has found peace and purpose in life.

great article.too many weight divisions and "titles" nowadays.i remember when it was just WBA and WBC. i notice the same thing is happening with mixed martial arts now - as vinnie jones once said "never underestimate the predictability of stupidity !"
speaking of mixed martial arts ,is ben dirs any relation to fedor emelianenko ??

i might have to re-visit that fight then Murdoch, has been awhile i admit, maybe it was the re-match im thinking of, i remember staying up with mates till 4am or some rediculous time to cheer on Frank, good times, but Tyson at that time was a monster, very scary guy in his prime

14 maixo - im pretty sure ufc only has one belt per weight division, they'd be mad to change that, its one of the reasons mma is so good!

Great memories. The Eubank/Benn fights are really what turned me into the massive fan of boxing that I still am today and Benn was always the one I favoured - gutted by the draw in their 2nd fight, which I was convinced Benn had won.

16 tee222111 maixo's probably referring to the multiple organisations like Strikeforce/Dream in addition to the UFC. Saying that, since PRIDE went defunct and the UFC snapped up most of their elite fighters, along with buying up Strikeforce, merging with WEC etc ... it seems the elite of the MMA world are as closely-knit as ever in terms of competition - which I think is great personally.

18 gimpy - ah i see yeah your probably right, to me mma IS ufc though lol nothing compares really, ufc is where its at, jones v machida next omg i cant wait!

They really were the days of boxing, I was only around 10 years old during Benn Eubank fight and also remember the Benn v Clelland clearly. Had a profound effect on me, how Clelland who was ripping people apart in 1st rounds became the man he is now, I jus couldn't get my head around it at the time but they were the days...fight night, terrestial tv, with the family...thanks for ruining it Sky, PPV etc!

Looking forward to the Benn/Clelland prog on Monday night...err on itv.

A massive character. Warrior in evey sense of the word. God bless you Nigel.

Ryushinko, that's a great story about the Barkley fight. What theatre.

Best one-round fight there's ever been? Wow, more action, ups and downs and drama than most 12-rounders.

ZedZone, you remember the fight so well you don't even know the name of Benn's opponent that night..

Just teasing, I make you right about that fight - for Benn to be pretty much knocked out of the ring in the first round and then come back and put on that display. Well, only 'WOW' really springs to mind, spectacles like that kind of leave you speechless. Such a shame they both had to live with the awful consequences for the rest of their lives.

And every time I hear of Nigel Benn I smile and think of the story from 10 years or so back about some chancer trying to mug him for his watch at the airport. Candidate for the Darwin Awards or what...?

Ben remains my favourite british boxer of all time. win lose or draw benn always wore his heart on his sleave. for me however, the fight with mcllelland is up there with the rumble in the jungle and hagler v hearns. people tend to shy away from the fight because of its tragic outcome. I dont think benn was ever quite the same after that night but tragedy aside, it was possibly his bravest performance

Great read. Never knew Benn was stationed over here in N, Ireland.

mma/ufc - oh please. if i wanted to watch two grown men roll around the floor for half an hour i'd nip into pontypridd on a saturday night. they've only flourished because boxing has imploded with 24 champs at each weight, PPV and boxers avoiding each other. i wouldnt get out of bed to watch an mma fight in my backyard

mayb u wouldnt wana get out of bed because the men are already rolling around in there lol i joke,
mma is amazing, i admit it used to be mayb 80% grappling 20% striking but those days are long gone, the fighters know that the crowds love striking and also striking is a much quicker, energy conservative way to win, one punch knock out power baby, try a couple of title fights and see what you think, you might be surprised, otherwise oh well stick to boxing, each to their own ..

Will the Nigel Benn and Gerhard McManaman documentary feature input from both fighters?

Thanks Benn and Ben!

It continues to disappoint me that heavyweight boxing still gets all the limelight. Nigel and Chris were the very best middleweight boxers of their era, and that is no mean feat. To be a great middleweight, you need the speed and technique of the lightweights, but the chin and stamina of the big guys. Most of the heavyweights these days are freaks of nature, who 'train' to be boxers. The lightweight boxers are all speed and technique, but represent little spectacle to the casual observer. But Benn and Eubank could properly box AND had that 'one-good-punch-is-all-it-needs' threat of the heavyweights.

Top, top boxers and way more deserving of our memory and respect that many that came after.

seanmichaels

Just seen the trailor on the itv website and it looks like there will be contributions by both Nigel Benn and indeed Gerhardt McDougall..

Actually looks pretty good.

I remember watching (was about 15?) a sports programme late on ITV the wednesday before the fight with both Benn and Eubank on it. Eubank was all 'i respect him as a boxer etc etc etc' and Benn just came out with 'i just hate the man' :) Those fights and that era generally were incredible for boxing.

Re the McClellan fight... i remember being so gutted watching Benn crawling about in the first round after being knocked to the floor. Then watching in SHEER disbleief as he picked himself up and fought so hard - and then watchign McCellan go down on one knee .... that was the best fight ive ever seen and the most incredible lesson in courage and never giving up.

Still ultimate respects for Nigel ... and he shows what a gent he is with his comments re Eubank Jnr last week to.

I used to get goosebumps when i heard the Big Benn chimes when Nigel entered the Arena!!!! He was an absolute ENTERTAINER and I loved him!!!! He fought the fights others wouldn't take!

Thanks for the memories Nigel!

Benn, Eubank & Watson a triumverate of true boxing gladiators taking on all-comers.

When they stepped in the ring they delivered!

What we get nowadays is a poor imitation and has undermined the sport.

I like Nigel Benn. I loved watching the intense rivalry between him, Eubanks and the great Michael Watson. Indeed I grew up watching all of his fights. But I cant help but think that hes jumping on the religious band wagon when he refers to the Gospel of Mark 8:36 'What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit your own soul?' Nigel is refering to greed here and the neglect of basic human feeling. Unfortunately humans are made to be selfish and most of us dont give a hoot for anything but themselves. We dont have to quote the Gospels to realise that. Treat your neighbour as you would yourself and lets leave religion out of it.

Not sure where the religion came from and Mr Benn is one of the last people in the world who you would expect to embrace it, but if it helped to sort his life out and put him on the right track, then i for one can't knock it.
Just a shame that given the current state of boxing these days, there isn't any characters like the afore mentioned Mr Benn and Eubank etc to give the sport the lift it needs, none the less it's nice to hear that guys like Benn can find a bit of peace and contentment after a life in the ring which would leave it's mark on most people.

My big bad....Of course I meant McClellan (wtf Zed wake up!!!) Have to say Gerhardt McDougall and Gerhard McManaman had me in stitches....even at my own expense, will blame it on being very busy at work cos everyone else is striking...knew I would find an excuse to blame something on the lazy lot!

He must be the most mis-spelt boxer in history.....

Heard Nigel Benn on Talksport last week. His speech was very slurred and he struggled to remember the odd name or two. I guess the wars he was involved in take their toll.

Benn v mcllelan - still the best fight i have ever seen.

All-time dream fight...
Benn v Hearns!

Good on ya Nige!

40.At 18:51 30th Nov 2011, RealitysVoice wrote:
All-time dream fight...
Benn v Hearns!

Good on ya Nige!
----------------------------------------
It was going to happen but I think Hearns/Benn lost the warm up. Had a few so can't remember right now. Maybe Dirs will enlighten us?

#35 "Treat your neighbour as you would yourself and lets leave religion out of it."

Lol - and where did that come from.

Nice article. There are youths out there who more than ever need to hear a man who has been through what the dark destroyer has been through. Great times, also sad with what happened to McClellan and Watson.

misspelt seanmichaels.

all i need to remember is the itv theme tune to saturday night boxing.

daaah daah dah, do do do.

man you knew you were in for a treat.

last great one with that music - if my memory serves me correctly - was froch vs pascal.

or am i just dreaming of the glory days?

nige will make the hall of fame, which might sound like a 'for what it's worth', but it means a lot in terms of recognition and respect from and for boxers.

the word 'legend' is becoming cliched.

legend.

These two guys were genuine gladiators. Benn v Eubank part one was a classic British fight. You could see and feel the pain that these two were inflicting on each other, toe to toe, pride vs pride, ego vs ego, neither wanting to show weakness. Awesome stuff, bring back the 90's prize fighter!!!

Nice call on the 'slurs' Ben. Last time I heard Nigel speak he sounded much more articulate than at least three-quarters of the UK.

Benn's constant drive, and desire to fight Jones, evident from - perhaps - the moment Jones put paid to Toney's IBF middleweight reign, showed quite clearly that he was a man who wanted the best not only in the division but in the world. I'm not sure if Nigel in his most honest moment thought he would really win that fight, back then, but he would have taken it in an instant had Jones not been on another ascending plane.

Nice blog. Would be great to get Eubank on here. Been reading a few of his comments of late and they're anything but boring.

Big-time respect and good luck to Carl Froch and Amir Khan (not to mention Murray on Saturday), but the but's the but: hard to replicate this era of excitement in UK arenas. Not a big nationalist but the Brits made the super-middleweight division, and had a big hand at middleweight in the 90s. And those nights, which Naz deserves a mention for contributing to also, as well as many others, were...what is now the X Factor. Respect to all.

Hear Hear, about the 90's totally the best time for live boxing it was like a fight a week, then Sky took this from us. Benn was an awesome fighter and true warrior wearing his heart on his sleeve.

Eubank and Benn..........British Boxing in the 90's was so good. Nasim also had his part to play. Thanks you all for the great times......

Nigel Benn is my all time boxing hero and a legend. Im in Australia working for a year and actually bumped into Nigel Benn a few months ago out here, I was hungover and completely shocked to see him in a random suburb called Norwest on his way to church. He was very nice to talk to and I even got a photo with him which made my day. Boxing is just not the sales without the likes of Benn, Eubank, Watson etc.

Benn's victory over Doug DeWitt in Vegas to win the WBO Middleweight championship was one of the best displays of boxing by a Brit for two decades and one he's never recognized for. He came over here won the title then rounded it off with an annihilation of Iran Barkley who was a quality fighter back in the day.

The middleweight and super middleweight division in Benn's time was incredible - as well as Benn, Watson and Eubank you also had Mike the Bodysnatcher McCallum and a young Roy Jones Jnr. Would have loved to see these guys fight. But Benn's fight with Gerald McClellan was the single most brutal, vicious, heroic fight I've ever seen, it wasn't surprising Benn was spent after that.

Benn was always at his best when tested to the limit. In a fight where he was "on the ropes" and seemingly beaten he would always seem to draw upon some magical reserve of endurance and will to fight.

It is, therefore, perhaps less of a surprise that he has bounced back in his personal life to overcome any obstacles placed in his path. A true boxing great good luck to him!

Good blog, thank you.

Great read, made my morning.

Great article. Certainly took me back a better times for the armchair boxing fan. From the 70s when I was a teenager through to the mid nineties. The great Reg Gutteridge & Jim Watt and "Arry" on the Beeb...the best of times.

Even with the tragedies of Gerald McClellan and Michael Thomas, that was an exceptional era for boxing, and the memories of that excitement are still strong. Someone just asked the question "best fight ever" on a football forum, and I couldn't pick one - just think of the fantastic series of middleweight/super middleweight fights with the likes of Benn and Eubank.

The weak matches, the constant talk and one fight a year for the top boys, the multiple non-champions etc., are all a big turn-off now. But I still have hope that there are a few fighters around who really want to have a go at anybody and give it their all: we've had the oustanding Joe Calzaghe since, now Froch, Cleverley? The Brits might not be able to clean up boxing, but I think they might yet provide quite a few more memorable fights!

amazing article. benn and eubank two of only a few real sporting hero,s i have. tyson and bruno being another two.
i was at the second benn v eubank fight at old trafford.i still get goosebumps when i watch it on youtube.very rarely does something get me like that. i dont think we will see the like again.society has changed, celebrity has changed. too many sportspersons only care about being celebrity rather than successful.too easily rewarded for so little effort thats the problem.

btw..good look froch.spark ward right out please..

*good luck froch

its great to see nigel goin so good and wat a fighter he was and great fights with eubank but wat about the the great steve collins who put both nigel and chris to the sword great time in boxing good luck to all and thank you for the memorys

@sydneyleeds Benn and Eubank were both done by the time Steve Collins came on the scene, they'd both been involved in some incredible wars, Benn was never the same fighter after McClellan, Eubank was done after Michael Watson. Collins was an ace fighter but never fought anyone in the same class as Benn and Eubank.