This is quite possible the worst thread I've ever seen on Boxrec. Terrible. Benn was an absolue warrior with immense power, unhumanlike power as Eubank would say. Eubank never fails to comment on just how intimidating, powerful and aggresive Benn was. His strength and courage was born out of early grief for his dead brother, the catalyst for an indomitable rage, which saw him fighting on the streets from an early age. When Benn swung, he intended to virtually kill, awsome fighter.
I totally agree with STP, his record speaks for itself. He won the second fight with Eubank, he annihilated Barkley, and as sad as it was, proved his worth against a very hard G Man, what spirit! After that he never fought the same, anyone who knows boxing recognises that. Against Collins he broke his ankle and simply didn't have the killer instinct anymore. He has certainly gone through mental terror with his personal problems and the realisation of the impact he had on Mclellan, admitting a suicide attempt and a descention to the very bottom in terms of emotional wellbeing.
I admire Benn for his courage, retrospect and of course, for giving us such pure pugilistic entertainment. I'll say no more on this thread, its disgraceful. Respect, to the DARK DESTROYER.
DID NIGEL BENN GET LUCKY ?
benn brought the year 2001 to the year 1989, he really boomed british boxing like no other and nothing will ever compare as far as i'm concerned. u could walk past any pub in the country when a benn fight was on and all you'd hear was 'go on, nige! come on nige!'. we'll never get those days back, amir khan is hardly the same! you should show some respect, to a true british boxing legend if there ever was one.
alot of people don't realise benn was arguably the best amateur in the world before he turned pro. rod douglas had close fights with frank tate and shawn o'sullivan when they were 1 and 2 in the world, benn beat rod up and knocked him down a few times which tate and o'sullivan couldn't, it wasn't close and it was avenging his sole defeat.
the only person to beat him in his prime was eubank, and we all know benn had to lose something like half a stone in 3 hours, and he boxed well that night in birmingham. eubank had been looking unstoppable for a year and a half on eurosport. benn's jabs almost knocked eubanks block off, he ducked and weaved well when he had to, did alot of feinting on the outside and threw awesome body punches that almost broke eubank in two. for a while it looked like eubank couldn't win.
of course, we all know he won the rematch with cleaner punching. and toney, rjj and eubank all turned down fights with mcclelland. benn was the only one who'd take the fight, in what was, incidently, the first ever fight between two wbc champions, most ever combined knock-outs, and, by wide margin, most ever combined first-round knock-outs-33.
people don't realise that benn wasn't a natural supermiddle. he could still make middle and was fighting guys who were lightheavies and cruisers coming down. that's why his knock-outs dried up. mcclelland punched everything out of him, that was it. legend. oh and burn the thread-starter.
alot of people don't realise benn was arguably the best amateur in the world before he turned pro. rod douglas had close fights with frank tate and shawn o'sullivan when they were 1 and 2 in the world, benn beat rod up and knocked him down a few times which tate and o'sullivan couldn't, it wasn't close and it was avenging his sole defeat.
the only person to beat him in his prime was eubank, and we all know benn had to lose something like half a stone in 3 hours, and he boxed well that night in birmingham. eubank had been looking unstoppable for a year and a half on eurosport. benn's jabs almost knocked eubanks block off, he ducked and weaved well when he had to, did alot of feinting on the outside and threw awesome body punches that almost broke eubank in two. for a while it looked like eubank couldn't win.
of course, we all know he won the rematch with cleaner punching. and toney, rjj and eubank all turned down fights with mcclelland. benn was the only one who'd take the fight, in what was, incidently, the first ever fight between two wbc champions, most ever combined knock-outs, and, by wide margin, most ever combined first-round knock-outs-33.
people don't realise that benn wasn't a natural supermiddle. he could still make middle and was fighting guys who were lightheavies and cruisers coming down. that's why his knock-outs dried up. mcclelland punched everything out of him, that was it. legend. oh and burn the thread-starter.
I see Benn as the British equivalent of a Julian Jackson type fighter. Only Benn achieved more at two weights than Jackson did at two weights. And unlike Jackson, Benn changed his style, made the adjustment to push his career along. Abd like overhand right said, Benn got up to beat McLellan, rather than just getting flattened. Nigel should be in the Hall of Fame for his win over McClellan, 8 WBC defences and time as WBO titlist in which he fought guys like Barkley, Eubank and DeWitt. Absolute warrior. Yes his style would have let him down vs Jones and Toney, but he beat Eubank 2nd time arguably and beat the other big name Yank, McClellan.
Graham turned down a career-high (by far) £200,000 to face Benn in 1988.
The Benn-Jones Jr super-fight came about when Benn was shot to pieces, from McClellan (who beat Jones Jr in 1988).
Nunn lost on Benn's undercard when the fight, after six years, was finally about to happen.
Benn was down to fight McCallum if he beat Watson, but would have lost.
And he was just made for the James Toney who fought Iran Barkley.
The Benn-Jones Jr super-fight came about when Benn was shot to pieces, from McClellan (who beat Jones Jr in 1988).
Nunn lost on Benn's undercard when the fight, after six years, was finally about to happen.
Benn was down to fight McCallum if he beat Watson, but would have lost.
And he was just made for the James Toney who fought Iran Barkley.
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Bard of Boxrec
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Benn had good power, but it wasn't on the same level as a Jackson or McClellan, nowhere near. A LOT of lower level guys were able to hang with Benn after getting hit, and the mark of the highest level of puncher is to get rid of these guys. I'd never deny Benn was a warrior with guts and balls through the roof, but we all know what would have happened if he'd run into a McCallum, Toney, Nunn, Jones, etc etc.fist wrote: Benn was an absolue warrior with immense power, unhumanlike power as Eubank would say. .
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Bard of Boxrec
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but then look at him having fits with that limited italian guy for 12 rounds, and he couldnt put a dent in thulani malinga which obviously roy jones did (albeit Roy was phenomenal that night) but still people don't regard Roy as a bigger puncher than Benn... there are also other examples of low level guys taking him the distance or late, can't even remember their names. All i'm saying is there are numerous examples of a lot of guys standing up to him- and true all time great punchers do not fit into this category. he was a good puncher- but he wasnt a chilling puncher like mcclellan or jackson. The difference is pretty obvious IMO.
Logan and Sherry were stiffs by the way.
Logan and Sherry were stiffs by the way.
Disagree. He could hit as hard as anyone. Eubank took huge shots, but he had an exceptional chin - granite.Riddick Blowe wrote:Benn had good power, but it wasn't on the same level as a Jackson or McClellan, nowhere near. A LOT of lower level guys were able to hang with Benn after getting hit, and the mark of the highest level of puncher is to get rid of these guys. I'd never deny Benn was a warrior with guts and balls through the roof, but we all know what would have happened if he'd run into a McCallum, Toney, Nunn, Jones, etc etc.fist wrote: Benn was an absolue warrior with immense power, unhumanlike power as Eubank would say. .
Well said, Benn had immense power. And he put EVERYTHING into his punches - very exciting fighter.STP wrote:Benn's power is proven with eyes and ear as well as the opposition, above the others. Th eyes and ears in his early career, and the 'opposition' in knocking down DeWitt and Sims for the only times in their careers and stopping Barkley and McClellan which Hearns and Jackson failed to do.
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Bard of Boxrec
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Could you see guys like Ferreya, that Italian dude and Nicky Piper lasting so long against mclellan or jackson?fist wrote:Disagree. He could hit as hard as anyone. Eubank took huge shots, but he had an exceptional chin - granite.Riddick Blowe wrote:Benn had good power, but it wasn't on the same level as a Jackson or McClellan, nowhere near. A LOT of lower level guys were able to hang with Benn after getting hit, and the mark of the highest level of puncher is to get rid of these guys. I'd never deny Benn was a warrior with guts and balls through the roof, but we all know what would have happened if he'd run into a McCallum, Toney, Nunn, Jones, etc etc.fist wrote: Benn was an absolue warrior with immense power, unhumanlike power as Eubank would say. .
the point i'm trying to make is kind of banal, but it should be recognised that while clearly heavy handed, Benn wasn't the "ATG puncher" beast, a label that should be reserved for others. benn was more of a clubbing, brawling hitter than a snappy, chilling hitter a la hearns or whoever.
Benn was an exciting fighter, big puncher, met a lot of 'bodies' brought over for him it has to be said, but he was a fighter you had to respect. His WBO win against DeWitt didn't mean much at the time, no matter how much ITV tried to hype it up. The WBO title was lightly regarded then. McCallum, Nunn and Kalambay were all better than DeWitt. The Barkley win was a good one though.
The early Benn was a fighter who'd either take you out or be taken out himself, but became a worthy champion in his own right though. His win over McClellan gives him big kudos, I thought McClellan would stop him early and nearly did, but Benn showed his guts that night. He was never the same after that. Roy Jones, Toney, McCallum would all have beaten Benn in my opinion.
The early Benn was a fighter who'd either take you out or be taken out himself, but became a worthy champion in his own right though. His win over McClellan gives him big kudos, I thought McClellan would stop him early and nearly did, but Benn showed his guts that night. He was never the same after that. Roy Jones, Toney, McCallum would all have beaten Benn in my opinion.
The limited Italian guy he'd already beat the living shit out of to win the belt? And did you not notice that he was holding on like an octopus all night?? Benn did what he could, but the guy was twice the size of him and tying him up at every opportunity. Plus Benn had lost speed at super-middleweight, it took him years to grow into the weight.Riddick Blowe wrote:but then look at him having fits with that limited italian guy for 12 rounds
Ferreya??Riddick Blowe wrote:Could you see guys like Ferreya, that Italian dude and Nicky Piper lasting so long against mclellan or jackson?fist wrote:Disagree. He could hit as hard as anyone. Eubank took huge shots, but he had an exceptional chin - granite.Riddick Blowe wrote: Benn had good power, but it wasn't on the same level as a Jackson or McClellan, nowhere near. A LOT of lower level guys were able to hang with Benn after getting hit, and the mark of the highest level of puncher is to get rid of these guys. I'd never deny Benn was a warrior with guts and balls through the roof, but we all know what would have happened if he'd run into a McCallum, Toney, Nunn, Jones, etc etc.
the point i'm trying to make is kind of banal, but it should be recognised that while clearly heavy handed, Benn wasn't the "ATG puncher" beast, a label that should be reserved for others. benn was more of a clubbing, brawling hitter than a snappy, chilling hitter a la hearns or whoever.
And yes, the Italian dude and Piper were about twice the size of Jackson.
At middleweight, Benn was one of very few fighters who had both the heavy hand as well as the 'snap of a whip'. Unless you're blind or something.
Hearns and Jackson were better KO artists (speed, accuracy, timing), but Benn was a more natural puncher and had more natural power. His superb natural punching leverages were something to behold!
http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/se ... 1019_sportSTP wrote:Well then you, my friend, must have been lifeless or something.Riddick Blowe wrote:he was a good puncher- but he wasnt a chilling puncher like mcclellan or jackson.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1857 ... sib_vae_dp
English and maths were my best subjects but I hated history and electronics. I'm proud to be British but I couldn't relate to English history. It meant very little to me. What did Richard the Lionheart or Robin Hood have to do with me? I was sure I was a couple of shades darker than Robin Hood. I wanted to learn a lot more about my own background. History should be meaningful.
My family in the West Indies had been sold into slavery centuries ago. Was there a white trader or plantation owner in our bloodline? I was told a lot of them couldn't keep their dicks inside their trousers. What were my family's origins? What hardships did my ancestors endure as a result of slavery? Was this why we are a strong race today, because only the fittest could survive the harsh conditions imposed by their masters? These were significant historical matters which were not covered in our boring syllabus.
On the sports field, however, I came into my own. I was a natural athlete, the best in school at cross country, pole vaulting, the long jump and running 1500 metres.
My favourite subject was fighting, but that wasn't taught in class. I learnt it in the streets and in clubs where they practised kung fu and other forms of martial arts. Bruce Lee was all the rage. He was my film idol. I was captivated and totally inspired by his fighting skills. I wanted to be Bruce Lee.
While the head teacher considered me disruptive and a danger to other pupils, my father argued that I was only letting off steam. What Dad wanted was for them to offer a constructive outlet for my inexhaustible energy. If I was to blame for my behaviour, then they were equally at fault for not recognising my potential and harnessing it to our mutual benefit.
Dad had always hoped that one of his boys would make something of his life. He had a sneaking suspicion that it might be me because he remembered how I had always insisted that I would one day be famous. Ever since I was a small boy, I had told him I would drive a Rolls-Royce or a Porsche when I grew up. And he was quite sure that if success came, it would be through sport.
Whatever ambitions he might have held for me, school was not the place to air them. Loxford didn't know how to handle Nigel Benn. They didn't seem to agree with Dad's suggestions or his explanations about my boisterous behaviour. As a teenager, I did not appreciate my own strength. Dad, on the other hand, was well aware of it, and he was very worried about the damage I might inflict. After all, he had inside knowledge. He'd seen it all happen at home. My younger brother Anthony, a good-looking little boy, had had his head sliced open like a watermelon after a mock kung fu battle in which we used long pieces of wood. And although I'd dished it out on that occasion, I was always at the local hospital myself having parts of my body stitched together.
Once I was booted, smashed and slammed into a brick wall. Afterwards, my head was dented into a U-shape. It was my fault. I'd been too mouthy to Michael Davidson, whose mother owned the corner shop. He was really like a big brother and used to take us to football matches. He'd let us clear the shop of sweets for five pence but could occasionally play rough.
Once I started going out with the older boys, my confidence grew out of all proportion to my years. By 13, I'd become quite punchy and if someone dared to touch me, I'd knock their head off. If I was walking down Ilford High Street and someone offended me, they would never repeat it. The fact that I wasn't scared of anyone worried my father. He told me to cool down. 'You just don't recognise your strength. It's getting you a bad reputation. People are becoming frightened of you,' he warned. I would fight anybody, no matter how big they were.
After he'd been summoned to school following yet another punch-up, Dad turned to me and said, 'If you've got that much energy, get in the boxing ring and do it for real.' That was quite prophetic because I had been in a ring only once in my life. My brother John had arranged for me to have a try-out when I was 12. They put me in with a guy who'd been boxing since he was five years old and apparently I panned him all round the ring. My opponent ended up with a blotchy-red complexion and the 'fight' had to be stopped. John told me then that I was a natural. 'You're a born fighter,' he said. He took me to the gym a few more times but I showed little interest. I was much more into martial arts at the time.
Good shit.
English and maths were my best subjects but I hated history and electronics. I'm proud to be British but I couldn't relate to English history. It meant very little to me. What did Richard the Lionheart or Robin Hood have to do with me? I was sure I was a couple of shades darker than Robin Hood. I wanted to learn a lot more about my own background. History should be meaningful.
My family in the West Indies had been sold into slavery centuries ago. Was there a white trader or plantation owner in our bloodline? I was told a lot of them couldn't keep their dicks inside their trousers. What were my family's origins? What hardships did my ancestors endure as a result of slavery? Was this why we are a strong race today, because only the fittest could survive the harsh conditions imposed by their masters? These were significant historical matters which were not covered in our boring syllabus.
On the sports field, however, I came into my own. I was a natural athlete, the best in school at cross country, pole vaulting, the long jump and running 1500 metres.
My favourite subject was fighting, but that wasn't taught in class. I learnt it in the streets and in clubs where they practised kung fu and other forms of martial arts. Bruce Lee was all the rage. He was my film idol. I was captivated and totally inspired by his fighting skills. I wanted to be Bruce Lee.
While the head teacher considered me disruptive and a danger to other pupils, my father argued that I was only letting off steam. What Dad wanted was for them to offer a constructive outlet for my inexhaustible energy. If I was to blame for my behaviour, then they were equally at fault for not recognising my potential and harnessing it to our mutual benefit.
Dad had always hoped that one of his boys would make something of his life. He had a sneaking suspicion that it might be me because he remembered how I had always insisted that I would one day be famous. Ever since I was a small boy, I had told him I would drive a Rolls-Royce or a Porsche when I grew up. And he was quite sure that if success came, it would be through sport.
Whatever ambitions he might have held for me, school was not the place to air them. Loxford didn't know how to handle Nigel Benn. They didn't seem to agree with Dad's suggestions or his explanations about my boisterous behaviour. As a teenager, I did not appreciate my own strength. Dad, on the other hand, was well aware of it, and he was very worried about the damage I might inflict. After all, he had inside knowledge. He'd seen it all happen at home. My younger brother Anthony, a good-looking little boy, had had his head sliced open like a watermelon after a mock kung fu battle in which we used long pieces of wood. And although I'd dished it out on that occasion, I was always at the local hospital myself having parts of my body stitched together.
Once I was booted, smashed and slammed into a brick wall. Afterwards, my head was dented into a U-shape. It was my fault. I'd been too mouthy to Michael Davidson, whose mother owned the corner shop. He was really like a big brother and used to take us to football matches. He'd let us clear the shop of sweets for five pence but could occasionally play rough.
Once I started going out with the older boys, my confidence grew out of all proportion to my years. By 13, I'd become quite punchy and if someone dared to touch me, I'd knock their head off. If I was walking down Ilford High Street and someone offended me, they would never repeat it. The fact that I wasn't scared of anyone worried my father. He told me to cool down. 'You just don't recognise your strength. It's getting you a bad reputation. People are becoming frightened of you,' he warned. I would fight anybody, no matter how big they were.
After he'd been summoned to school following yet another punch-up, Dad turned to me and said, 'If you've got that much energy, get in the boxing ring and do it for real.' That was quite prophetic because I had been in a ring only once in my life. My brother John had arranged for me to have a try-out when I was 12. They put me in with a guy who'd been boxing since he was five years old and apparently I panned him all round the ring. My opponent ended up with a blotchy-red complexion and the 'fight' had to be stopped. John told me then that I was a natural. 'You're a born fighter,' he said. He took me to the gym a few more times but I showed little interest. I was much more into martial arts at the time.
Good shit.
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Khaosai-Galaxy
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If Leo Tolstoy wrote all in caps, War and Peace would probably be still sat on his desk.Crew2 wrote:BLA BLA BLA, WHEN PUSH CAME TO SHOVE NIGEL BENN QUIT ...
HE QUIT AGAINST WATSON, QUIT INTRINSICALLY AGAINST EUBANK, QUIT AGAINST COLLINS NOT ONCE BUT TWICE
NEEDED 2 HIT BARKLEY WHEN HE WAS DOWN, NEEDED 2 HIT GMAN WITH RABBIT SHOTS ND HEAD BUTTS
HE WASNT TRULY WORTHY
MALINGA ONLY THREW A LEFT JAB ND BEAT THE SHAT OUT OF HIM NOT ONCE BUT TWICE
Now pack it it