The Dark Destroyer

[forcefraser]

I was watching some old Nigel Benn fights the other day. Christ he was great.

All action, really got the old blood boiling and gave us proper excitement. His slugfest with Logan was a classic.

There are few fights that really get the emotions pumping and the adrenalin running (for me at least), but I remember his fights with Watson, Eubank 1, Barkley and not least Mcllellan were something special.

The closet thing since, for me, was the Froch v Pascal fight, another adrenalin packed classic.

Do you think we will see the likes of Benn again in Britain? or was he a one off, never to be repeated?? Am I getting old or was boxing much more exciting back then?

[teddy007]

I was watching some old Nigel Benn fights the other day. Christ he was great.

All action, really got the old blood boiling and gave us proper excitement. His slugfest with Logan was a classic.

There are few fights that really get the emotions pumping and the adrenalin running (for me at least), but I remember his fights with Watson, Eubank 1, Barkley and not least Mcllellan were something special.

The closet thing since, for me, was the Froch v Pascal fight, another adrenalin packed classic.

Do you think we will see the likes of Benn again in Britain? or was he a one off, never to be repeated?? Am I getting old or was boxing much more exciting back then?

Benn Vs Mcllellan will NEVER be beaten in this country, an awesome fight that maybe doesn't get as much coverage because of what happend to Mcllellan. That fight would of been stopped probably after the 2nd knock down when benn was hurt and if it wasn't stopped then the doctor would of stopped the fight because of benns broken jaw.

[harrygreb]

thanks nigel - you were indeed a great warrior

[dondada]

Undoubtedly the most exciting fighter, for me, in my lifetime.

Tingles up the spine when the Big Ben chimes went off.

A week today is the anniversary of Benn-McClellan. I was there. Absolutely incredible.

I'm confident we'll never see another quite like him, nor a rivalry so natural as his with Eubank. I still remember their head to heads on TV and elsewhere. When you see so much Mayorga style hype building faux-spite, the genuine animosity between that pair reminds you what a rivalry is really about.

That classic interview on ITV when Eubank turned his chair so he wouldn't look at Nige was amazing telly. Eubank went on at length about how he didn't hate Nigel as a person, etc. Nigel, completely deadpan and sincere, replied "I genuinely do hate him."

What a warrior. And I'm glad he has found a new life too.

[oliverfennell]

What a warrior. And I'm glad he has found a new life too.

Found God, hasn't he? I vaguely remembering him mention it, just in passing, perhaps once or twice. Didn't make a big deal about it in every single interview or anything.

[dondada]

What a warrior. And I'm glad he has found a new life too.

Found God, hasn't he? I vaguely remembering him mention it, just in passing, perhaps once or twice. Didn't make a big deal about it in every single interview or anything.

Someone will come on here and tell you more but at one point I believe he'd even set up his own ministry in Majorca or somewhere.

Good luck to Nige.

[oliverfennell]

No, don't need anyone to tell me all about it. Nigel will certainly do so next time he's interviewed. Religion aside, as for the original point, a tremendously exciting and genuinely world class fighter who remains one of my all-time favourites.

[Adamj1987]

he was imence is there anyone who didnt like Benn when he was fighting other than eubank fans?

[Abbo]

i actually preferred a lot of his up'n'coming fights. Very Tysonesque as he was determined to roll-over everyone.

My claim to boxing fame is being at the McClellan fight. I can remember the whole day from waking up to going to sleep (sunlight Sunday).

[ERIC GUY]

I filmed McClellan training at the Peacock gym a few days before the fight, and obviously filmed the fight, I would put it up, but Sports network might ask me to take it off, I watched it yesterday, and was amazed at my comments during the fight, at the beginning, I said' ''if Nigel can get past the 1st 3 rounds, he will wear mcClellan down'',, and was commenting on the whole fight, tremendous atmosphere,
But I am sure I can put the press conf up, so I will see in the next few days
Eric

[dondada]

I filmed McClellan training at the Peacock gym a few days before the fight, and obviously filmed the fight, I would put it up, but Sports network might ask me to take it off, I watched it yesterday, and was amazed at my comments during the fight, at the beginning, I said' ''if Nigel can get past the 1st 3 rounds, he will wear mcClellan down'',, and was commenting on the whole fight, tremendous atmosphere,
But I am sure I can put the press conf up, so I will see in the next few days
Eric

Brilliant, Eric! Post a link to it when poss.

[Old bones Ian]

Its a shame that the 2 of the best fights around that time were over shadowed by tragedy, Watson v Eubank II and Benn v McClellan.

Favorite bit from all the Benn fight, was after the first round Benn had been decked twice and looked pretty much out of it, but when he got back to his corner there was Dennie Mancini pointing at McClellan and shouting to Benn "He's Fucked"

[Twinkle Toes]

The second round is one of the best you'll see of Benn in action, and tells everyone all they need to know of what Benn was about.

[dondada]

Its a shame that the 2 of the best fights around that time were over showowed by tragedy, Watson v Eubank II and Benn v McClellan.

Favorite bit from all the Benn fight, was after the first round Benn had been decked twice and looked pretty much out of it, but when he got back to his corner there was Dennie Mancini pointing at McClellan and shouting to Benn "He's Fucked"

The second round is one of the best you'll see of Benn in action, and tells everyone all they need to know of what Benn was about.

Absolute piece of genius from Dennie Mancini, that. Psychology or what?

I used to love Nige at the time and I think it's the only time - the start of the second round that is - that I have ever literally watched a fight through my fingers. Benn, almost destroyed in the first and inevitably still shaky, came out and landed with a massive right soon after the bell. I nearly leapt about ten rows down! Unreal.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Its a shame that the 2 of the best fights around that time were over showowed by tragedy, Watson v Eubank II and Benn v McClellan.

Favorite bit from all the Benn fight, was after the first round Benn had been decked twice and looked pretty much out of it, but when he got back to his corner there was Dennie Mancini pointing at McClellan and shouting to Benn "He's Fucked"

The second round is one of the best you'll see of Benn in action, and tells everyone all they need to know of what Benn was about.

Absolute piece of genius from Dennie Mancini, that. Psychology or what?

I used to love Nige at the time and I think it's the only time - the start of the second round that is - that I have ever literally watched a fight through my fingers. Benn, almost destroyed in the first and inevitably still shaky, came out and landed with a massive right soon after the bell. I nearly leapt about ten rows down! Unreal.

Benn like Eubank had an immense fighting heart and appetite for a tear up. An absolute monster in the ring, and one of the most exciting fighters this country has ever produced. Eubank lost it a bit in later years, but right until the end, Benn was still an explosive performer.

[yiddo14]

I envy those of you that were there.
I was a young boy watching on TV and me and my old man were going absolutely mental.

Tragic ending of course, but the most exciting, enthralling sporting occasion I think I have ever seen(maybe it's because I was so young and it was almost a case of life and death in that fight)
I have it on DVD(John McCririck tic tac, the lot!) and even the old ITV intro music gets me tingling!

Fvck it, I may just have to go and put it on and have another watch!

[Poncey]

What a warrior. And I'm glad he has found a new life too.

Found God, hasn't he? I vaguely remembering him mention it, just in passing, perhaps once or twice. Didn't make a big deal about it in every single interview or anything.

Someone will come on here and tell you more but at one point I believe he'd even set up his own ministry in Majorca or somewhere.

Good luck to Nige.

That's what I heard. Didn't his family take him there to get away from his demons?

[harrygreb]

absolutely the most exciting fight - g-man - i have ever seen. benn is rightly a favourite in this country because of the balls he showed in that one. bollocks beyond the call of duty. my dad and i always say when a fighter takes off his robe he is also disrobing himself of reason. nigel proved the theory that night.

dennie mancini -RIP - kept benn in the fight though with his brilliant motivation.

thanks guys for a night i'll never forget.

[Wax On]

That fight was what got me into boxing. Amazing fight and still maybe yet to see a better one?

I stumbled on it by accident, couldn't stop watching and have been hooked ever since.

Mind you I sometimes regretted this after watching Eubank grind out a few too many of thise close decision wins of his against European fighters way below his level. Chris definately wasted a few of my evenings in the 90's fighting down at his oppenent's level! :x

[SticknMove]

I was at the McClellan fight. It wasn't until I was in a wine bar down the road from the Arena that rumours of how serious G-man's condition might be came filtering through. Absolutely great fight and night up until that point.

Benn was one of boxing's truly hard men. He put everything on the line when he fought at his peak.

[oliverfennell]

Benn like Eubank had an immense fighting heart and appetite for a tear up. An absolute monster in the ring, and one of the most exciting fighters this country has ever produced. Eubank lost it a bit in later years, but right until the end, Benn was still an explosive performer.

Not to split hairs, but I have to disagree with your assessment of their 'end games'. Eubank fought bitterly hard against Thompson in his last two fights, while Benn sat it out against Collins.

I'm not by any means wishing to take anything away from Benn's career by saying that, as he was indeed an explosive and uncommonly brave fighter. Just to say he was like that "right to the end", while Eubank wasn't, is inaccurate. Benn's last two (maybe three) fights were very sad, but at that point he owed us absolutely nothing.

[oliverfennell]

That fight was what got me into boxing.

For me it was Eubank-Benn 1, and although Benn lost, he became my first "favourite boxer". He would be replaced - only just - by the rising Lennox Lewis, but as an early teenager at the time I guess the prospect of a British world heavyweight champion was more seductive.

[Old bones Ian]

I've got a video i found out the other day, its the Benn v Logan fight, but its produced by Benns team, and shows pre fight in the dressing room. the fight, Interviews , and after fight in the dressing room, will have to get it transfered to my comp somehow.

[banjo]

Benn like Eubank had an immense fighting heart and appetite for a tear up. An absolute monster in the ring, and one of the most exciting fighters this country has ever produced. Eubank lost it a bit in later years, but right until the end, Benn was still an explosive performer.

Not to split hairs, but I have to disagree with your assessment of their 'end games'. Eubank fought bitterly hard against Thompson in his last two fights, while Benn sat it out against Collins.

I'm not by any means wishing to take anything away from Benn's career by saying that, as he was indeed an explosive and uncommonly brave fighter. Just to say he was like that "right to the end", while Eubank wasn't, is inaccurate. Benn's last two (maybe three) fights were very sad, but at that point he owed us absolutely nothing.

You are right, my respect for Steve Collins went even higher when he grabbed the mic and put in there place all of those feckers in the crowed who were booing Benns decision to pull out.

Benn simply did not have any more at that stage and I'm sure he has admitted that himself, but an awesome warrior in his prime who deserves a lot of respect.

[Old bones Ian]

Looking at some of Benn's opponents , Michael Chilambe boxed in August last year at cruiserweight, losing over 12 rounds, he's got to be close to 50 years old by now!