19 years ago, Benn V DeWitt

[Old bones Ian]

Christ, how old do i feel now, how can it be 19 years since Benn won his first world title!!

It was a good fight though, Benn came through an early knockdown to beat the tough DeWitt into submission

[chinny]

I can't believe the WBO has been around that long either. I still think of it as a young Johnny come lately organisation (boxing organisation, what a contradiction that is)

[Autobarn]

Benn's WBO middleweight title fights were all against good fighters - DeWitt, Barkley, Eubank.

[banjo]

Benn's WBO middleweight title fights were all against good fighters - DeWitt, Barkley, Eubank.

i loved the Barkley fight that was a mad round while it lasted.

All 3 of those fights were thrillers as well.

I think that was a time when the BBBofC didn't recognise the WBO title as well, how times have changed.

[Counter-puncher]

good old Nigel going overseas and taking the short end of the purse, then bashing up a couple of yanks. brilliant days

[bennie]

A great win for Benn on DeWitt's own New Jersey manor. I'm not sure Ambrose Mendy knew what was really going on over there (he chucked Nigel Wenton in with Sharmba Mitchell on the undercard) and DeWitt had been looking really good in previous fights (Robbie Sims and Matthew Hilton) but Benn had the power to get out of jail when DeWitt dropped him in the early going.
My overrriding memory of the fight is Benn breaking his hand with his finishing punch. If DeWitt had made it up (and he went the full 12 with Tommy Hearns), it could have been interesting. Take nothing away from Benn, though, he gave a fantastic, courageous and winning performance in the States. We cannot say that about many British fighters over there.

[Twinkle Toes]

Probably my favourite Benn fight, if anyone hasn't seen it, I suggest they check it out.

[Old bones Ian]

interesting names on the undercard that day, Lamar Parks he was like Benn a power punching middleweight, alot thought he could go all the way, lost on points to Reggie Johnson in his title shot, then after a few more wins he contracted HIV, no idea if he's dead or alive now.

Also the tragic Robert Wangila won on the undercard, he had a gold medal from 1988 Olympics, but his pro career never lived up to the hype, he died after losing his last fight against David Gonzalez in 1994

Plus Verno Phillips against the unbeaten Kenny Gould, who would of thought that Phillips would go on to be the world champion, he lost against Gould , and his record stood at 8-4 .

[the patriot]

Benn's WBO middleweight title fights were all against good fighters - DeWitt, Barkley, Eubank.

i loved the Barkley fight that was a mad round while it lasted.

That was a great one - I remember Benn hittin Barkley a few times when he was on his knee

Im going to have to dig the dvd out because Im sure the commenator (maybe Reg Gutteridge) made some funny off the cuff remark about it

[bennie]

Benn's WBO middleweight title fights were all against good fighters - DeWitt, Barkley, Eubank.

i loved the Barkley fight that was a mad round while it lasted.

I bet a small fortune on Barkley.

[Old bones Ian]

who was favourite in the Benn v Barkley fight?

[Syntax Error]

This thread is making me nostalgic!!!

Benn was just fantastic & it really rams home how much I miss him.

In fact, the 90s was a really great time to be a British fight fan: Nigel Benn, Chris Eubank, Michael Watson, Prince Naseem Hamed, Herbie Hide, Lennox Lewis, Frank Bruno, Chris Pyatt, Francis Ampofo, Herol Graham, Georgie Smith; I could keep on, but I think you get the message!!!! 8)

[Carbo]

My favourite Benn fight was from a bit later, when I really started to get into boxing. When he went to Italy to fight Galvano (was it Galvano?? Mario Galvano, I think?) Anyway, I remember the TV guys hyping the fight as being a very tough ask for Benn, and I seem to remember Benn being big underdog into the fight, but he just bludgeoned the Italian.

I remember as a 12 or 13 year old being thrilled by the whole thing.

[SticknMove]

A great win for Benn on DeWitt's own New Jersey manor. I'm not sure Ambrose Mendy knew what was really going on over there (he chucked Nigel Wenton in with Sharmba Mitchell on the undercard) and DeWitt had been looking really good in previous fights (Robbie Sims and Matthew Hilton) but Benn had the power to get out of jail when DeWitt dropped him in the early going.
My overrriding memory of the fight is Benn breaking his hand with his finishing punch. If DeWitt had made it up (and he went the full 12 with Tommy Hearns), it could have been interesting. Take nothing away from Benn, though, he gave a fantastic, courageous and winning performance in the States. We cannot say that about many British fighters over there.

Benn was always that type of character bennie. What you saw is what he really was - an all or nothing fighter. His all was way too much for many many fighters and his vulnerabilities are there for all to see also.

I trained with him about 3 or 4 fights into his pro career up until he lost against Watson. Mendy had been sniffing around for a while before that and eventually got him. Benn, from memory, appeared to be itching to get away especially after the Watson fight and Mendy provided the conduit (even though he was blagging it along the way).

[bennie]

who was favourite in the Benn v Barkley fight?

I think that the odds were generous on a Barkley win and it turned out that the bookies knew he was dead at the weight. Barkley later moved up to super-middleweight and light-heavyweight with great success (even beating Hearns again).
It proved some consolation.