I was watching some classic Nigel Benn on Bravo and Dave Bremmer and Barry McGuigan both spoke of a muted bout between Nigel Benn and Jess Harding (if he didn't get the Eubank rematch). Apparently there was serious talk of Benn stepping up to Light Heavy if he hadn't fought Eubank. Any one remember this talk? Was the ever seriously discussed?
It got me thinking, why didn't a fight with Dennis Andries for the WBC title (when he was champ) never happend. It would have been a good seller and they would have been very interesting bouts. Eubank moulded into a big Super Middle early on in his reign, and I'm sure he would have fancied his chances.
I think it would have been very interesting fights (a little bit similar to the Calzaghe / Woods thing now). Anybody know if Andries vs Eubank or Benn was ever discussed.
Nigel Benn / Chris Eubank / Dennis Andries
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Old bones Ian
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Re: Nigel Benn / Chris Eubank / Dennis Andries
I don't recall an Andries vs Eubank or Benn fight being talked about allthough Benn vs Jeff Harding does sound faintly familuar.stujones wrote:I think it would have been very interesting fights (a little bit similar to the Calzaghe / Woods thing now). Anybody know if Andries vs Eubank or Benn was ever discussed.
I think Eubank at that time could have been very competative at 175lbs and would have given Andries or Harding tough fights. Also a fact worth considering is that their agressive, come forward styles may well have suited the faster Eubanks style of fighting very well.
I'm a big Benn fan but I feel at that stage of his career a move up to 175lbs would have been a very bad idea. Before his lose to Watson, Benn often said if the money was right he could make Light-Middleweight. It took Benn by his own admition a long time to grow into the Super-Middleweight division.
A factor that is not often mentioned about the Benn vs Eubanks fights is that Eubank was the nautrally bigger man. Just look at their bone structure, shoulders, wrists, ankles etc. Benn was not a big 12 stoner.
If Benn had moved up to fight Andries he would be fighting a much bigger stronger man who in the past had fought Heavyweights,
Thinking of a Andries vs Benn fight I cant help thinking of what Andries did to Tony Sibson.
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Old bones Ian
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When Tony Sibson challenged Andries , he was the better boxer, but the size and strength of Andries was just to much for him and he was ground to a total stop. I could have seen the same thing happening to Benn if he had of challenged Andries.Ian 'Mr' McNeilly wrote:True, Joe.
Benn v Andries would have been an utter disaster for Nigel - unless he merely contented himself with boxing on the outside and getting on his bike...something he wasn't the best at.
Eubank would of outboxed Andries, he showed in his fights with Thompson that he had good strength and could take a punch.
I always thought Benn should have stayed as a Middle, as IMO he could have been a more dominate champion in the lower wieght.
But all the money fights for him were at Supermiddle so i can't blame him for moving up
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jamesmcdonnell
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Yes, excellent points here. When Eubank fought Benn, I can always remember thinking 'fornicating hell look at the size of Eubank.' Thing was Eubank wasn't even the biggest at the weight, Steve Collins was even bigger.
Nige was up against it at SM, at LH he would have been in deep shit, Andries was a big LH too, and built like a brick shithouse. Benn would not have been able to budge Andries I don't think, however Andries most definetly would have been able to budge Benn.
Nige was up against it at SM, at LH he would have been in deep shit, Andries was a big LH too, and built like a brick shithouse. Benn would not have been able to budge Andries I don't think, however Andries most definetly would have been able to budge Benn.
Benn and Eubank were of course doing Middleweight "on the day", so when the rules changed they would have had no problem staying at middle weighing in the day before... like James suggests the money fights and opportunities were at 168.
In theory both Benn and Eubank could have finished there careers as middles if they had done a Hopkins.
Andries was an on the day light heavy (15lbs heavier than Eubank or Benn) too big and too strong and too good for Benn and Eubank who whilst talented werent talented enough to give away 15lbs to Andries..... having said that, not many middleweights of the modern era would have a chance against Andries over 15 rounds...... Monzon, Hagler and Hopkins would have had to get on their toes all night
In theory both Benn and Eubank could have finished there careers as middles if they had done a Hopkins.
Andries was an on the day light heavy (15lbs heavier than Eubank or Benn) too big and too strong and too good for Benn and Eubank who whilst talented werent talented enough to give away 15lbs to Andries..... having said that, not many middleweights of the modern era would have a chance against Andries over 15 rounds...... Monzon, Hagler and Hopkins would have had to get on their toes all night
