Nigel Benn & Mexican Roadsweepers

E · Post by E » 30 Nov 2005, 16:16

Do people remember Nigel Benn making a famous statemount about not wanting to fight any more 'Mexican Roadsweepers' - that he wanted to fight decent opponents only.

But FACT (Brent style):

Benn never actually fought a Mexican in his entire career....

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=000739

(Yes, I have too much time on my hands.)

koomey · Post by **koomey** » 30 Nov 2005, 16:21

True, you cannot argue over Benn's record. The fact was he faced anyone and everyone and was not scared to challenge anyone anywhere.

All fighters have to take the usual mandatories (even the roadsweepers) and in Benn's case this was no different.

Benn will always be remebered as one of the British greats...

Koomey

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 30 Nov 2005, 17:44

I agree, even though Benn lost fights he always stepped up to the challenge and fought all comers. That is the type of true British spirit you want to see, all this "Ooh we want an easy one next" or "We are in negotiations" crap all the time gets on my nerves. Like Macarinelli fighting nobodies all the time never going to stepped up, Benn's record puts it all to shame.

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 30 Nov 2005, 17:57

Probably my favourite British fighter of alltime.

Foggy · Post by **Foggy** » 30 Nov 2005, 18:12

Benn = Legend

A true warrior, i think British boxing is missing a guy like Benn today.

Although we have some good boxers now i think we all agree that Boxing in the UK was bigger in Benns era.

Its a shame really because most people like boxing it just takes a big fight for them to take notice.

E · Post by E » 30 Nov 2005, 18:26

Um yes.... I think everyone's missig the point.

Benn is a warrior no doubt, but my point is that Benn was quoted as saying he "didn't want to fight any more Mexican roadsweepers
".....

I thought that given this statement is wa ironic that Benn never fought a Mexican (of any profession, cleaning services or other.)

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 30 Nov 2005, 19:25

E wrote:Um yes.... I think everyone's missig the point.

Benn is a warrior no doubt, but my point is that Benn was quoted as saying he "didn't want to fight any more Mexican roadsweepers
".....

I thought that given this statement is wa ironic that Benn never fought a Mexican (of any profession, cleaning services or other.)

I remember it well, I was in stitches at the time.

neil r · Post by **neil r** » 30 Nov 2005, 20:53

E wrote:Um yes.... I think everyone's missig the point.

Benn is a warrior no doubt, but my point is that Benn was quoted as saying he "didn't want to fight any more Mexican roadsweepers
".....

I thought that given this statement is wa ironic that Benn never fought a Mexican (of any profession, cleaning services or other.)

Are you not getting a little hung up with the semantics of Benns simple little analogy?

Phenomenal-Nutrition · Post by **Phenomenal-Nutrition** » 30 Nov 2005, 21:32

Was pretty young back then - was Benn the main trigge reason for the Benn/Eubank/Watson popularity - he was afterall the middleweight Tyson. Imagine the success he'd have if he'd have fought at 154.

Heres a question if Benn never ducked anyone though. Why no Bomber Grahamn fight?

On the comment - I think he just meant he didn't want to fight tommato cans. Or maybe he thought Mexicans means all Latinos (many Yanks actually do think this) as he fought a few Latinos

Deserter · Post by **Deserter** » 01 Dec 2005, 01:22

neil r wrote:
E wrote:Um yes.... I think everyone's missig the point.

Benn is a warrior no doubt, but my point is that Benn was quoted as saying he "didn't want to fight any more Mexican roadsweepers
".....

I thought that given this statement is wa ironic that Benn never fought a Mexican (of any profession, cleaning services or other.)
Are you not getting a little hung up with the semantics of Benns simple little analogy?

Exactly. He was very clearly using 'Mexican roadsweepers' as a generic term for the poor opponents he'd been facing till that point.

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 01 Dec 2005, 06:41

I reckon Benn was thinking about a notorious night in the early 80's when he said that - going by memory, it was Wembley or Albert Hall. Duff and co brought over a bunch of Mexican opponents for the home boys, and none of these palookas made it out of the first round.
Think it became known as the Night Of The Tijuana Tumblers. Some of the older posters here might remember?

Good old Greg Haugen was always good for a quote too. He foolishly told JC Chavez that he reckoned Julio had beaten nothing but "a bunch of Mexican cab drivers".....of course JC beat the holy crap out of him as a result.

TerribleTerry · Post by **TerribleTerry** » 01 Dec 2005, 08:58

MightyWarrior wrote: Good old Greg Haugen was always good for a quote too. He foolishly told JC Chavez that he reckoned Julio had beaten nothing but "a bunch of Mexican cab drivers".....of course JC beat the holy crap out of him as a result.

I was about to cite the exact same instance before I saw your post MW

Chavez really put on a spiteful beating and I am sure Haugen regretted that statement as he was forced to soak up wave after wave of punishment.

Haugen was 'sacrificed' beofre JC's baying countrymen..

E · Post by E » 01 Dec 2005, 09:02

Deserter wrote:
neil r wrote:
E wrote:Um yes.... I think everyone's missig the point.

Benn is a warrior no doubt, but my point is that Benn was quoted as saying he "didn't want to fight any more Mexican roadsweepers
".....

I thought that given this statement is wa ironic that Benn never fought a Mexican (of any profession, cleaning services or other.)
Are you not getting a little hung up with the semantics of Benns simple little analogy?
Exactly. He was very clearly using 'Mexican roadsweepers' as a generic term for the poor opponents he'd been facing till that point.

Yes I realise that! I was being pedantic in a p1ss-taking way!

I guess the joke flew over several heads, or I am just not verry funny...

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 01 Dec 2005, 09:36

TerribleTerry wrote: I was about to cite the exact same instance before I saw your post MW

Chavez really put on a spiteful beating and I am sure Haugen regretted that statement as he was forced to soak up wave after wave of punishment.

Haugen was 'sacrificed' beofre JC's baying countrymen..

Yeah I think he actualy said a bunch of Tijuana cab drivers. But yes, that was some beating he dished out.
Believe the crowd that night in Mex city was some sort of record too.

Manos de Oro · Post by **Manos de Oro** » 01 Dec 2005, 09:39

TerribleTerry wrote:
MightyWarrior wrote: Good old Greg Haugen was always good for a quote too. He foolishly told JC Chavez that he reckoned Julio had beaten nothing but "a bunch of Mexican cab drivers".....of course JC beat the holy crap out of him as a result.
I was about to cite the exact same instance before I saw your post MW

Chavez really put on a spiteful beating and I am sure Haugen regretted that statement as he was forced to soak up wave after wave of punishment.

Haugen was 'sacrificed' beofre JC's baying countrymen..

Yep, he was also forced to soak up wave after wave of cab driver piss during his ringwalk, IIRC.

That was a good idea - having the ringwalks through the 130,000 strong crowd while playing 'Born in the USA'.

states · Post by **states** » 01 Dec 2005, 10:07

Didn't Haugen say, when questioned about that comment after the fight "They must have some pretty tough Cab drivers down there" or something similar? Or is that something I've just made up?

funso banjo baby · Post by **funso banjo baby** » 02 Dec 2005, 14:40

everyone agrees on Benn...makes a change... theres not even any point being incendiary is there..... BENN IS A LEGEND.

hitman_hatton1 · Post by **hitman_hatton1** » 02 Dec 2005, 15:11

Phenomenal-Nutrition wrote:Heres a question if Benn never ducked anyone though. Why no Bomber Grahamn fight?

cos he would have boxed rings around nige.

probably would have done as well back in the late 80's.

Deserter · Post by **Deserter** » 03 Dec 2005, 09:12

E wrote:
Deserter wrote:
neil r wrote: Are you not getting a little hung up with the semantics of Benns simple little analogy?
Exactly. He was very clearly using 'Mexican roadsweepers' as a generic term for the poor opponents he'd been facing till that point.
Yes I realise that! I was being pedantic in a p1ss-taking way!

I guess the joke flew over several heads, or I am just not verry funny...

Combination of the two mate

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 03 Dec 2005, 09:58

states wrote:Didn't Haugen say, when questioned about that comment after the fight "They must have some pretty tough Cab drivers down there" or something similar? Or is that something I've just made up?

You are right.

Greg did say that after the fight.