Nigel Benn V Sakio Bika

[jamesmcdonnell]

When did froch ever not fancy a fight?

Too big. Too strong. Too long. People forget that Benn and eubank (god bless them) we're basically world-class domestics. At no point could any of them really claim to be the best in Britain, let alone the world. (Both avoided Graham, Watson bested both in reality, Collins in their winter years). Carl mixed it with the best of the best (of his day) and more times than not came out on top. At no stage could they be considered in the best two of their division. Remember guys like Toney, rjj, Nunn, McCallum, I could list a host and other's if I wasn't pissed. they are both my favourites but they are overrated and romanticized because of the rivalry.

If Froch had been active during the time of Toney, Jones jnr, McCallum etc. he too would have not being considered the best. The best of Froch day was not as good as the best from Benn and Eubanks day.

The difference being that he fought everyone he could realistically could have done. The only fight could have been made was Calzaghe, but Joe considered Froch beneath him, I'd have expected Joe to win, but it's not really Carl's fault that fight didn't materialise.

Benn and Eubank unfortunately didn't.

I'd have given Eubank a very good chance against Carl, he was a cagey sod, and tough as they come, Benn I think would have been ground down, unless he managed to get Carl early in the fight.,

[Controversial]

Not exactly sure how old Froch would have been during Benn's pomp but I’d fancy Benn.

Benn retired in 1996 aged 32, Froch didn't make his debut until 2002 aged 24 so miles apart. Froch too big for Benn in my opinion., Benn was really a MW whose power didn't really carry up to SMW. He had to adjust his style at SMW at not be so gun-ho and box more. Froch was a big SMW and would have enjoyed height and reach advatanges. I think he would have been too strong for Benn and stopped him in the middle rounds.

Benn is 55 now, all this talk of a comeback is ridiculous, there's one thing being fit but he won't have the same ability he had 25+ years ago, he was on the slide when he retired.

[Grilling Machine]

As mentioned, Benn, Eubank, Watson, Graham and Collins fought in an era with McCallum, Kalambay, Nunn, Jones, Toney, Hopkins, McClellan... Whereas Froch, though bigger, missed out on Calzaghe and lost to Ward. Taylor was post-Pav, leaving Kessler and Groves as his best wins.

[Controversial]

As mentioned, Benn, Eubank, Watson, Graham and Collins fought in an era with McCallum, Kalambay, Nunn, Jones, Toney, Hopkins, McClellan... Whereas Froch, though bigger, missed out on Calzaghe and lost to Ward. Taylor was post-Pav, leaving Kessler and Groves as his best wins.

But how many of those big names in Benn's era did Eubank or Benn fight? Benn lost to Eubank, Watson and Collins so only beat McClellan. The best fighters of that era were Jones and Toney and they didn't fight them.

Froch had probably one of the toughest runs of any British fighter in recent times, Pascal, Taylor, Dirrell, Kessler, Abraham, Johnson, Ward and then Bute. A few of those were undefeated and Taylor, Kessler and Ward he fought them on their own ground. A very strong resume, tougher than Benn's and Calzaghe in my opinion plus he avenged the loss to Kessler too. Froch's only unavenged loss is to Ward which is no shame.

[polecateddy]

It’s a bit of a circular argument. The best anyone can really say is Benn and Eubank were very decent in their era, but not the best. Neither wanted to fight James Toney, which I think is fair enough. I don’t think Froch would have beaten Toney either. Similarly, Froch was very decent in his era but not the best. And although Andre Ward is one of the best ever Super Middles, I think American opposition in Froch’s era wasn’t as formidable.

[Grilling Machine]

But how many of those big names in Benn's era did Eubank or Benn fight? Benn lost to Eubank, Watson and Collins so only beat McClellan. The best fighters of that era were Jones and Toney and they didn't fight them.

Froch beat Bute and lost to Ward, while Benn beat both Barkley and McClellan. Eubank beat Benn (once!), who went on to lose to Calzaghe. Froch and he never met. So I think it's all fairly comparable: Benn and Eubank didn't fight a host of the best in their day, while Froch did and lost a couple. Collins also lost to Kalambay and McCallum and later beat the faded Benn, following a good win against Eubank in their first fight.

Not to make excuses for Eubank, but he was tight at SM when Collins was tight at middle. Collins was a great fighter, though, and I'd fancy him to have beaten Froch in their primes.

Froch had probably one of the toughest runs of any British fighter in recent times, Pascal, Taylor, Dirrell, Kessler, Abraham, Johnson, Ward and then Bute. A few of those were undefeated and Taylor, Kessler and Ward he fought them on their own ground. A very strong resume, tougher than Benn's and Calzaghe in my opinion plus he avenged the loss to Kessler too. Froch's only unavenged loss is to Ward which is no shame.

Taylor wasn't the same after his losses to Pavlik, and Bute's debatable in terms of how good he was. He's Froch's Lacy equivalent. Abraham was a bit small and Johnson more than a bit old, while Kessler was on Froch's level despite fading a little since his peak against Calzaghe. I wouldn't put Pascal and Dirrell in this convo any more than Rocchigiani, Wharton and Close.

[MasterG]

When did froch ever not fancy a fight?

Too big. Too strong. Too long. People forget that Benn and eubank (god bless them) we're basically world-class domestics. At no point could any of them really claim to be the best in Britain, let alone the world. (Both avoided Graham, Watson bested both in reality, Collins in their winter years). Carl mixed it with the best of the best (of his day) and more times than not came out on top. At no stage could they be considered in the best two of their division. Remember guys like Toney, rjj, Nunn, McCallum, I could list a host and other's if I wasn't pissed. they are both my favourites but they are overrated and romanticized because of the rivalry.

If Froch had been active during the time of Toney, Jones jnr, McCallum etc. he too would have not being considered the best. The best of Froch day was not as good as the best from Benn and Eubanks day.

Froch would have only made British title if he had been around in those days, but saying that he might have only been area level if he had come across Herol Graham. Froch was very lucky to be champion when there was a drought on.

[chiggsy]

I think Benn at middleweight was wolf class.

Not as effective at SM. Hope he doesn’t fight again he’s fit for his age but looks slow and old compared to a prime boxer.

Benn was better than wolf class, he was snow leopard class at the very least.

[Steveh583]

If Froch had been active during the time of Toney, Jones jnr, McCallum etc. he too would have not being considered the best. The best of Froch day was not as good as the best from Benn and Eubanks day.

The difference being that he fought everyone he could realistically could have done. The only fight could have been made was Calzaghe, but Joe considered Froch beneath him, I'd have expected Joe to win, but it's not really Carl's fault that fight didn't materialise.

Benn and Eubank unfortunately didn't.

I'd have given Eubank a very good chance against Carl, he was a cagey sod, and tough as they come, Benn I think would have been ground down, unless he managed to get Carl early in the fight.,

basically what I was going to type. Tho I think Carl would have taken advantage of the many breaks Eubank used to take mid fight and outwork him

[Steveh583]

So ultimately, say what you want, but Carl fought everyone he could. There can be no doubting his grit or bottle whatsoever

[polecateddy]

They all had the grit, no doubt about that. Nigel was basically being sent out to be a sacrificial lamb against Gerald McClellan, and had to withstand a nuclear attack in that first round. Chris Eubank never gets a huge amount of credit for beating the late Graciano Rocchigiani in Berlin, where usually it was home town decision city. They did all that and a lot more. All three of them were exceptional British fighters.

[Steveh583]

They all had the grit, no doubt about that. Nigel was basically being sent out to be a sacrificial lamb against Gerald McClellan, and had to withstand a nuclear attack in that first round. Chris Eubank never gets a huge amount of credit for beating the late Graciano Rocchigiani in Berlin, where usually it was home town decision city. They did all that and a lot more. All three of them were exceptional British fighters.

Agreed. Eubank is frochs fav fighter isn't he? Froch benefitted from having the super six.

[keithmoonhangover]

Will he stay off the little fellas this time?

[banjo]

If I remember rightly Benn wasn't against fighting Toney or Jones Jr. it was more to do with whether he'd get the money he wanted for fighting them, I'm sure he said something along the lines of "if they want me to put my title on the line against Jones then they better pay me a lot of money for it"

[samwbr]

Will he stay off the little fellas this time?

I've had the misfortune to hear Benn DJ, fornicating useless embarrassing moron.

[rubberneck]

Benn would never get a License to box under BBBOC rules. Who was the oldest fighter to fight in the UK under BBBOC rules? Terry Dunstan?

Carlilse’s Wayne Shepherd (older brother of Charlie) had his last bbboc fight at 44.

[Syntax Error]

Not this shyte from Benn again?

Every few years, he announces he's back; he releases a short clip of him hitting pads and bags which is completely meaningless, as bags and pads don't hit you back and any able bodied person can look good on them.

He announces that he's ready to fight; moans about Chris Eubank ducking him, despite the fact that Eubank has been retired for 21 years, then never actually fights anyone.

It's all well and good embarrassing himself, but why try and drag his old nemeses from 25 - 30 years ago back into the mire?

If he is so confident about being back, do what Foreman did and relaunch himself and work his way back to the top, although, to be fair, Foreman wasn't 98 years old like Benn is.

No self respecting promoter is going to try and put on bouts between pre geriatric fighters that haven't been in their primes in almost 30 years.

[Coco]

Benn would never get a License to box under BBBOC rules. Who was the oldest fighter to fight in the UK under BBBOC rules? Terry Dunstan?

Carlilse’s Wayne Shepherd (older brother of Charlie) had his last bbboc fight at 44.

Getting relicensed or a new licence is a different job to renewing it each year

[Coco]

No self respecting promoter is going to try and put on bouts between pre geriatric fighters that haven't been in their primes in almost 30 years.

I bet Eddie Hearn would

[banjo]

Someone put on Jeff Fenech v Azumah Nelson III well after both had retired.

[bigjack]

No self respecting promoter is going to try and put on bouts between pre geriatric fighters that haven't been in their primes in almost 30 years.

I bet Eddie Hearn would

I can see it now,'Unfinished business,Big Benn strikes again',i believe Fast car is taking over 100,000 tonnes of sand to sell to the Arabs in December

[jamesmcdonnell]

If I remember rightly Benn wasn't against fighting Toney or Jones Jr. it was more to do with whether he'd get the money he wanted for fighting them, I'm sure he said something along the lines of "if they want me to put my title on the line against Jones then they better pay me a lot of money for it"

Hmmm. In other words, he didn't really fancy it.

[Noxy]

Who remembers that Jonathan Ross show. Toney was a cheeky guy. My favourite part was Eubank‘s reaction to his irreverence.

[bigjack]

Who remembers that Jonathan Ross show. Toney was a cheeky guy. My favourite part was Eubank‘s reaction to his irreverence.

I do,great viewing

[Syntax Error]

Who remembers that Jonathan Ross show. Toney was a cheeky guy. My favourite part was Eubank‘s reaction to his irreverence.

Yes, I remember that well.

Toney was giving it attitude and Eubank was most offended.