What are Your Opinions of the Nigel Benn vs Chris Eubank Rivalry?

[elmersalsa]

What are your opinions or thoughts of the British rivalry between Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank?

Who was the better fighter?

Who achieved more?

Both lost to Steve Collins, also from England, twice.

[JC]

Steve Collins was actually from Ireland.

In terms of the fighters, I think Eubank was the better, more technically sound fighter. Benn achieved more IMO because he was willing to take risks, go fight in America, etc. Also the Michael Watson tragedy had a major psychological impact on Eubank.

In the UK, I think their rivalry was, in a way, like the boxing equivalent of England's Italia '90 run in football. Both made sports that had seemed more old school and workman outside the ring/pitch feel more dramatic. And, for better or worse, set the tone for the future.

Naseem took a lot of the inspiration for his showmanship, ring entrances, arrogant persona etc from Eubank. It created a lot of interest in the sport domestically just as satellite TV came along.

[Ezzard]

Both were top tier fighters.

Benn acheived more.

Eubank was much bigger at the weight and had an iron chin and an indominitable will. But he was often lazy in the ring. My guess is that he had to conserve energy due to the weight cutting.

Eubank's personality meant he really crossed over. Non-boxing fans found him fascinating. He was given a big TV contract as I remember and all he had to do was keep winning and his opponents were selected accordingly. He was lucky with a number of decisions in my opinion.

Still a fantastic fighter.

[BroughtonRulesRefuge]

- Basically oil on water.

Benn the mercurial Thug style and Eubank an infuriating saturating Gentleman style.

Fantastic for Boxing and their careers, especially their pressers...

[Ketchel]

Check this out. Benn v Eubank III. When both trained as gladiators. Fascinating to see the mentality of both these men.

[Noxy]

It was real and real beats manufactured every time. They were both charismatic and entertaining in different ways + being great fighters. It was one of the great rivalries.

[Cojimar 1946]

Both were top tier fighters.

Benn acheived more.

Eubank was much bigger at the weight and had an iron chin and an indominitable will. But he was often lazy in the ring. My guess is that he had to conserve energy due to the weight cutting.

Eubank's personality meant he really crossed over. Non-boxing fans found him fascinating. He was given a big TV contract as I remember and all he had to do was keep winning and his opponents were selected accordingly. He was lucky with a number of decisions in my opinion.

Still a fantastic fighter.

Eubank missed out on some top fighters from his era who likely would have decisively beaten him such as Jones, Toney and McCallum. I don't understand why he gets so much hype.

He's like his eras Jerry Quarry who somehow avoided fighting Frazier Ali and Norton

[Controversial]

Both were top tier fighters.

Benn acheived more.

Eubank was much bigger at the weight and had an iron chin and an indominitable will. But he was often lazy in the ring. My guess is that he had to conserve energy due to the weight cutting.

Eubank's personality meant he really crossed over. Non-boxing fans found him fascinating. He was given a big TV contract as I remember and all he had to do was keep winning and his opponents were selected accordingly. He was lucky with a number of decisions in my opinion.

Still a fantastic fighter.

Eubank missed out on some top fighters from his era who likely would have decisively beaten him such as Jones, Toney and McCallum. I don't understand why he gets so much hype.

He's like his eras Jerry Quarry who somehow avoided fighting Frazier Ali and Norton

Eh? Quarry fought all three

[Controversial]

The rivalry was fun I thought. Eubank did avoid a lot of the main fighters, his WBO title run was on a par with Calzaghe in terms of fighting poorer opponents. He admits he was lucky to get the decision against Schommer, he drew with Ray Close and looked awful against Sherry. But saying that Eubank is the type of fighter that needed the big fights to perform so it was a shame he didn't fight the top guys.



.

[evrenb]

I asked Alexa 'who is the greatest boxer of all time?' ..she said 'I like Chris Eubank'

[Ezzard]

Both were top tier fighters.

Benn acheived more.

Eubank was much bigger at the weight and had an iron chin and an indominitable will. But he was often lazy in the ring. My guess is that he had to conserve energy due to the weight cutting.

Eubank's personality meant he really crossed over. Non-boxing fans found him fascinating. He was given a big TV contract as I remember and all he had to do was keep winning and his opponents were selected accordingly. He was lucky with a number of decisions in my opinion.

Still a fantastic fighter.

Eubank missed out on some top fighters from his era who likely would have decisively beaten him such as Jones, Toney and McCallum. I don't understand why he gets so much hype.

He's like his eras Jerry Quarry who somehow avoided fighting Frazier Ali and Norton

I agree for the most part. But he was a hard man to beat. Benn was sort of made for him and his style. Even so I thought Benn won the rematch. Watson won the first fight too.