BoxRec

Watching the super 6, I keep wondering how both Benn and Eubank would do.

I have to say, I belive they would be in it, but would struggle. There are a lot of styles in the 6, and though I don't believe any of them will be legends in the Ray Leonard category, they're all extrmely strong and sturdy.

I think Eubank's workrate and Benn's chin would've let them down in this tournament.

Eubank's workrate wasn't that shabby. I think he would have made Froch, Kessler (this version of Kessler not the Kessler of a few years ago) and particularly Abraham look pedestrian.

Benn might have struggled more with the strength of Kessler, Froch and Abraham. But I think would have found a way to deal with the Yanks - who I think Eubank would have most trouble with.

But watching them, I think Eubank would have won the Super 6.

A prime Eubank would be right up there, not to sure about Benn.

I think Stevie Collins would have stood a decent chance - great chin and workrate which beats Abraham and Froch imo. I think he would have wore Kessler down aswell forcing a late stoppage. Dirrell and Ward's styles could have been problematic for Collins. I'd fancy him to nick a decision against Dirrell but maybe be outpointed by Ward.

I can only imagine both Eubank and Benn scoring devastating KO`s over Froch. Eubanks big right hand over the top would probably deliver another Jarvis type KO ... and Benn would be catching Froch all night with just about every punch.

The guy who I`d imagine to give them the most trouble would be Dirrel because of his size and style.

Eubank would out slick the 3 Europeans. Benn knocks those 3 out. Everyone beats Green. They'd catch up and KO Dirrell eventually. Ward may outbox Benn and outwork Eubank though

I think Benn would beat Ward, Dirrell, Kessler, Green and Froch - He would have trouble with Abraham, though, who covers up well and counters with very hard punches.

Eubanks, because none of these guys could KO him, I would favour him over all bar Dirrell and Ward and thats purely based on the old cliche 'Styles make fights' - They have the wrong style for him. However, with Chris you never know, a tiring Dirrell could be caught and sparked by Eubanks, for example. Tough, tough man.

bengulnaci1 wrote:I think Benn would beat Ward, Dirrell, Kessler, Green and Froch - He would have trouble with Abraham, though, who covers up well and counters with very hard punches.

Hmmm, a lot would depend on the opponents - Benn wOuld do what he always did, which was to look for an all out war, a real slugfest. I think Froch, Kessler and Abraham all have the power to have hurt him in those circumstances, depending on who got there first...

I couldnt imagine Benn beating Abraham because of his chin.
Eubank would give Froch real problems and Kessler.
i'm a bit unsure of ward and Green though as i'm not sure how good they are yet.
Benn would of sent Dirrell into space lol

Deno1986 wrote:A prime Eubank would be right up there, not to sure about Benn.

I think Stevie Collins would have stood a decent chance - great chin and workrate which beats Abraham and Froch imo. I think he would have wore Kessler down aswell forcing a late stoppage. Dirrell and Ward's styles could have been problematic for Collins. I'd fancy him to nick a decision against Dirrell but maybe be outpointed by Ward.

Steve Collins was very lucky to have got where he did and knew he was in for a serious hiding off JC and duly retired - as for Collins beating Abraham - I do not like Abraham one bit but he must be one of the hardest bastards in boxing today and would have walked through Collins in a war.

Collins would have beaten Dirrell on points? Hahaha! Good one! Tell me, how would have nicked a decision off slickster Dirrell?

One thing about Collins he was ENERGY UNLIMITED he would work non stop.
Maybe Froch should take a look at his fight against Eubank on how to put your foot on the gas

Spiker wrote:One thing about Collins he was ENERGY UNLIMITED he would work non stop.
Maybe Froch should take a look at his fight against Eubank on how to put your foot on the gas

You mean weight drained Eubank who was at the end of his (and Barry Hearns) mad 'world tour' when Collins got him and nearly got knocked out anyway - Eubank went up to cruiserweight shortly after. I think Abraham would be a different proposition to a weight drained, tired Eubank.

If Eubank had got him 2 years earlier - he would have sparked Collins out.

As an aside, I think Joe Calzaghe would have won this tournament.The best super middleweight of the lot.

Jones jr
Toney
Hopkins
McLellan
Eubank
Benn
Michalcheski
Calzaghe

At the right time... what a tournament that would've been.

It's difficult to gauge fighters from different eras, I certainly wouldn't rate the current crop below the 90s pack.

Calzaghe's about the only linking factor, outclassing a game but past it Eubank, then outhustling Kessler by changing tack and gearing up midway through the fight to take it late, Kessler in turn producing the same change required to outhustle Froch. I'd like to think they're all on the same plain.

I wouldn't write Froch, or anyone else in the current crop, off against Benn and Eubank. Benn's obviously a dangerous fight for someone as wide open as Froch, but then he wasn't exactly the sturdiest of fighters, brave to a fault, but certainly no shoo-in for victory over today's pack. Same goes for Eubank although for different reasons. Eubank would've been able to hang with all of them, but I'd have trouble seeing him get the nod vs all, especially the americans.

I actually don't see Kessler's win over Froch as a stepping stone in logic to say Kessler < Calzaghe, therefore Calzaghe > Froch. There's too many variables at play.

stujones wrote:Eubank's workrate wasn't that shabby. I think he would have made Froch, Kessler (this version of Kessler not the Kessler of a few years ago) and particularly Abraham look pedestrian.

Benn might have struggled more with the strength of Kessler, Froch and Abraham. But I think would have found a way to deal with the Yanks - who I think Eubank would have most trouble with.

But watching them, I think Eubank would have won the Super 6.

I think Benn would have found a way to flatten the 3 fighters you mention above, and I base that opinion solely on the reverse he scored against Gerald Mclellan.
Benn was a dangerous mofo at his peak, I don't think any slugger in the world would have beaten him. Michael Watson showed the blue-print, dispatching him with ease over 6 rounds with sublime boxing skills.

Deno1986 wrote:A prime Eubank would be right up there, not to sure about Benn.

i love to see the first few rounds of Benn Eubank I.
Eubank, who since confessed to being scared witless of the man, slipped, bobbed, countered and looked to take the fight to the banger Benn. Just brilliant. Eubank looked so tidy at times in that fight, and he backed up exactly to the letter what he'd do. That's why Eubank ranks in my small group of all time favourites.

NorthEastBoxingFan wrote:

stujones wrote:Eubank's workrate wasn't that shabby. I think he would have made Froch, Kessler (this version of Kessler not the Kessler of a few years ago) and particularly Abraham look pedestrian.

Benn might have struggled more with the strength of Kessler, Froch and Abraham. But I think would have found a way to deal with the Yanks - who I think Eubank would have most trouble with.

But watching them, I think Eubank would have won the Super 6.

I think Benn would have found a way to flatten the 3 fighters you mention above, and I base that opinion solely on the reverse he scored against Gerald Mclellan.
Benn was a dangerous mofo at his peak, I don't think any slugger in the world would have beaten him. Michael Watson showed the blue-print, dispatching him with ease over 6 rounds with sublime boxing skills.

Benn matured a hell of a lot after the Watson bout.That was the blueprint at the time,but he was a completely different,much better fighter 5 years later

I hate the way Benns been painted as just a come forward brawler with a big punch by history.

There was so much more to his game than that.

His work when backed on the ropes was a thing of beauty.

stevieb_8006 wrote:I hate the way Benns been painted as just a come forward brawler with a big punch by history.

There was so much more to his game than that.

His work when backed on the ropes was a thing of beauty.

Agree. The only thing I have against Benn against the current crop is the share strength of the 3 Europeans. Benn wasn't the biggest or strongest Super Middle (could whack, but thats a difference to strength).

Benn boxed superbly in the Eubank rematch, fought a fantastic fight tactically. Made Eubank miss, and Eubank needed to be accurate to be at his game (thats why I am so adamant that a prime Eubank would have beaten Joe). However, Benn was out strengthed at times in that fight.... other monsterous Super Middles like Malinga and Collins (okay, when over the hill) also out strengthed him.

Froch and Kessler, with iron chins, decent stamina and massive advantages in strength would give him problems. Just like how Collins was all wrong for him. Abraham, whilst moving up, seems to be the strongest of the lot - so he would pose problems. However, I do think Benn would be leading in the early stages - would he be able to hold them off.

Eubank would make them look silly as he did Henry Wharton and ROchiagiani. One dimensional fighters was always easy meat for Eubank.

Eubank even made Malinga look silly, though his mind was clearly elsewhere. He made Benn look silly often in the 1st fight. He didn't make Watson look silly, but outboxed him for five rounds in their 1st one in a composed manner. He made Rocchigiani look silly and jabbed, countered and flurried Wharton's head off with perfect timing and perfect accuracy. His ring generalship against Thornton (who gave a peak Toney fits) is the best I've ever seen! His sneak overhand in R7 against Benn (1st fight) the sneakiest right hand power punch I've ever seen thrown.

People grossly underrated the sod's skills.

I think he beats all the guys, having most trouble with Dirrel's movement and Froch's range, though he had very very good movement and great range himself as well as quite abnormal flexibility for a strong muscled guy. That stiff untelegraphed jab when doubled like lightning would be key against Dirrel and Froch, the way he stepped in with it

Even though Dirrel and Froch were taller than Eubank, Eubank had that low leaning defensive stance dipping back so they'd have to step in to get a shot in and we know Eubank could pounce with counters or flurries... it'd be difficult to stand with Froch though because of his height and reach advantage and unorthodox stance and difficult to punch with Dirrel because of his speed and moves... so he wouldn't so much, he definitely has the tools and smarts to get a lead and keep it with both IMO

Yeah made himself look silly at that point, didn't he.

Yep. Some of his stuff in Watson I was incredibly skilful on close inspection, looking back now.

Eubank and Benn - particularly Eubank are 2 of the greatest super middleweights theres ever been - non of the fighters in the super six are legends and i doubt they ever will be.

Not to be harsh but if Benn and Eubank had been in this tournament they would have either retired or permanently injured those fighters. Too much heart, too much power, too much skill, too much stamina.

A real super six would have been Jones, Hopkins, Toney, Calzaghe, Eubank, Benn.

big lennox wrote:As an aside, I think Joe Calzaghe would have won this tournament.The best super middleweight of the lot.

yeah deffo.

reggaereggae wrote:Watching the super 6, I keep wondering how both Benn and Eubank would do.

I have to say, I belive they would be in it, but would struggle. There are a lot of styles in the 6, and though I don't believe any of them will be legends in the Ray Leonard category, they're all extrmely strong and sturdy.

I think Eubank's workrate and Benn's chin would've let them down in this tournament.

yeah it comes down to which eubanks we're talking about. He was a workhorse against benn the first time and in the fights with watson. Even the thompson fights he was a trojan.

Benns chin really wasnt that weak. he would get wobbled but he was always most dangerous when wounded and fought back like a vicious dog.

Tykemania wrote:

bengulnaci1 wrote:I think Benn would beat Ward, Dirrell, Kessler, Green and Froch - He would have trouble with Abraham, though, who covers up well and counters with very hard punches.

Hmmm, a lot would depend on the opponents - Benn wOuld do what he always did, which was to look for an all out war, a real slugfest. I think Froch, Kessler and Abraham all have the power to have hurt him in those circumstances, depending on who got there first...

The benn who was WBC champion and made 8 defences was a polished patient boxer at times. He really started to bob and weave very well and pace himself.