BoxRec

I never realised / remembered that benn was 6/1 to beat collins in their first encounter. I was only 14 when the fight happened, so its not something i would ever have known. But 6/1 seems crazy, although in hindsight was obviously deserved. Still, surely at the time i wouldve imagined a lot wouldve backed nigel to roll back the years?

Some of the more "experienced" (old) posters, was benn really that much of an outsider to you guys before the first bell?

Benn had looked washed up in his last fight v Malinga, and not suprisingly, it was thought he'd left his best far behind in the GMan fight - the type of fight that would finish 99% of boxers.
Meanwhile Steve was on a roll, and seeing as Benn's main chance would be to knock out Collins, rather than out box him, the fact that Steve had an iron chin pretty much reflected Benn's chances - no chance.

best odds in a fight 5/6 Winky Wright to beat Ensley Bingham. I can't remember what odds Sergio Martinez was to beat both Richard Williams and Adrian Stone but he was definitely bigger than evens. Hindsight .....

I remember benn being underdog, but just surprised at 6/1 - but then I don't remember benn being that shot, and without the internet forums we have now I guess it was harderr to gauge opinion. Interesting tho - that's how u saw it at time MW? Was that feeling accross board in mags and that? Mustve been for bookies to see it like that I guess.

Carlos Baldomir was more than evens to beat Arturo Gatti too.

ptwbuk wrote:best odds in a fight 5/6 Winky Wright to beat Ensley Bingham. I can't remember what odds Sergio Martinez was to beat both Richard Williams and Adrian Stone but he was definitely bigger than evens. Hindsight .....

Best odds were Winky to beat Trinidad at 3's and Mosely at about the same.The Clarissa Shields odds must be the best ever on Boxrec. Lomenchenko was buying money at 8/11 and Haye an absolute steal at 4/9 when the Chisora market opened.

Nigel had been really shaken up by Perez the night Bruno won the title. Then he lost to Malinga in miserable fashion and announced his retirement.

Benn certainly seemed on the way out, although for me he was putting in a fine effort against Collins before the ankle injury. He certainly seemed a lot more up for the battle than in the rematch.

One of my abiding memories of boxing in the 90's was in the rematch when Benn caught Collins flush with this most telegraphed swing and it just bounced of the Celtic Warrior.

I think Benn gets a somewhat disservice for his fights with Collins, particularly the rematch. I think any fight that was left in Benn was probably knocked out of him in the first fight and in the preperation for the second - but he did give it an effort. I remember when the corner were threatening to pull him out he did go for one last hurrah and probably had the best round of the contest.

I think the corner were more worried about Nigel's health and the beatings he had taken in his career than Nigel was. Any sign of trouble and Benn was going to be pulled out. Nigel, possibly given his milatary background, wasn't the type to answer back and disobey his trainer.

I worked in betting shops in the 80s - the manager of one I worked in, in the West End, said one of the Petronellis came in to his shops and had $10,000 on Hagler to beat Minter at Even money. History now tells us that was good value. I wonder how the fight was seen at the time in terms of competitiveness?

Benn was finished when he fought Collins. He was finished the night he beat G-Man.

Still, 6/1 is quite big given how popular he was.

levi billups wrote:I worked in betting shops in the 80s - the manager of one I worked in, in the West End, said one of the Petronellis came in to his shops and had $10,000 on Hagler to beat Minter at Even money. History now tells us that was good value. I wonder how the fight was seen at the time in terms of competitiveness?

Read a contemporary article on it and it says Minter was the favourite and was fancied to come on late against a fading Hagler. Will try and find it, a fascinating read

I believe Hopkins was around 6/1 to beat Tito aswel.

Wales wrote:I believe Hopkins was around 6/1 to beat Tito aswel.

I picked that all the way...Never put money on it though

Wales wrote:I remember benn being underdog, but just surprised at 6/1 - but then I don't remember benn being that shot, and without the internet forums we have now I guess it was harderr to gauge opinion. Interesting tho - that's how u saw it at time MW? Was that feeling accross board in mags and that? Mustve been for bookies to see it like that I guess.

6/1 does seem steep, but for a past it Benn to have beaten Collins, at the time, would have been seen as a very big upset, so bookies reflected that I guess. I didn't give Benn much of a chance, because with Steve having such a good chin, you couldn't even give him a punchers chance.
( saying that, I didn't give Benn any chance against McClellan either )

To be fair, whilst we already knew Collins' chin was sound, it could be argued that he hadn't faced a puncher quite on Benn's level yet. I remember going for Benn in both fights cause the odds were tasty - my feeling was if Eubank could floor him, then Benn could KO him.

However, Collins was yet again inspired that night and looked a monster at the weight. Those that quickly dismiss Collins's chances against a prime Eubank, Benn, Calzaghe etc need to watch these fights again.... I can see why he might start as underdog in those mythical matches, but he shouldn't be dismissed.

I was very nervous for Benn going into both of these fights because I felt he was severly battle worn by his long career and McCllennan fight, and I knew how tough Collins was. I was glad when his corner pulled him out in the rematch because I didn't want to see him get stopped. Collins would have been a tough nights work for anyone, and I don't think it is his fault that he took Benn on at the tail end of his career as I suspect he would have gone in with him at any point, although I think a prime Benn would have edged it.

Froch vs Collins would be a dream fight for me.Both tough and Collins could set a hell of a pace but Froch has some very good skills.

I remember at the time thinking Benn had no chance, he was miles past his best by then and didnt seem that up for it.

For the record, i would take Bomber, Benn, Eubank, Watson, Woodhall, Calzaghe and Frotch to make utter mincemeat of Collins at their peaks.

Most overated fighter of the 90s, Steve Collins.






Holyfield was 25-1 at one point for the 1st Tyson fight. Loads of people make a killing on that.

Khaosai-Galaxy wrote:I remember at the time thinking Benn had no chance, he was miles past his best by then and didnt seem that up for it.

For the record, i would take Bomber, Benn, Eubank, Watson, Woodhall, Calzaghe and Frotch to make utter mincemeat of Collins at their peaks.

Most overated fighter of the 90s, Steve Collins.






Holyfield was 25-1 at one point for the 1st Tyson fight. Loads of people make a killing on that.

When was Eubank's peak before the second Watson fight? Or was it even before that - given that before the second Watson fight he essentially lost to Watson and didn't look great against the likes of Stretch, Dan Sherry etc. Was Eubank's peak just that one night against Benn?

I aint sure how much passed his prime he was in 1995.

Woodhall? When was his peak, as a Middleweight? getting stopped by Keith Holmes? or was it during his super middleweight reign where he essentially lost to Catley and got floored by Nardiello.

Hopkins has long been massively underestimated by the bookies. He was 4/1 to beat Pavlik remarkably despite the fact that he'd just pushed Calzaghe very close and Pavlik was going up hugely in weight.

Just so people know, Collins didn't come down from Mars the night he beat Eubank. He had done much better against McCallum than Watson did, and was really unlucky not to get the Reggie Johnson decision. The Kalamaby result knocked him back, but he wasn't the Irish bum he is pained as being on here sometimes

thepocketrocket wrote:Just so people know, Collins didn't come down from Mars the night he beat Eubank. He had done much better against McCallum than Watson did, and was really unlucky not to get the Reggie Johnson decision. The Kalamaby result knocked him back, but he wasn't the Irish bum he is pained as being on here sometimes

I agree. Collins had pedigree. I very tough man with good,solid boxing skills. A nightmare for any super middleweight.

big lennox wrote:

thepocketrocket wrote:Just so people know, Collins didn't come down from Mars the night he beat Eubank. He had done much better against McCallum than Watson did, and was really unlucky not to get the Reggie Johnson decision. The Kalamaby result knocked him back, but he wasn't the Irish bum he is pained as being on here sometimes

I agree. Collins had pedigree. I very tough man with good,solid boxing skills. A nightmare for any super middleweight.

Exactly Lennox. He was actually really gutted that Benn came over because Benn took the shots that he was down to have. I see Collins beating De Witt and Barkley as well

levi billups wrote:I worked in betting shops in the 80s - the manager of one I worked in, in the West End, said one of the Petronellis came in to his shops and had $10,000 on Hagler to beat Minter at Even money. History now tells us that was good value. I wonder how the fight was seen at the time in terms of competitiveness?

BN went with Minter.

Collins seemed to retire very suddenly. What were the circumstances around that? Was it a medical issue?

revporl wrote:Collins seemed to retire very suddenly. What were the circumstances around that? Was it a medical issue?

Got sparked out by Howard Eastman in sparring and knew he was done at the top level.