BoxRec

please discuss these two matchups......

they both involve Nigel Benn

Jaywheel wrote:they both involve Nigel Benn

I think he's get destroyed against Ward. His wild crosses would have no chance. Ward would let quick straight one twos go and grab a hold before Benn had chance to get through. A very frustrating night for Benn, who might have to go for the body whilst Ward was on the way in to try and unsettle him (obviously this would expose his chin somewhat, but I can't really see many options for Benn here). Very untidy fight.

Would be a great war against Froch. Froch would be a slight favourite for me and would probably get a closish decision in a fight similar to Froch Pascal. Benn would have a chance of putting a hurting on Froch, but he does seem to recover very quickly when rattled.

JDC wrote:I think he's get destroyed against Ward. His wild crosses would have no chance. Ward would let quick straight one twos go and grab a hold before Benn had chance to get through. A very frustrating night for Benn, who might have to go for the body whilst Ward was on the way in to try and unsettle him (obviously this would expose his chin somewhat, but I can't really see many options for Benn here). Very untidy fight.

Would be a great war against Froch. Froch would be a slight favourite for me and would probably get a closish decision in a fight similar to Froch Pascal. Benn would have a chance of putting a hurting on Froch, but he does seem to recover very quickly when rattled.

Completely agree.

JDC wrote:I think he's get destroyed against Ward. His wild crosses would have no chance. Ward would let quick straight one twos go and grab a hold before Benn had chance to get through. A very frustrating night for Benn, who might have to go for the body whilst Ward was on the way in to try and unsettle him (obviously this would expose his chin somewhat, but I can't really see many options for Benn here). Very untidy fight.

Would be a great war against Froch. Froch would be a slight favourite for me and would probably get a closish decision in a fight similar to Froch Pascal. Benn would have a chance of putting a hurting on Froch, but he does seem to recover very quickly when rattled.

I'd disagree. The 1989-90 MW version of Benn was a wild swinger. The 1993-95 version Id favour to beat Ward. Wards punches are predictable to an extent. Benn had a superb bob and weave slipping defence his body attack and power and speed are not something Ward has really come up against in one package. He would also rough Ward up make him fight a pace he isnt used to. I see Benn wearing down Ward and knocking him out in the tenth after a hard fight where Benn has dismantled his foes aura of invincibility.

Against Froch i also think Benn handles him.

^^ Re Benn - Ward, it would certainly be interesting to see who dealt out the most rough stuff.

Ward would dominate Benn. He would work him out and dismantle him after three, awkward messy rounds. Who did Nigel beat with even half of Wards skill in footwork, blocking and punch selection? I am a big fan of Benn having met him at a niteclub but he isn't able to beat Ward

I really struggle to pick between Froch and Benn. In a trilogy Ill favour Froch two to one. I believe Froch has surpassed Benn in terms of accomplishments. Three great fights with Froch boxing sensibly behind the jab in at least one, to take the trilogy.

Ward and Froch would be naturally bigger.

But Nigel is not going to be blown away.

I’d imagine Benn fighting equally with both men for the first half of the fight. His intensity and sheer effort often saw him burn out in fights. But when composed Benn was an accurate puncher.

If he puts 2 or 3 together he could stop either man. He probably wouldn’t…but he has a shot here… And if he sees the final bell his volume of punches would make the decision close either way.

Tomasino wrote:Ward would dominate Benn. He would work him out and dismantle him after three, awkward messy rounds. Who did Nigel beat with even half of Wards skill in footwork, blocking and punch selection? I am a big fan of Benn having met him at a niteclub but he isn't able to beat Ward

I really struggle to pick between Froch and Benn. In a trilogy Ill favour Froch two to one. I believe Froch has surpassed Benn in terms of accomplishments. Three great fights with Froch boxing sensibly behind the jab in at least one, to take the trilogy.

Ward doesnt have the punch or work rate to put a prime benn away. In his prime who "dismantled" benn after 3 rounds? Last time i heard Ward isnt a puncher like mclellan or barkley.
Altho they arent the total package like Ward and thus not in his league , Benn has experience of outboxing awkward boxers like sanderline williams, jorge amparo,Thalani Malinga (1st time)Dewitt, robbie sims, galvano and nardiello and Eubanks in the rematch. Benn could box and he did during his long title reign.Like i say none of these guys were the total package like ward, but in each different case, they had certain qualities which they were very good at. There is no comparison between the 160-168 era Benn plied his craft in 88-95 to the admittedly very tough by todays circumstances era Ward plies his craft in today. Ward beat a very very good guy in Froch, and Kessler , Dawson and Abraham are good but Froch is by far and away the best he beat.

I dont think Ward has ever fought someone with Benns mix of speed, power, ferocity, diversity and workrate. Thats why i pick Benn

Against what quality fighters did Benn show power at 168?
I don't count McClellan here. I think that butt in the ninth determined the outcome of that fight, and McClellan (for reasons we now know, tragically) just took a knee and quit.
I thought Gimenez-Ferrera beat Benn. Wharton also gave him a very tough fight.