Hall Of Fame Nominee: Nigel Benn

[WelshDevilRob]

Nigel Benn

 

http://www.livefight.com/images/pages/1263813305nigel_benn_2.jpg

 

Boxing record

Total fights 48

Wins 42

Wins by KO 35

Losses 5

Draws 1

 

Nigel Benn (born January 22, 1964), known as "The Dark Destroyer", is a British former boxer who held world titles at both Middleweight and Super Middleweight. He was in the British Army, where he served in The Troubles for 18 months. He attended Loxford School of Science and Technology, Ilford, Greater London. Now he lives in Mallorca, Spain with his family.

 

Early boxing career

 

Benn comes from a sporting family that includes a famous cousin in the football world, Paul Ince, who would often accompany Benn to the ring for his UK fights. Benn had a record of 41 wins and 1 loss as an amateur boxer. He turned professional in 1987 with a win over Graeme Ahmed in Croydon. This win began a streak of 22 consecutive knockout wins for Benn. The streak extended until 1989. During this time Benn's accomplishments included beating Fermin Chirino and Anthony Logan, winning the British commonwealth middleweight title with a win over Abdul Umaru, and retaining it against David Noel, brother of former world lightweight champion Claude Noel.

 

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In 1989 Benn fought Michael Watson and lost by a sixth-round knockout. His next fight, against Jorge Amparo in Atlantic City, U.S., was his first fight abroad and also the first to last the full distance, Benn eventually winning a 10 round decision.

 

First championship

 

After two more wins against Sanderline Williams and Jose Quinones, Benn fought WBO Middleweight Champion Doug DeWitt of the USA in Atlantic City. Benn was knocked down in Round 2, but came back to knock DeWitt down in Round 3, then score three knockdowns in Round 8 to win the title.

 

 

His first defence came against former WBC Champion Iran Barkley on August 18, 1990, whom he floored 3 times and stopped in the first round of an exciting brawl. Benn returned to the UK and met British rival Chris Eubank. They fought in Birmingham on November 18, 1990. Benn lost his title to Eubank when the referee stopped the fight in the ninth round.

 

Second championship

 

Benn then went on a winning streak of 6 fights leading up to his next World Title challenge. In 1991, he beat Marvin Hagler's half brother, Robbie Sims, by a knockout in round seven, followed by wins over future world champion Thulani Malinga and contender Dan Sherry.

 

On October 10, 1992, Benn fought Mauro Galvano for Galvano's World Boxing Council super middleweight title. He won the bout and the title by forth-round TKO. He defended it three times, against fellow Britons Nicky Piper and Lou Gent, and a rematch victory over Mauro Galvano before meeting rival Chris Eubank (who was now the WBO World Super Middleweight Champion) again on October 9, 1993. This time they fought to a draw, both fighters retaining their respective titles.

 

http://officialbenn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/box_g_eubank_benn1_576.jpg

 

Benn defended his title twice more against iron chinned fellow Briton Henry Wharton and Juan Carlos Giminez Ferreyra before defending it against middleweight champion Gerald McClellan in February 1995. Most American experts gave Benn little chance. In an exciting fight Benn was knocked through the ropes in the first round and was knocked down again in the eighth round, however Benn managed to work his way back into the fight and was able to stop McClellan in the tenth round. At the time of the stoppage, two judges had McClellan ahead and one had the fight even.

 

Unfortunately, however, McClellan was severely injured as a result of the fight. After collapsing in his corner after the fight had finished, McClellan was rushed to hospital where it was discovered he had developed a blood clot on the brain. To this day McClellan is almost completely blind, partially deaf, and uses a wheelchair, although he has regained some movement and can walk with a cane. In 2007, McClellan, his wife and children attended a benefit dinner organized and hosted by Benn to help McClellan with his ongoing medical expenses.

 

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Two more defences followed against future World Champion Vincenzo Nardiello and American Danny Perez before Benn lost his title with an uncharacteristically lacklustre performance to Thulani Malinga in 1996. Benn twice attempted to take the WBO super middleweight title from Steve Collins but failed in both attempts: losing by TKO in four in the first fight, his usual mobility hampered by an ankle injury. He retired following the second loss to Collins in 1996, retiring on his stool at the end of the sixth-round.

 

Retirement

 

Nigel Benn retired from the sport of boxing and became a DJ, He later appeared in the first series of the ITV reality TV show I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!.

 

Benn has since developed a strong faith and now lives with his family on the Spanish island of Mallorca, where he is a born again Christian. He also became an ordained minister.

 

Benn's autobiography, published in 2001, is called Dark Destroyer.

 

Benn is also featured in the documentary film "Fallen Soldier", directed by Bobby Razak, which examines his bout with McClellan.[2]

 

Nigel is also a Patron of The Shannon Bradshaw Trust, a UK Children's Charity based in the North West, helping children with life threatening conditions and their families. http://www.shannonstrust.org.uk

 

Professional career summary

 

Nigel Benn has a record of 42 wins, 5 losses and 1 draw, with 35 wins by way of a knockout as a professional boxer.

 

Source: wikipedia

[WelshDevilRob]

Nominated by ucgdcxw

 

Nigel Benn

 

"How about Nigel Benn for the HOF. Two time world champion and defended the WBC super middleweight title 9 times (not too many UK fighters have made that many defences). Fought the likes of Watson, Dewitt, Barkley, Eubank, Collins, McClellan (the best fight I've ever seen live on TV) and always gave value for money."

[WelshDevilRob]

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[gavpowell]

The trouble with Benn is his best win is probably Mclellan and Mclellan has been elevated somewhat by the tragedy of his life.

 

Benn has a surprisingly good career for a guy who lost to Eubank(who again, was hardly exceptional) but I don't think it's enough for all-time great status. Certainly one of the best British fighters of all time though.

[davemurphy]

Wow, I can go either way on this one, but I think at least one more win on the elite level was required. If he just hadn't come up short in the four fights with Eubank and Collins!!! I'm going to have to go a VERY borderline No, but have no complains if he gets in.

[Dallen]

Its a no vote for me,apart from McClellan fight which was his best win.He lost to the likes of Eubanks,Watson,Collins,so HOF no.

[RAZZ-MCFC]

Voted no. Same reasons as everybody else, there isn't enough, if any elite names on his record.

[McBride]

Yes for me, for the reasons given by ucdxzfk, or whatever his name is. Never the most gifted fighter but went in to have a fight, and gave great value for money. A much better Gatti.

[WelshDevilRob]

Benn is a definite Yes for me.

 

I don't even take notice of the Collins defeats as that was at the end and he was clearly a pretty spent fighter. Collins came along and capitalised.

 

As a fighter he was entertaining and he took on alot of challenges. He wasn't afraid to travel inorder to fight for the World titles and spent time in the US while also winning in Italy.

 

He was taught a lesson by Michael Watson and one that he learn't from. Eubank beat him in their 1st fight but I scored the rematch to Benn.

 

The McClellan fight is seen as the highlight and it was a tremendous, savage war or power and attrition that Benn came out on top. The fight took alot out of him and his career slowly faded.

 

I think he ticks enough boxes to qualify and he gets my vote. Two weight Champion, numerous defences, in FOTY, travelled, fought top opposition, entertained and possessed a wide range of skills (often underated skills).

[Sheils]

I've got to give him the nod with a 'yes'. He was an exciting fighter and I think if he had just won the McClellan fight and there hadn't been the tragic outcome I think he would have consolidated his position.

 

OK, so he wan't the 'best', but he was high enough up there.

[Siren1927]

It should be a no but I voted yes simply for his personal impact on my love of boxing.

[DemolitionDan]

He's borderline, but, eh, I think he deserves to get in. Great fighter, probably needed a couple of more signature wins to really put a stamp on it. Lost to Watson and Eubank, but beat Barkley and McClellan. He held a couple of world title belts and defended them. So, yeah, he gets a yes from me.

[Crusader]

My vote is yes. I have already written, but the personal opinion is made not only result and palmares.

When a boxer unleashes a desire to take the plane, make a crazy two days, sleeping at the airport and be 4000 km which means something special and the Dark destroyer for me is this type of fighter

[smokin]

benn for me is a yes , his best obviously had a sad ending but it was a remarkable performance when you consider the G-man was such a hot favourite on both sides of the pond and was being heralded as the one man that could beat roy jones at the time. some of benn's other wins were very good too

[Yiddle]

A very much underrated fighter in my view, Benn took his lumps and learnt his lessons and came again stronger and more determined

[Donkeywater]

I suspect like many people on here, I was a big fan of Nigel Benn. A tremedous warrior who gave us some memorable nights... and chalked up some big wins! He had a remarkable career and achieved a hell of a lot. But was he a great fighter? Honestly, I have to say no. Yes, he captured titles in two different weight classes but we are talking about portions of the world title. It's not like he unified his division and he was never considered the number 1 fighter at 160/168. Pains me to say it, but I don't think Benn should get a pass.

[davemurphy]

Donkeywater-

That's the tough thing about these Hall of Fame questions here. Your a big fan of somebody like Nigel Benn and he's been retired for some years now, but when you make an honest assessment and end up on the short end of things, you still feel like you've kind of run a knife through his heart after the fact.

[WelshDevilRob]

You heartless lot!

 

How can you vote No against Nigel Benn. All the greats lost fights - Robinson, Ali etc and while many aren't upto their standard, I don't view the Hall Of Fame as a Legends only club.

 

Even Arturo Gatti was doing better in the vote than Benn and Benn was alot better than someone like Gatti.

[telboy66]

It's a yes from me ,Benn carried his courage & never quit attitude into every fight he had some good wins across the pond never easy, who can forget his war with "The blade " Iran Barkley.There will be less deserving boxers slip under the wire before our hall of fame is complete

[gavpowell]

Even Arturo Gatti was doing better in the vote than Benn and Benn was alot better than someone like Gatti.

 

Benn's not dead, nor was he the big-hearted loser generally.People find it easier to get sentimental about Gatti.

[londoner]

It's a yes from me.

 

The first thing i rate a boxer on is his record. First and foremost. OK, for a boxer to be great he also needs to BEAT many of those boxers otherwise he is a "very competent journeyman". Benn did beat a lot of great boxers although he did also have his fair share of losses.

 

In his career he fought a great selection of World class boxers: Eubank (twice), Collins (twice), Watson, McClellan, Thulani Malinga (twice), Iran Barkley, Doug DeWitt.

 

Three of his losses came in his last three fights against World class opposition and only a year after his fight against Gerald McClellan. I think the latter fight took the warrior out of him as it does to many fighters. Plenty of fighters who have fought in fights which end in tragic circumstances talk about wanting to retire etc.

 

He became Commonwealth and WBO middleweight champion and then WBC super middleweight champion.

 

His win against Gerald McClellan must be analysed to show how big of a win it was. McClellan was a p4p elite fighter. He was a KO punching machine. His record was 31-2-0 (29 KOs) and he had wins over Julian Jackson (KO 1 and TKO 5), John Mugabi (TKO 1) and he even stopped Gilbert Baptist in one round (Baptist had only been stopped once before in 16 losses). The two losses had come 6 years before in the early days of his career.

 

McClellan was the favourite to win that fight and it was evident after just a matter of minutes as he knocked Benn out of the ring in round 1.

 

Benn's win over McClellan ranks up there with the greatest boxing wins. The ending is a damn shame as McClellan had so much to offer boxing (and his family) but boxing can be a cruel sport.

[londoner]

Basically to follow on from what i wrote above, Benn beating McClellan is the equivalent of say Ricky Hatton beating Manny Pacquiao or Darren Barker beating Sergio Martinez. It was a foregone conclusion that McClellan would win.

[Crusader]

It's a yes from me.

 

The first thing i rate a boxer on is his record. First and foremost. OK, for a boxer to be great he also needs to BEAT many of those boxers otherwise he is a "very competent journeyman". Benn did beat a lot of great boxers although he did also have his fair share of losses.

 

In his career he fought a great selection of World class boxers: Eubank (twice), Collins (twice), Watson, McClellan, Thulani Malinga (twice), Iran Barkley, Doug DeWitt.

 

Three of his losses came in his last three fights against World class opposition and only a year after his fight against Gerald McClellan. I think the latter fight took the warrior out of him as it does to many fighters. Plenty of fighters who have fought in fights which end in tragic circumstances talk about wanting to retire etc.

 

He became Commonwealth and WBO middleweight champion and then WBC super middleweight champion.

 

His win against Gerald McClellan must be analysed to show how big of a win it was. McClellan was a p4p elite fighter. He was a KO punching machine. His record was 31-2-0 (29 KOs) and he had wins over Julian Jackson (KO 1 and TKO 5), John Mugabi (TKO 1) and he even stopped Gilbert Baptist in one round (Baptist had only been stopped once before in 16 losses). The two losses had come 6 years before in the early days of his career.

 

McClellan was the favourite to win that fight and it was evident after just a matter of minutes as he knocked Benn out of the ring in round 1.

 

Benn's win over McClellan ranks up there with the greatest boxing wins. The ending is a damn shame as McClellan had so much to offer boxing (and his family) but boxing can be a cruel sport.

 

 

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Great !!!!

[gavpowell]

I'm not sure how Mclellan gets p4p status - he was a massive hitter and very aggressive but he wasn't that good a boxer ferom what I've seen - just tended to charge in and try to overwhelm his opponent. He'd also beaten few truly world-class fighters(Mugabi,as was pointed out to me a while ago, was a natural light-middle) and being the first guy to stop a late-replacement journeyman is hardly p4p material. That leaves Jackson, which was an excellent win but Jackson was similarly limited in that he relied largely on his power and never had much of a plan B.

 

That Benn did tremendously to beat Mclellan I don't doubt, but if Mclellan was p4p material at the time it must have been a very dodgy era. Benn's record is very solid, I'm just not convinced he was up there with some of the best ever in world terms.

[WelshDevilRob]

Pound For Pound (at the end of 1995) according to The Ring

 

Pernell Whitaker

Roy Jones Jr.

Ricardo Lopez

Oscar De La Hoya

Felix Trinidad

Yuri Arbachakov

Kostya Tszyu

Riddick Bowe

Marco Antonio Barrera

Terry Norris

 

Super Middleweights

Title Vacant

 

Roy Jones Jr.

Nigel Benn

Steve Collins

Frankie Liles

Tim Littles

Vinny Pazienza

Bryant Brannon

Henry Wharton

Michael Nunn

Ray Close