Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn

[General Zod]

Yes Benn was not quite the same after McClellan. I dont remember everyone jumping up and down for a Jones fight straight after though. I do remember Benn calling out Jones in 1996 though before losing, he'd promised McClellan $1,000,000 from the purse if the fight came to fruition.

Where did you hear this from?

[Sugarj]

I guess pound for pound lists do vary the world round, but thats how I remember it at the time. Benn got alot of kudos for beating McClellan.

I'll look it up.....

[General Zod]

I'm sure I heard Toney get in a comment like 'all your fighters are bums...and your women too' but the second part was difficult to make it due to Wossy talkin over him.

Im quoting from a book calledThe Dark Trade, the author spends a lot of time with Toney from 94-96

[Shazam!]

actually, there's some great footage I'm finding of Nigel on youtube. He always seemed like a really good, genuine bloke.

I remember one classic comment from him a few years back as a guest covering a BBC fight...I think it was an Audley Harrison fight.

John Inverdale asked him for his comments on the fight and Nigel kinda looked disinterested and said 'I preferred it when it was on ITV'...I was in stitches.

[Sugarj]

Hi Hellboy, its on a video called 'Lords of the Ring', where Nigel said he'd pledge that to McClellan. It was before he had lost to Malinga.

[fight_professor]

Both were excellent fighters, and good champions. Their duels are legendary.

[General Zod]

Both were excellent fighters, and good champions. Their duels are legendary.

I liked their first fight, the second one was so so. Eubank was throwing one punch then holding

[1SILVA]

Both these guys held world titles in the middle weights for a considerable amount of time. Benn held the WBO Middleweight Title in 1990 and the WBC Super Middleweight Title from 1992 to 1996.

Eubank beat Benn for the World Middleweight Title in 1990 and held it until 91 when he dropped it to move up a weight in 91. He won the WBO Super Middleweight Title in 91 or 92 I think...then had a WBC/WBO Unification rematch with Benn in 93 which was another great fight, fought to a draw.

Eubank held his title until 95 when he lost it to Steve Collins (who also beat Benn, a year later).

Eubank and Benn had a big rivalry that was mainly built up by the media because they were both around their peak at the same time, at the same weight and were distinctly different characters. Benn made no secret of his dislike for Eubank's personality and as a result of these factors, their rivalry was really promoted in the media and captured the imagination of the British public...in fact, I think I heard their second fight in 93 was watched by a billion people throughout the world.

Eubank was retired by Joe Calzaghe in 1997, to whom he lost the title. But Calzaghe has said this was the toughest fight of his career.

However, neither of these guys ever went to America to fight....where big name opponents like Roy Jones, James Toney and Bernard Hopkins awaited.

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I never really knew much about the reasons as to why neither of these went to America. I would have thought that after their fight in 1990 Eubank would have strongly considered going over there...and Benn too. They could have made a lot of money.

As a result I wonder how well known Benn and Eubank are in the States and whether or not they are given credit for being two of the best middleweight and supermiddleweight fighters from about 1989-1997.

I'd like to know more about how well known they were in America and what factors prevented them from ever competing over there. I think either men could have given the top American middleweights of the time a good run for their money.

Either way, their rivalry was great for British boxing.

Eubank didn't retire in 97; he fought two epic wars with Carl Thompson in 1998.

[Clegg]

Benn-Nunn was a fight that almost happened on more than one occassion. I am going from memory here, so may be slightly off, but IIRC:

It was intended that Nunn was going to fight the winner of Benn-Eubank II. He was in attendance with Don King. There was no winner of course, but for his next fight Nunn fought on the same bill as Benn. I think this was done to build to a future fight between them, but Nunn ended up losing so it never happened.

From what I recall, Benn stated in his autobiography that he was offered a fight with Nunn or McClellan, and he chose McClellan because it offered more money.

[General Zod]

Benn-Nunn was a fight that almost happened on more than one occassion. I am going from memory here, so may be slightly off, but IIRC:

It was intended that Nunn was going to fight the winner of Benn-Eubank II. He was in attendance with Don King. There was no winner of course, but for his next fight Nunn fought on the same bill as Benn. I think this was done to build to a future fight between them, but Nunn ended up losing so it never happened.

From what I recall, Benn stated in his autobiography that he was offered a fight with Nunn or McClellan, and he chose McClellan because it offered more money.

Yeah I read this as well, I havent seen much of Nunn at SMW, only the Scully fight and it looked to me like he "lost" his legs by then. It would of been a good fight, I think maybe Nunn on points.

Benn also says in his autobiography that Nunn wanted to fight him after the Watson fight.