Nigel Benn in the Hall?

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10-28-2006, 03:05 AM
tedsares

Nigel Benn in the Hall?

By Ted SARES ???

When you think of Nigel Benn, you think of words like fury, rage, and ferocity. These were his trademarks in the ring and provided uncommon excitement and entertainment. Unfortunetely, his career defining fight ended with tragic results and sometimes detracts from his entire body of work. As one writer stated, " One man’s finest hour was the end of another man’s life as he knew it." Let's look at that work now and see how his accomplishments stack up insofar as being a prospective inductee into the Internationa Boxing Hall Of Fame.

Record: Nigel "The Dark Destroyer" Benn, a Middleweight and Super Middleweight Champion, 42 - 5 - 1 with 35 ko's, was born in Liford, England the son of Barbadian immigrants. As an amature, Benn had a fine record of 41 wins and 1 loss. His ko percentage was an excellent 83%.

Style: Ostensibly an orthodox fighter, he was a bomber and is still considered to be one of the hardest punchers of all time, but when he fought at the top level, he sometimes and inexplicably became somewhat unglued. Still, his ferocity and velocity were unmatched and were launched with evil intentions, the purest of rage, and often punctuated with a whirlwind of deadly hooks and uppercuts from all angles. With Nigel, the thing was his excitement and unpredicatablity. You knew what to expect...or maybe you didn’t.... which made him so exciting. He would come out bombing and winging and try to ko his opponents in short order usually knocking them out, but his "take no prisoner" strategy sometimes meant that he himself would be stopped. Some even called him one of boxing’s bad boys, and labeled his style as downright dirty. I'll refer to it as “win at all cost."

As to the rage that seemed to be an inherent part of his persona, a reading of his compelling autobiography "Dark Destroyer," a great boxing book, offers many clues and glimpses into what made Benn fight with such ferocity and fury. It is highly recommended and rather than spoil it for you, I will keep silent as to its content. At any rate, Nigel presented an unabashedly snarling mien and personified the aura of a person you would not want to meet in a dark alley. In short, he was one tough guy!

Quality of Opposition: Excellent. Aside from the hapless Winston Burnett (who would finish with 20-98-3), Benn fought boxers with mostly decent records in his early years, a departure from the norm. Guys like Reggie Miller, Abdul Umaru Sanda, Darren Hobson, Nicky Piper, Jamaican Anthony Logan, Kid Milo, Canadian Dan Sherry, Puerto Rican Jose Quinones, American Sanderline Williams, Congolese Mbayo Wa Mbayo, David Noel, and Argentinian Hector Lescano all came in with winning records.

He then stepped up to a higher level to fight South African Thulani Malinga (twice), Italian and former WBC Super Middleweight champion Mauro Galvano (twice), former world champion Chris Eubank (twice), Juan Carlos Gimenez Ferreyra (46-6-3 coming in), future world champ and victor over "Sugar Boy" Mailnga (40-9 at the time), Vincenzo Nardiello (26-3), Michale Watson )21-1-1 coming in) and, of course. world champion Steve Collins (twice). While the names here might not resonate as much with an average American boxing fan as they do with one in Europe or the UK, they should strike a intimate chord with all serious boxing fans regardless of location. These fighters, along with Herol Graham and Robin Reid, represented the cream of the crop during a great era of fighters in the UK. But Benn also fought two top Americans in Iran "The Blade" Barkley (a warrior who fought in a savage manner not unlike Benn's) and the great Gerald McCllelan and beat them both by stoppage. O course, he beat Dough Dewitt as well. In short, Benn was competitive with the world's best.

Chronology: As a juvenile, he was a delinquent to say the least, but a four-year tenure as a soldier in the Royal Fusiliers, which he credits as the turning point in his life, forced him embrace a need for self discipline. Benn turned professional in 1987 and began a remarkable streak of 22 consecutive ko wins (100% ko percentage). The streak extended until 1989 during which time he beat tough Fernin Cherino, and then won the British commonwealth Middleweight title with a win over Abdul Umaru. But he lost this title to the very tough Michael Watson by a 6th round knockout and with it his undefeated record as well.

His next fight with limited Jorge Amparo was his first abroad and the first to go the distance. After two more wins, he got his initial opportunity at a world championship and made the most of it. He duked it out for the WBO World Middleweight champion with Doug Dewitt. Benn captured the crown by knocking out the resilient and granite-chin DeWitt (who had lasted 12 rounds against Thomas Hearns) in the 8th round. His first defense came against former world champion Iran "The Blade" Barkley and after being badly rocked himself, he knocked out Barkley in round one in a furious and savage shoot-out which was Benn's trademark. Eventually, however, he lost the world title when he was knocked out in round nine by countryman, the flamboyant Chris Eubank.

In 1991, he ko'd the vastly underrated Robbie Sims and half-brother of Marvin Hagler. Sims had beaten Roberto Duran and many other top level fighters like Tony Chiaverini, Doug Dewitt, and John Collins. Reflective of Benn's power, that loss would be Robbie's only career stoppage defeat. He then embarked on another undefeated streak, this time reaching fifteen. After beating his future conqueror and world champion "Sugar Boy" Malinga by a 10 round decision, he won the WBC's world Super Middleweight title with a knockout in round four over defending world champion Mauro Galvano. After two more wins, he fought a rematch with with Eubank and retained his title with a twelve round draw. Next came tough Henry Wharton (undefeated coming in) and Juan Carlos Gimenez, both of whom he beat by decision.

I am not going to dwell on Benn's next fight (with the great bomber Gerald McClellan), for it has already received voluminous treatment, but I will not ignore it either and in this regard I quote Ian McNeilly who poignantly said, "The fight was one of the best and worst to ever take place. A triumphant and tragic microcosm of boxing." Clearly, it would change Nigel's life forever:....according to his trainer, the tragic results of that fight took away Nigel's fighting spirit.

Quoting McNeilly again, "The story of Gerald McClellan is a painful one, one that fighters, boxing writers and fans seem to find it easy not to discuss............This is because he is a living embodiment of the risks fighters take every time they step through the ropes, a reminder of the dangers that are ignored at peril. To dwell on cases like Gerald McClellan would destroy the sport. To ignore him is to debase ourselves." Hopefully, no serious boxing fan would ever ignore Gerald MeClellan.

The "Dark ??? Destroyer" would go on to beat future world champion Vincenzo Niardiello and game Danny Perez before losing to "Sugar Boy" Malinga the second time around by a 12 round decision. In so doing, he also would lose his WBC world title. Then, he was given a another chance at a world title.....this time the WBO's world title, but he lost to Steve Collins by 4th round knockout in Manchester (a fight in which controversy arose as to an injury to Benn's ankle)....and after losing the rematch, it was clear Nigel had come to the end of his glorious career. As writer Jack Dunne once said, ".....he lost to Steve Collins, twice by way of TKO, guess what? It was just Nigel's time, NOBODY fights forever. Father Time is STILL the undefeated, undisputed champion of the fight game, all times, all divisions."

Some say that Nigel Benn is mostly a "forgotten warrior" perhaps because he will forever be linked to Gerald McClellan and it is admittedly painful to think of him without remembering their tragic fight, one of the most brutal slugfests of all time. But if so, that is manifestly unfair. Any assesment of Benn must be based on his entertaining style and accomplishments in the ring. Again, to quote McNeilly, "...the many who watched saw a man [Benn] reach down into his inner being and summon something to destroy a force [McClellan] supposedly greater than himself [Gerald was a 4-1 favorite]. And as we looked on, amazed and enthralled, we cheered as life slipped away from a fellow man slumped, defeated, in his corner."

Whether he gets into the International Boxing Hall of Fame remains to be seen, but if he fails, it will not be because of his lack of providing incredible excitement and indelible memories for boxing fans throughout the world. Nigel Benn was an eccentric, a one of a kind and will not soon be forgotten by boxing aficionados.
He now lives with his family on the Spanish island of Mallorca where he became a Born-again Christian and, later on, an ordained pastor.

Well there it is. In recent weeks, I have done pieces on such Hall prospects as Vinny Paz, Hector Camacho, Riddick Bowe, Virgil Hill and Ray Mancini. In retrospect, I cannot help but feel Nigel Benn stacks up pretty darn well. After all, he was a two-time world champion who fought the best of UK competition at a time when that competition was keen and perhaps the best in the world, he beat two great American fighters, he always gave the crowd its money worth, and he finished with a great ko percentage.

As for those who say, "if you have to wonder about it, then he doesn’t belong," I say baloney.....because I'll show you any number of fighters in the Hall where I would have had to "wonder about it."

What do you think?

"The British press hate a winner who's British. They don't like any British man to have balls as big as a cow's like I have.” Nigel Benn
10-28-2006, 03:24 AM
Pugilistic

Re: Nigel Benn in the Hall?

nice find. good to read about benn. what happened to Gerald McClellan was absolutely terrible.
10-28-2006, 04:05 AM
bigragu

Re: Nigel Benn in the Hall?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ds91

nice find. good to read about benn. what happened to Gerald McClellan was absolutely terrible.

no for the HOF...no way.....and G-MAN got what was coming to him...sick b*stard...you just don't know...
10-28-2006, 06:11 AM
JT Rock

Re: Nigel Benn in the Hall?

Quote:

Originally Posted by THE Bigragu

Quote:

Originally Posted by ds91

nice find. good to read about benn. what happened to Gerald McClellan was absolutely terrible.

no for the HOF...no way.....and G-MAN got what was coming to him...sick b*stard...you just don't know...

Seriously Rags are you the judge and jury??? NO you arent you know nothing outside of the here say,,,I get pissed off at ignorant people who will venerate a B-Hop a Convicted felon and Ali a racist towards his own people and a Coward draft dodger not to mention he cheated on his own wives..It was fine for 10000's of young men to go to nam to die..... but that loud mouth prik bitched the whole time and that racist is considered the greatest of alltime should the Both of them have a wheel chair beside Gerald??? of course not!!!!....But then again some of you think Gerald got what he deserved cause he ALLEGEDLY fought his dogs??? like everyone is so gotdam perfect ::**

I have talked to Geralds sister Lisa and am aware of the lies and embelishments that happened that night after the cameras were off and he was fighting for his life in the hospital..The truth is Nigel was no were to be found that night he never visited Gerald or his family to this day...

Gerald condition is doing better today than what the documentary was aired a few years ago ...Lisa told me he has his wits about him and has his mischiveous personality(In a Good Way)...His sisters love him very much and sacrafice there time in taking care of him..He will never see again and he is very hard of hearing but she tells me he is very much aware of what is going on around him...I hope to be out to visit him by the beginning of next year...

THe truth is Nigel is riddled in guilt for what happened to Gerald after the repeated fouls and the state it left Gerald in....Gerald has been asked since then by his sister what he thought about Nigel,,,And his response suprised me..He elluded to the fact that why should we be bitter towards Nigel when he wasn't ....He said he knew what being a fighter entailed and he was willing to accept the consequences...When I heard that it brought a tear to my eye....So I can give a shite what you haters think of Gerald >:mad
10-28-2006, 09:27 AM
ICB

Re: Nigel Benn in the Hall?

Quote:

Originally Posted by JT Rock

Quote:

Originally Posted by THE Bigragu

Quote:

Originally Posted by ds91

nice find. good to read about benn. what happened to Gerald McClellan was absolutely terrible.

no for the HOF...no way.....and G-MAN got what was coming to him...sick b*stard...you just don't know...

Seriously Rags shut the fuk up!!! Are you the judge and jury??? NO you arent you know nothing outside of the here say,,,I get pissed off at you ignorant mutherfuckers who will venerate a B-Hop a Convicted felon and Ali a racist towards his own people and a Coward draft dodger not to mention he cheated on his own wives..It was fine for 10000's of young men to go to nam to die and protect the very freedoms of our parents but that loud mouth prik bitched the whole time and that racist is considered the greatest of alltime should the Both of them have a wheel chair beside Gerald??? of course not!!!!....But then again you simpletons think Gerald got what he deserved cause he ALLEGEDLY fought his dogs??? like your so gotdam perfect ::** please instead of spamming with your 4 word sentences on every post why dont you have a mind of your own and research.....

I have talked to Geralds sister Lisa and am aware of the lies and embelishments that happened that night after the cameras were off and he was fighting for his life in the hospital..The truth is Nigel was no were to be found that night he never visited Gerald or his family to this day...

Gerald in his state is doing much better today than what the documentary a few years ago lent to ...Lisa told me he has his wits about him and has his mischiveous personality(In a Good Way)...His sisters love him very much and sacrafice there time for taking care of him..He will never see again but she tells me he is very much aware of what is going on around him...I hope to be out to visit him by the beginning of next year...

THe truth is Nigel is riddled in guilt for what happened to Gerald after the repeated fouls and the state it left Gerald in....Gerald has been asked since then by his sister what he thought about Nigel,,,And his response suprised me..He elluded to the fact that why should we be bitter towards Nigel when he wasn't ....He said he knew what being a fighter entailed and he was willing to accept the consequences...When I heard that it brought a tear to my eye....So I can give a shite what you haters think of Gerald >:mad

totally agree no one derserves that i heard he wanted to put benn in a bodybag that might of been for hype i dont know but he certainly didnt derserve what happened to him
10-28-2006, 09:36 AM
4YOU

Re: Nigel Benn in the Hall?

Watch his two fights against Steve Collins and you got your answer - the Hall is not for quitters and certainly not for twice quitters
10-28-2006, 09:36 AM
BrooklyniteQueen

Re: Nigel Benn in the Hall?

Quote:

Originally Posted by JT Rock

Quote:

Originally Posted by THE Bigragu

Quote:

Originally Posted by ds91

nice find. good to read about benn. what happened to Gerald McClellan was absolutely terrible.

no for the HOF...no way.....and G-MAN got what was coming to him...sick b*stard...you just don't know...

Seriously Rags shut the fuk up!!! Are you the judge and jury??? NO you arent you know nothing outside of the here say,,,I get pissed off at you ignorant mutherfuckers who will venerate a B-Hop a Convicted felon and Ali a racist towards his own people and a Coward draft dodger not to mention he cheated on his own wives..It was fine for 10000's of young men to go to nam to die and protect the very freedoms of our parents but that loud mouth prik bitched the whole time and that racist is considered the greatest of alltime should the Both of them have a wheel chair beside Gerald??? of course not!!!!....But then again you simpletons think Gerald got what he deserved cause he ALLEGEDLY fought his dogs??? like your so gotdam perfect ::** please instead of spamming with your 4 word sentences on every post why dont you have a mind of your own and research.....

I have talked to Geralds sister Lisa and am aware of the lies and embelishments that happened that night after the cameras were off and he was fighting for his life in the hospital..The truth is Nigel was no were to be found that night he never visited Gerald or his family to this day...

Gerald in his state is doing much better today than what the documentary a few years ago lent to ...Lisa told me he has his wits about him and has his mischiveous personality(In a Good Way)...His sisters love him very much and sacrafice there time for taking care of him..He will never see again but she tells me he is very much aware of what is going on around him...I hope to be out to visit him by the beginning of next year...

THe truth is Nigel is riddled in guilt for what happened to Gerald after the repeated fouls and the state it left Gerald in....Gerald has been asked since then by his sister what he thought about Nigel,,,And his response suprised me..He elluded to the fact that why should we be bitter towards Nigel when he wasn't ....He said he knew what being a fighter entailed and he was willing to accept the consequences...When I heard that it brought a tear to my eye....So I can give a shite what you haters think of Gerald >:mad

:coolclick:
10-28-2006, 11:50 AM
petem

Re: Nigel Benn in the Hall?

nigel is without doubt 100% hall of fame, his meteoric rise was incredible, nobody became a household name quicker in any sport, his big ko's in 1987 recieved big tv coverage in uk and he was a celebrity almost overnight, and remember it wasnt eubank or hamed who started the ring entrances and showbiz in pro boxing it was NIGEL BENN (ie watson fight). after the watson fight remember everybody thought benn was going nowhere, to beat doug dewitt and iran barkley in their own backyards when nobody gave him a chance was awesome and he was the most sparkling fighter in the world and ready for superstardom in the states, if he retired after the eubank fight which he said he would if he lost he would STILL be in the hall of fame because nobody would of had such an explosive, dramatic career over the same ammount of time. to pick himself up, dust himself down AGAIN and go on to win the wbc title (against galvano IN ITALY when nobody gave him a chance), have the most exciting fight of 1993 with lou 'english rocky' gent (saw that fight in the states on abc and the announce team of alex wallau and dan dierdorf were going positively bonkers when calling it!), be robbed against eubank in the rematch (still gained a 'moral' victory that night), prove against hank wharton that he could actually box (remember alot of people were tipping hank to beat nigel- two renowned punchers, wharton stronger chin), and then beat the g-man when NOBODY gave him a chance (having to climb back into the ring after 30 secs), incredible incredible career. should of retired after the g-man fight because he was never the same after that, showtime's star attraction though for a few fights (until tyson comeback) with his showbiz arena entrys and fought in front of 80,000 at wembley. legend, legend, absolute legend. the most popular fighter ever among british fight fans.
10-28-2006, 12:06 PM
petem

Re: Nigel Benn in the Hall?

and nigel revealed last saturday at an after dinner speech that when he first turned pro the best he hoped for was southern area title level, british at best! so what he actually achieved was incredible considering that
10-28-2006, 12:22 PM
ICB

Re: Nigel Benn in the Hall?

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4YOU

Watch his two fights against Steve Collins and you got your answer - the Hall is not for quitters and certainly not for twice quitters

he was shot then benn isnt a quitter he showed that in his wars against eubank watson and gerald i thought in first fight with collins he broke his ankle or twisted it and couldnt continue ??
10-28-2006, 12:42 PM
bigragu

Re: Nigel Benn in the Hall?

Quote:

Originally Posted by JT Rock

Quote:

Originally Posted by THE Bigragu

Quote:

Originally Posted by ds91

nice find. good to read about benn. what happened to Gerald McClellan was absolutely terrible.

no for the HOF...no way.....and G-MAN got what was coming to him...sick b*stard...you just don't know...

Seriously Rags shut the fuk up!!! Are you the judge and jury??? NO you arent you know nothing outside of the here say,,,I get pissed off at you ignorant mutherfuckers who will venerate a B-Hop a Convicted felon and Ali a racist towards his own people and a Coward draft dodger not to mention he cheated on his own wives..It was fine for 10000's of young men to go to nam to die and protect the very freedoms of our parents but that loud mouth prik bitched the whole time and that racist is considered the greatest of alltime should the Both of them have a wheel chair beside Gerald??? of course not!!!!....But then again you simpletons think Gerald got what he deserved cause he ALLEGEDLY fought his dogs??? like your so gotdam perfect ::** please instead of spamming with your 4 word sentences on every post why dont you have a mind of your own and research.....

I have talked to Geralds sister Lisa and am aware of the lies and embelishments that happened that night after the cameras were off and he was fighting for his life in the hospital..The truth is Nigel was no were to be found that night he never visited Gerald or his family to this day...

Gerald in his state is doing much better today than what the documentary a few years ago lent to ...Lisa told me he has his wits about him and has his mischiveous personality(In a Good Way)...His sisters love him very much and sacrafice there time for taking care of him..He will never see again but she tells me he is very much aware of what is going on around him...I hope to be out to visit him by the beginning of next year...

THe truth is Nigel is riddled in guilt for what happened to Gerald after the repeated fouls and the state it left Gerald in....Gerald has been asked since then by his sister what he thought about Nigel,,,And his response suprised me..He elluded to the fact that why should we be bitter towards Nigel when he wasn't ....He said he knew what being a fighter entailed and he was willing to accept the consequences...When I heard that it brought a tear to my eye....So I can give a shite what you haters think of Gerald >:mad

oh you're right....standing up for something vs animal abuse/sick b*stard....wow..thats compairing apples to oranges....Bill Clinton had some discretion's but he was still a great president....Ali had some discretions but he is still a great champion for peace and a great humanitarian....I don't care if G-MAN was your brother...he was a sick twisted piece of SH*T!!!!!!!! What positives did he bring to his community??? give me some documentation...maybe you could sway my opinion....your ALLEGEDLY comment ranks up there with saying OJ is INNOCENT!!!!! I am not hating on G-MAN..I like him as a fighter..despised him as a human being.....Isn't Dog fighting a felony?? what are we choosing what felonies qualify as OK and which ones don't??.....And as for the Nam shite...I don't blame him..it was a bullsh*t war...like this one now......And if you didn't serve KEEP YOUR FUKIN MOUTH SHUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I served (Honorable Discharge w/national defense/AAM/Good Conduct Medal/Overseas Service Ribbon, anything other than that disqualifies you) so I can speak on such things.........http://www.hsus.org/web-files/PDF/Do...ons_June05.pdf
10-28-2006, 12:47 PM
cockey cockney

Re: Nigel Benn in the Hall?

Quote:

Originally Posted by THE Bigragu

Quote:

Originally Posted by ds91

nice find. good to read about benn. what happened to Gerald McClellan was absolutely terrible.

no for the HOF...no way.....and G-MAN got what was coming to him...sick b*stard...you just don't know...

Agree'd mate, dont care how many sadclicks i get.....G-Man was a dirty fucker.
10-28-2006, 01:06 PM
4YOU

Re: Nigel Benn in the Hall?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ICE COLD BOXING

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4YOU

Watch his two fights against Steve Collins and you got your answer - the Hall is not for quitters and certainly not for twice quitters

he was shot then benn isnt a quitter he showed that in his wars against eubank watson and gerald i thought in first fight with collins he broke his ankle or twisted it and couldnt continue ??

Every time a fighter you like loses then he is shot.... Benn was not prime but far from shot. Loosing is part of boxing and if you are fighting the best you are able to then loosing can be beautiful part of boxing, but if you loose and are considered a great name and twice are quitting, then you are no longer a great fighter IMO.
10-28-2006, 01:08 PM
bigragu

Re: Nigel Benn in the Hall?

Quote:

Originally Posted by cockey cockney

Quote:

Originally Posted by THE Bigragu

Quote:

Originally Posted by ds91

nice find. good to read about benn. what happened to Gerald McClellan was absolutely terrible.

no for the HOF...no way.....and G-MAN got what was coming to him...sick b*stard...you just don't know...

Agree'd mate, dont care how many sadclicks i get.....G-Man was a dirty f*****.

true....cc bro for stepping up and seeing through the smoke and mirrors......JT rock is disillusioned because he is too close.....he cannot see G-MAN for what he was.....
10-28-2006, 01:09 PM
ICB

Re: Nigel Benn in the Hall?

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4YOU

Quote:

Originally Posted by ICE COLD BOXING

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4YOU

Watch his two fights against Steve Collins and you got your answer - the Hall is not for quitters and certainly not for twice quitters

he was shot then benn isnt a quitter he showed that in his wars against eubank watson and gerald i thought in first fight with collins he broke his ankle or twisted it and couldnt continue ??

Every time a fighter you like loses then he is shot.... Benn was not prime but far from shot. Loosing is part of boxing and if you are fighting the best you are able to then loosing can be beautiful part of boxing, but if you loose and are considered a great name and twice are quitting, then you are no longer a great fighter IMO.

umm no its fact after that war with gerald a part of him stayed there that was hell of a war and he was never the same after that its fact and benn isnt my favourite by long shot so i dont know what ur on about

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