WTF, Nigel Benn talking tactically??

**WWatt** · 04-23-2006 12:14 AM

You usually expect Benn to say the usual 'it was a right ole tear-up, I steamed him' or something like that. But in these 2002 quotes he actually speaks quite tactically -

"Brian Lynch says he taught me how to punch, absolute bullshit mate. Years earlier, I was teaching OTHERS how to punch! Back in the Fusiliers, when I first started they noticed how I picked things up in a matter of minutes where other guys who had been doing it for years still couldn't pick it up. So within a few months they had me learning everybody else how to box. I learned the technical skills in a flash, although most of my Army fights ended in a flash due to my far superior speed and power.

"Lynch basically just fucked about with me, I could of bashed over all of those Mexican roadsweepers with no trainer! Lynch almost cost me my career, I mean almost wasted a big talent. We didn't do no sparring, I mean almost none. He said I can't hit a heavybag because I'll break my hands. He trained me three times a day and I was losing half a stone during most training sessions, he was working me to the bone and telling me to force-feed myself seven meals a day. It was ridiculous. He says he made Nigel Benn? He almost fucked Nigel Benn over. He couldn't be further from the truth, man.

"When I got to Fifth Street and started working with Vic (Andreeti) and Freddie Pendleton, it all came back to me. I'd actually forgotten how to throw a jab, forgot how to pick shots. You saw me at the ABA's, if I couldn't get them out of there in one round I got the jab working and went for the decision. But by the time I turned pro, I almost forgot the jab existed because Lynch wouldn't even mention the jab. You could say my career started the night I fought Amparo. Made Nigel Benn? Fuck off Lynch.

"Jimmy Tibbs was the best trainer I ever had by a mile. Looking back now, he knew how to teach technique best. The technique Vic was trying to teach me was to roll with the punches, to keep my neck tight and not drop my head. Then Graham Moughton at the Romford gym was trying to teach me to draw away from my opponents jab. It was all these different techniques. But Jimmy Tibbs taught me how I can duck and dive to make them miss, how I can duck and weave my way through, how to bob my head about most effectively.

"To be honest, it was Jimmy who helped me beat McClellan just as much as Paul McKenna and Dennie Mancini. I remember reading Jimmy telling the papers (see below) I had the technique to beat McClellan. I remember during the fight, what Jimmy told the papers was in my head and I kept saying it to myself during the fight. It was technique and tactics that beat McClellan as much as anything else, even though he wasn't training me it was Jim's advise I secretly had in my head that night.

"I just wish Jimmy had been my trainer when I came out the Army. If I turned pro in 1985 with Jimmy training me at West Ham, I swear there would of been no limit to my potential."

What Tibbs said: I don't know what McClellan can do with Nigel to be honest. If McClellan comes out wild with the bombs then as long as Nigel keeps his chin low, he should be alright because McClellan doesn't use uppercuts. If McClellan tries to box and move then McClellan will get put on his backside because he doesn't use a guard. So as long as Nigel keeps his chin low, he'll be alright. He can get under McClellan's long punches and come up with his hooks. Trust me, it's Nigel's fight if he fights the right fight.

**The_One77** · 04-23-2006 01:52 AM

yeah, Nigel became a better fighter when he joined Jimmy Tibbs...better headmovement and he picked his shots better. So his offence and defence improved, had it not been for his new trainer he would of lost against Mcclelan.

**p4pking** · 04-23-2006 02:59 AM

WTF, Nigel Benn has been retired for 10 years

**WWatt** · 04-24-2006 04:29 PM

Originally Posted by The_One77

had it not been for his new trainer he would of lost against Mcclelan.

Why do you say that? What did Kevin Sanders do mate?

**The_One77** · 04-25-2006 03:18 AM

he was told to duck and dive to make punches miss him, so he could duck and weave his way through.
When he fought Mcclelan, he did to it to perfection....Mcclelan was missing with his big bombs and Nigel would be ducking and always would come up with the hook.