ICB's Articles On British Fighters.

[ICB]

Ok im going to do every so often some small write up's on British fighters past/present.

Today i'll start off with one of my favorites Nigel Benn.

Nigel Benn


Where to begin ? well when i was a little kid my family especially my grandad, were huge boxing fans and i could always remember debates about Chris Eubank vs Nigel Benn. I often watched his fights but never full fights. Until i grew a bit older and i started to watch some old Nigel Benn fights, which my grandad had taped. And wow i was in awe of the amazing display of KO's, opponents one after another just falling left/right/center.

But the real fight that made me a fan of Nigel Benn was his war with Anthony Logan. I was expecting another early KO win from Nigel Benn, then all of a sudden BOOM and down goes Nigel Benn in the first round. And to my shock he was actually really hurt. But the bell sounded and now im thinking, Anthony Logan just got a lucky shot, but to my shock again Anthony Logan hurts Nigel Benn badly again, but even worse this time as Nigel Benn takes about 20 unanswered punches against the ropes, similar to Matthew Saad Muhammad vs Yaqui Lopez in there 2nd fight. And just as it looks like Nigel Benn is about to fall down, BOOM left hook from Nigel Benn and Anthony Logan is out for the count.

Amazing fight and one that made me a fan of Nigel Benn for life, obviously i didn't watch it live. But i didn't know the outcome so it was like watching it live, but anyway onto Nigel Benn's next war with Michael Watson. Now Michael Watson IMO could of been the best out of the British boxers of that era, but at the time he was virtually unknown and everyone expected another quick Nigel Benn blow out. But as the 1st round started i noticed even though Nigel Benn was winning, Michael Watson was using a very good peek a book defense, similar to Marlon Starling. Which was making Nigel Benn hit arms and gloves for the most part, but still Nigel Benn took the first 3 rounds based on workrate, then in the 4th all hell broke loose. Michael Watson stunned Nigel Benn with a counter shot and Nigel Benn's head was bouncing up and down like a basketball.

Michael Watson then started to pound Nigel Benn against the ropes but still thought about defense, but just as Michael Watson thought he was getting comfortable. A big left hook from Nigel Benn hurt Michael Watson badly and now Nigel Benn had Michael Watson in deep trouble against the ropes. One of the best rounds i've ever seen personally, after that terrific round what i noticed as they come out for the 6th round is that Nigel Benn was starting to tire, and now Michael Watson wasn't focusing as much on defense, and was just unloading his offense. A punch to the eye seemed to hurt Nigel Benn and Michael Watson went on the attack with Nigel Benn against the ropes, then Nigel Benn spins him around and lands massive hooks and stuns Michael Watson for a moment, then out of the blue. Just a solid jab from Michael Watson stops Nigel Benn dead in his tracks and down went Nigel Benn almost in a lifeless fashion, he got up but he was still hurt from accumulation of punches, and the ref stopped the fight.


To Be Continued Tomorrow.