Back to some classic boxing as we look at part two of the rivalry between British boxing legends Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank. The first showdown in November 1990 was a big money, high drama affair with some heelish tactics by Benn’s team before the fight.
It could’ve gone either way with Benn’s dangerously destructive stopping power being tested by Eubank’s toughness and technique. For our wrestling fans think Roman Reigns vs. Daniel Bryan. In end, Eubank managed to hold on to his WBO Middleweight title via a TKO in the eighth round of action.
Time Skip
As it goes with boxing and MMA, it would be some time before the two would face each other again but a rematch was always batted around and demanded. In that time, both men moved up to the super middleweight division.
In September 1991, almost three months after defending his WBO Middleweight title against Michael Watson, “English” would defeat Watson for the vacant WBO Super Middleweight championship.
The bout would be Watson’s final boxing match as he suffered career-ending and life-threatening head and neck injuries during the bout.
This match was a significant match for Eubank as the ending affected his finishing ability. Watson was probably injured earlier in the match and refused medical attention.
After losing his WBO Middleweight belt to Eubank, “The Dark Destroyer” would go on a two-year, ten-match rampage of a winning streak defeating WBC Super Middleweight champion Mauro Galvano along the way in October 1992.
By late 1993, the stage was set for another collision course between the two. Benn was heading into the match in prime form with ten consecutive wins under his belt as well as a successful title defense before the rematch.
Eubank’s impressive 35-0 record was halted due to a draw with Ray Close in May of that year. Close managed to evade a sure knockout thanks to time being called on the match.
Nigel Benn vs. Chris Eubank II: Judgement Day
Main eventing at the Old Trafford stadium, it drew roughly 42,000 with a viewership of 500 million. This bout had an interesting stake with promoter Don King saying that both the winner and loser would be signed to his stable.
While I enjoyed the first match more for the rawness and pace, this one was just as much of a classic. There was a story told here of two fighters who had come out worse for wear in their first encounter almost three years early.
As a result, this was a smarter match by both men. They racked up wins over eleven rounds and were more subdued for most of the rounds, opting to kick their motors into high gear towards the end.
Then the twelfth round was upon them and it was really time for a win. Honestly, going for points would’ve been too risky for Benn and Eubank since the fight was close. They let the leather fly to close out the fight.
When the final bell rang ending the fight, it was declared a draw and even the scores added drama. We had 115-113 for Eubank, 114-113 for Benn, and 114-114. As a result, it was a split draw and Don King picked up neither man since there was no draw clause in the fight contract.
The Aftermath
This rivalry begged for a third match to see if Nigel Benn could definitively beat Chris Eubank. That became a big part of their story. However, they moved on to other battles with Benn returning to a winning streak.
He would have a defense against “The G-Man” Gerald McClellan, a dangerous knockout artist with 34 wins and 31 knockouts at that point in February 1995. The match would end in tragedy as McClellan’s career was ended as a result of a brain injury suffered in the bout.
A month later, Chris Eubank would lose his WBO title to “The Celtic Warrior” Steve Collins, a superb Irish boxer who was had finished dining in the middleweight ranks—capping things off by winning the WBO Middleweight title—and was now stalking the super middleweight division.
After that, it was a wrap for Eubank as he finished his career with a three-loss sweep between 1997 and 1998 in the cruiserweight ranks. Benn would lose his WBC Super Middleweight title in March 1996.
He was able to challenge for Steve Collins’ WBO Super Middleweight title twice in 1996 before, suffering a knockout in the fourth followed by his corner stepping in during his last match.
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