Nigel Benn

 ( 1964 Births ) 

Nigel Gregory Benn (born 22 January 1964), is a former British professional boxer who competed from 1987 to 1996. A two-weight world champion, he held the WBO middleweight title in 1990 and reigned as the WBC super-middleweight champion from 1992 to 1996. He held the regional Commonwealth middleweight title from 1988 to 1989, and defeated several world champions, including Doug DeWitt, Iran Barkley, Thulani Malinga, Mauro Galvano, and Gerald McClellan.

Benn retired with an 83.3% knockout percentage. Among his high-profile bouts were defending the world middleweight title against Iran Barkley in 1989, two world title contests against Chris Eubank in 1990 and 1993, and a world title fight against McClellan. He defended his world super-middleweight title in 1995. Before his ring walks, the chimes of Big Ben were often played.

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Early life and amateur career Benn was born in Ilford, Essex (now East London), on 22 January 1964. At the age of 18, Benn joined the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and was stationed in West Germany for three years and in Northern Ireland for eighteen months. After leaving the army, Benn joined the West Ham Amateur Boxing Club. Benn became the Amateur Boxing Association Middleweight Champion in 1986.

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Professional career Benn began his professional boxing career in 1987. He achieved 22 consecutive knockout victories before his defeat to Michael Watson in 1989. On 20 April 1988, he won the vacant Commonwealth middleweight title by defeating Abdul Umaru via a second stoppage at Alexandra Pavilion.

In May 1989, Benn (22-0, 22 KOs) lost the Commonwealth middleweight title to Michael Watson in a nationally televised fight at Finsbury Park, London. In the sixth round, Watson knocked Benn down with a jab, and Benn was counted out.

Benn's next fight, against Jorge Amparo in Atlantic City, U.S., marked his first fight outside the UK and the first to go the full distance. He won by a 10-round decision.

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WBO middleweight champion After securing victories against Sanderline Williams and Jose Quinones, Benn faced WBO middleweight champion Doug DeWitt in Atlantic City. After being knocked down in the second round, Benn recovered, flooring DeWitt in the third round and delivering three knockdowns in the eighth to claim the title.

His first defence was in August 1990 against former WBC champion Iran Barkley. Benn won via the three-knockdown rule at the end of the first round. Benn then returned to the UK and met British rival Chris Eubank three months later. They fought in Birmingham on 18 November 1990, and Benn lost his title to Eubank in the ninth round when the referee stepped in and declared Eubank the winner by technical knockout.

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WBC super-middleweight champion Beginning in 1991 with a seventh-round KO victory over Robbie Sims (Marvin Hagler's half-brother), Benn went on a six-fight winning streak, leading to another world title challenge. Other wins in this period include a decision win against Thulani Malinga and a one-punch KO victory against Dan Sherry.

On 10 October 1992, Benn successfully challenged Mauro Galvano for the WBC super-middleweight title in Palaghiaccio di Marino, Marino, Lazio, Italy. Due to a severe cut, Galvano could not continue in the third round, thus resulting in Benn being declared the winner by default.

Benn's move to the higher weight limit led him to refine his fight strategy and adopt a more considered approach. He successfully defended his title three times, defeating fellow Britons Nicky Piper and Lou Gent and winning a rematch with Galvano, before facing Chris Eubank, now WBO super-middleweight champion, in a unification bout on 9 October 1993. The bout ended in a draw, with both fighters retaining their respective titles. Benn defended his title twice in 1994 with Unanimity decisions against Henry Wharton and Juan Carlos Giminez Ferreyra.

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Benn vs McClellan In February 1995, Benn successfully defended his 168 lb. title against WBC middleweight champion Gerald McClellan in a highly anticipated bout billed as Sudden Impact. Going into the fight, McClellan had won his last 21 fights, the last 14 by knockout, with 13 of those knockouts in the first three rounds. Due to this record, many British media saw Benn as an underdog.

In round 1, Benn was knocked through the ropes as McClellan dominated early. Benn struggled in the early rounds, with McClellan in clear control. From rounds 4 to 6, Benn began to shift the momentum, as McClellan showed signs of distress, repeatedly losing his Mouthguard, backing off for extended periods, and blinking continuously. McClellan responded in rounds 7 and 8, knocking Benn down again in the latter. However, McClellan, now visibly fatigued, could not capitalise on his advantage. Benn won the fight by stoppage in the tenth round via knockout, as McClellan could not rise from his knees. At the time of the stoppage, two judges had McClellan ahead, while the third scored the fight as even, although these scores did not account for the two knockdowns Benn delivered in the final round.

McClellan sustained serious injuries as a result of the fight. After collapsing in his corner post-fight, McClellan was rushed to the hospital, where doctors found a blood clot in his brain. McClellan fell into a coma for two weeks. The injuries left him with significant impairments: he suffers from short-term memory problems, is almost blind and partially deaf, and uses a wheelchair. However, since 1995, McClellan has regained some of his hearing, having been 80% deaf, and can now walk with a cane. In 2007, McClellan, his sister, and his children attended a benefit dinner organized and hosted by Benn to help McClellan with his ongoing medical expenses.

After his fight with McClellan, Benn had two further successful title defences, with wins against future WBC title-holder Vincenzo Nardiello and American Danny Perez. Benn then lost his title to Malinga in 1996 in a fight that saw Benn knock Malinga down in the fifth round, but he also met the canvas in the twelfth round. Benn lost the contest by a split decision (118–109, 115–111, 112–114).

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Benn vs Collins I and II In 1996, Benn attempted to take the WBO super-middleweight title twice from Steve Collins, who had taken that particular title from Eubank. Benn failed in both attempts. In the first fight, he lost by TKO in round four after sustaining an ankle injury. In the rematch four months later, Benn was retired by his corner at the end of round six with Benn on his stool. Benn retired from professional boxing altogether shortly after the second fight.

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Return from retirement

On 24 September 2019, Benn announced his intention to return to boxing at 55, after a 23-year absence from the ring. Benn explained that he wanted "closure" after the unsatisfactory end to his boxing career in 1996. He revealed plans for a bout against former WBC super-middleweight world champion Sakio Bika (34-7-3), scheduled for 23 November 2019. The British Boxing Board of Control refused to sanction the fight, leading to its controversial sanctioning by the British and Irish Boxing Authority instead. However, the fight was subsequently called off after Benn suffered a shoulder injury in sparring. Benn confirmed that he was abandoning his planned comeback.

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Life after boxing

In 1999, Benn attempted suicide, citing struggles with sex addiction and its impact on his family. He survived partly due to the hosepipe he used to recycle exhaust fumes back into his car, which disconnected repeatedly. Benn regards this incident as a turning point, after which he embraced Christianity and committed to remaining faithful to his wife.

Benn works with at-risk youth in Blacktown, New South Wales, Australia, and is dedicated to his charity work. He is an ambassador to the New South Wales Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC) and an advocate for healthy living. Benn is also a Patron of the Shannon Bradshaw Trust, a UK children's charity based in the North West of England, helping children with life-threatening conditions and their families.

Benn was inducted into the World Boxing Council (WBC) Boxing Hall of Fame in 2013 and is honoured alongside fellow Brit Joe Calzaghe, both WBC middleweight champions. His image is now on the sixth-generation WBC super middleweight belt.

Benn ran the 2013 City to Surf to raise funds for the most underfunded PCYC gym in Redfern, Sydney and has undertaken many fundraisers for the charity since improving the boxing facilities in the most impoverished areas of Sydney. Benn regularly assists Christian groups, counseling individuals with addiction, and along with his wife, Carolyne, counsels couples who are facing marriage issues.

One of Benn's sons, Conor Benn, turned professional in 2016 and is currently fighting at welterweight. Another son, Harley,Rafael, Dan (2016) " New pro Harley Benn: 'This is my journey'", ESPN, 19 October 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016 turned professional in 2017.

In 2024, Benn joined fellow London boxers Frank Bruno, Lennox Lewis and Chris Eubank for a mini-documentary, Four Kings. In the final episode, he revealed he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. He also stated that he was aware of unresolved PTSD due to the circumstances surrounding his older brother's death.

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Professional boxing record

48	Loss	42–5–1	Steve Collins		6 (12),	9 Nov 1996
47	Loss	42–4–1	Steve Collins	TKO	4 (12),	6 Jul 1996
46	Loss	42–3–1	Thulani Malinga	SD	12	2 Mar 1996
45	Win	42–2–1	Danny Perez	TKO	7 (12),	2 Sep 1995
44	Win	41–2–1	Vincenzo Nardiello	TKO	8 (12),	22 Jul 1995
43	Win	40–2–1	Gerald McClellan	KO	10 (12),	25 Feb 1995
42	Win	39–2–1	Juan Carlos Giménez Ferreyra	UD	12	10 Sep 1994
41	Win	38–2–1	Henry Wharton	UD	12	26 Feb 1994
40	Draw	37–2–1	Chris Eubank		12	9 Oct 1993
39	Win	37–2	Lou Gent	TKO	4 (12),	26 Jun 1993
38	Win	36–2	Mauro Galvano	UD	12	6 Mar 1993
37	Win	35–2	Nicky Piper	TKO	11 (12),	12 Dec 1992
36	Win	34–2	Mauro Galvano	TKO	4 (12)	3 Oct 1992
35	Win	33–2	Thulani Malinga		10	23 May 1992
34	Win	32–2	Dan Sherry	KO	3 (10),	19 Feb 1992
33	Win	31–2	Hector Abel Lescano	KO	3 (10),	7 Dec 1991
32	Win	30–2	Lenzie Morgan	UD	10	26 Oct 1991
31	Win	29–2	Kid Milo	TKO	4 (10)	3 Jul 1991
30	Win	28–2	Robbie Sims	TKO	7 (10)	3 Apr 1991
29	Loss	27–2	Chris Eubank	TKO	9 (12),	18 Nov 1990
28	Win	27–1	Iran Barkley	TKO	1 (12),	18 Aug 1990
27	Win	26–1	Doug DeWitt	TKO	8 (12),	29 Apr 1990
26	Win	25–1	Sanderline Williams		10	14 Jan 1990
25	Win	24–1	Jose Quinones	TKO	1 (10),	1 Dec 1989
24	Win	23–1	Jorge Amparo		10	20 Oct 1989
23	Loss	22–1	Michael Watson	TKO	6 (12),	21 May 1989
22	Win	22–0	Mbayo Wa Mbayo	KO	2 (10),	28 Mar 1989
21	Win	21–0	Michael Chilambe	KO	1 (12),	8 Feb 1989
20	Win	20–0	David Noel	TKO	1 (12),	10 Dec 1988
19	Win	19–0	Anthony Logan	KO	2 (12),	26 Oct 1988
18	Win	18–0	Tim Williams	TKO	2 (10),	28 May 1988
17	Win	17–0	Abdul Umaru Sanda	TKO	2 (12)	20 Apr 1988
16	Win	16–0	Darren Hobson	KO	1 (8),	13 Apr 1988
15	Win	15–0	Greg Taylor	TKO	2 (8)	24 Feb 1988
14	Win	14–0	Byron Prince	TKO	2 (8)	7 Feb 1988
13	Win	13–0	Fermin Chirino	KO	2 (8)	27 Jan 1988
12	Win	12–0	Reggie Miller	TKO	7 (10),	2 Dec 1987
11	Win	11–0	Ian Chantler	KO	1 (8),	24 Nov 1987
10	Win	10–0	Ronnie Yoe	TKO	1 (8)	3 Nov 1987
9	Win	9–0	Russell Barker	TKO	1 (6),	13 Oct 1987
8	Win	8–0	Winston Burnett	KO	3 (6),	16 Sep 1987
7	Win	7–0	Eddie Smith	KO	2 (8),	8 Sep 1987
6	Win	6–0	Leon Morris		1 (6),	1 Jul 1987
5	Win	5–0	Reginald Marks	TKO	1 (6)	7 Jun 1987
4	Win	4–0	Winston Burnett	TKO	4 (8)	9 May 1987
3	Win	3–0	Rob Nieuwenhuizen	TKO	1 (6),	22 Apr 1987
2	Win	2–0	Kevin Roper	TKO	1 (6)	4 Mar 1987
1	Win	1–0	Graeme Ahmed		2 (8),	28 Jan 1987

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External links

• Recent interview with Nigel Benn (audio)

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