Nigel Benn
Encyclopedia
Nigel Benn known as "The Dark Destroyer", is a British
former boxer
who held world titles in the middleweight
and super middleweight
divisions.
Benn was also in the British Army
, where he served in The Troubles
for 18 months. He attended Loxford School of Science and Technology, Ilford, Greater London
. Now he lives in Mallorca
, Spain
with his family.
, Benn comes from a sporting family that includes a famous cousin in the football
world, Paul Ince
, who would often accompany Benn to the ring for his UK fights. Benn had a record of 41 wins and 1 loss as an amateur boxer. He turned professional in 1987 with a win over Graeme Ahmed in Croydon
. This win began a streak of 22 consecutive knockout
wins for Benn. The streak extended until 1989. During this time Benn's accomplishments included beating Fermin Chirino and Anthony Logan, winning the British commonwealth middleweight title with a win over Abdul Umaru, and retaining it against David Noel
, brother of former world lightweight champion Claude Noel.
At 22-0 (22 KOs), Benn fought Michael Watson
in a heavily hyped bout in May 1989 at Finsbury Park, London. Throwing nothing but hooks, Benn repeatedly failed to get through Watson's tight guard, and gradually tired whilst being stunned numerous times himself.
In the sixth round, Watson knocked Benn down with a jab and Benn was counted out as he rose to his feet, albeit by a somewhat hasty referee's count.
His next fight, against Jorge Amparo in Atlantic City, U.S.
, was his first fight abroad and also the first to last the full distance, with Benn winning a 10 round decision.
of the USA in Atlantic City. Benn was knocked down in round two, but came back to knock DeWitt down in round three, then score three knockdowns in round eight to win the title.
His first defence came in August 1990 against former WBC
champion Iran Barkley
, whom he floored three times and stopped on the three-knockdown rule at the end of the first round. Benn returned to the UK and met British rival Chris Eubank
. They fought in Birmingham
on November 18, 1990. Benn lost his title to Eubank when the referee stopped the fight in the ninth round.
's half brother, Robbie Sims
, by a knockout in round seven, followed by a close, disputed decision win against Thulani Malinga
, and a one-punch KO victory against Dan Sherry.
On October 10, 1992, Benn challenged Mauro Galvano
for the WBC super middleweight title in Palaghiaccio de Marino, Marino, Lazio, Italy. After a controversial dispute at ringside over the official result after Galvano was unable to continue due to a severe cut, Benn was declared the winner and won the title by a fourth-round TKO.
He defended it three times, against fellow Britons Nicky Piper
and Lou Gent, and a rematch victory over Mauro Galvano, before meeting rival Chris Eubank
(who was now the WBO super middleweight champion) again on October 9, 1993. This time they fought to a disputed draw, both fighters retaining their respective titles.
Benn defended his title twice more against fellow Briton Henry Wharton
and Juan Carlos Giminez before defending against WBC middleweight champion Gerald McClellan
in February 1995. Most American experts gave Benn little chance. In an exciting fight Benn was knocked through the ropes in the first round and was knocked down again in the eighth round, however Benn managed to twice work his way back into the fight and was able to stop McClellan in the tenth round. At the time of the stoppage, two judges had McClellan ahead and one had the fight even.
Unfortunately, however, McClellan was severely injured as a result of the fight. After collapsing in his corner after the fight had finished, McClellan was rushed to hospital where it was discovered he had developed a blood clot on the brain. To this day McClellan is almost completely blind, partially deaf, and uses a wheelchair, although he has regained some movement and can walk with a cane. In 2007, McClellan, his wife and children attended a benefit dinner organized and hosted by Benn to help McClellan with his ongoing medical expenses.
Two more defences followed against future WBC title holder Vincenzo Nardiello
and American Danny Perez
before Benn lost his title with an uncharacteristically lacklustre performance to old rival Thulani Malinga
in 1996.
Benn twice attempted to take the WBO super middleweight title from Steve Collins
but failed in both attempts: losing by TKO in four in the first fight, his usual mobility hampered by an ankle injury. He retired following the second loss to Collins in 1996, retiring on his stool at the end of the sixth-round.
Benn has since developed a strong faith and now lives with his family on the Spanish
island of Mallorca
, where he is a born again Christian. He also became an ordained minister.
Benn's autobiography, published in 2001, is called Dark Destroyer.
Benn is also featured in the documentary film "Fallen Soldier", directed by Bobby Razak, which examines his bout with McClellan.
Nigel is also a Patron of The Shannon Bradshaw Trust, a UK Children's Charity based in the North West
, helping children with life threatening conditions and their families. www.shannonstrust.org.uk
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
former boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
who held world titles in the middleweight
Middleweight
Middleweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have begun in the 1840s. In the bare-knuckle era, the first middleweight championship fight was between Tom Chandler and Dooney Harris in 1897...
and super middleweight
Super middleweight
Super Middleweight is a boxing and Muay Thai weight division that has a weight limit of 168 pounds .- 1960s–1983 :There was interest in a division between Middleweight and Light Heavyweight in the late 1960s, the mid-1970s, and the early 1980s...
divisions.
Benn was also in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, where he served in The Troubles
The Troubles
The Troubles was a period of ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland which spilled over at various times into England, the Republic of Ireland, and mainland Europe. The duration of the Troubles is conventionally dated from the late 1960s and considered by many to have ended with the Belfast...
for 18 months. He attended Loxford School of Science and Technology, Ilford, Greater London
Greater London
Greater London is the top-level administrative division of England covering London. It was created in 1965 and spans the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and the 32 London boroughs. This territory is coterminate with the London Government Office Region and the London...
. Now he lives in Mallorca
Mallorca
Majorca or Mallorca is an island located in the Mediterranean Sea, one of the Balearic Islands.The capital of the island, Palma, is also the capital of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands. The Cabrera Archipelago is administratively grouped with Majorca...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
with his family.
Boxing career
Barbadian BritishBarbadian British
Barbadian British people, or Bajan-Brits are citizens or residents of the United Kingdom whose ethnic origins lie fully or partially in the Caribbean island of Barbados...
, Benn comes from a sporting family that includes a famous cousin in the football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
world, Paul Ince
Paul Ince
Paul Emerson Carlyle Ince is an English football manager and a former professional player. He has managed Blackburn Rovers, Milton Keynes Dons and Macclesfield Town...
, who would often accompany Benn to the ring for his UK fights. Benn had a record of 41 wins and 1 loss as an amateur boxer. He turned professional in 1987 with a win over Graeme Ahmed in Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
. This win began a streak of 22 consecutive knockout
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
wins for Benn. The streak extended until 1989. During this time Benn's accomplishments included beating Fermin Chirino and Anthony Logan, winning the British commonwealth middleweight title with a win over Abdul Umaru, and retaining it against David Noel
David Noel
David Anthony Noel III is an American professional basketball player. A graduate of Southern High School in Durham, North Carolina and the University of North Carolina, Noel was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round of the 2006 NBA Draft with their lone pick, 39th overall.Noel...
, brother of former world lightweight champion Claude Noel.
At 22-0 (22 KOs), Benn fought Michael Watson
Michael Watson
Michael Watson, MBE is a retired British boxer whose career ended prematurely as a result of near-fatal injury sustained in a WBO super-middleweight title fight defeat by Chris Eubank in September 1991....
in a heavily hyped bout in May 1989 at Finsbury Park, London. Throwing nothing but hooks, Benn repeatedly failed to get through Watson's tight guard, and gradually tired whilst being stunned numerous times himself.
In the sixth round, Watson knocked Benn down with a jab and Benn was counted out as he rose to his feet, albeit by a somewhat hasty referee's count.
His next fight, against Jorge Amparo in Atlantic City, U.S.
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
, was his first fight abroad and also the first to last the full distance, with Benn winning a 10 round decision.
WBO middleweight champion
After two more wins against Sanderline Williams and Jose Quinones, Benn fought WBO middleweight title holder Doug DeWittDoug DeWitt
Doug DeWitt was a middleweight boxer.Known as "Cobra," DeWitt, who was also raised in Yonkers, New York, started boxing at the age of 15, and by the time he was 18, the young DeWitt had turned pro and was on his way to three middleweight titles during a 12-year career, which included bouts with...
of the USA in Atlantic City. Benn was knocked down in round two, but came back to knock DeWitt down in round three, then score three knockdowns in round eight to win the title.
His first defence came in August 1990 against former WBC
WBC
WBC may stand for:* BWF World Championships , a tournament organized by the Badminton World Federation to crown the best badminton players in the world...
champion Iran Barkley
Iran Barkley
Iran Barkley is a retired American professional boxer who held world titles at three different weights—middleweight , super middleweight and light heavyweight .- Professional career :...
, whom he floored three times and stopped on the three-knockdown rule at the end of the first round. Benn returned to the UK and met British rival Chris Eubank
Chris Eubank
Chris Eubank, Lord of the Manor of Brighton is a retired British boxer who held world titles at middleweight and super middleweight...
. They fought in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
on November 18, 1990. Benn lost his title to Eubank when the referee stopped the fight in the ninth round.
WBC super middleweight champion
Benn then went on a winning streak of six fights leading up to another world title challenge. In 1991, he beat Marvin HaglerMarvin Hagler
Marvelous Marvin Hagler , is a former professional boxer who was undisputed world middleweight champion between 1980 and 1987. Hagler holds the distinction of having the highest KO% of all middleweight champions at 78%...
's half brother, Robbie Sims
Robbie Sims
Robbie Sims was a former middleweight boxer out of Brockton, Massachusetts. A southpaw born November 5, 1959, he rose to prominence as a middleweight contender after defeating Roberto Durán in a split decision on 6/23/86. Sims lost to Sumbu Kalambay in a shot for the WBA title in 1988.Sims was...
, by a knockout in round seven, followed by a close, disputed decision win against Thulani Malinga
Thulani Malinga
Thulani "Sugarboy" Malinga Thulani "Sugarboy" Malinga Thulani "Sugarboy" Malinga (born December 11, 1955 in Ladysmith, South Africa, was a professional boxer in the Super Middleweight (168lb) division, and was twice WBC super middleweight champion.- Professional career :...
, and a one-punch KO victory against Dan Sherry.
On October 10, 1992, Benn challenged Mauro Galvano
Mauro Galvano
Mauro Galvano was a professional boxer and former WBC Super Middleweight Champion.-Amateur career:As an amateur, Galvano was the 1984 Italian Middleweight Champion and the 1985 Italian Light-Heavyweight Champion....
for the WBC super middleweight title in Palaghiaccio de Marino, Marino, Lazio, Italy. After a controversial dispute at ringside over the official result after Galvano was unable to continue due to a severe cut, Benn was declared the winner and won the title by a fourth-round TKO.
He defended it three times, against fellow Britons Nicky Piper
Nicky Piper
Nicky Piper MBE is a retired Welsh super middleweight and light heavyweight boxer from Ely, Cardiff. His career was at its peak in the 1990s becoming the Commonwealth Light-heavyweight champion in 1995. He was trained by Charlie Pearson and self managed...
and Lou Gent, and a rematch victory over Mauro Galvano, before meeting rival Chris Eubank
Chris Eubank
Chris Eubank, Lord of the Manor of Brighton is a retired British boxer who held world titles at middleweight and super middleweight...
(who was now the WBO super middleweight champion) again on October 9, 1993. This time they fought to a disputed draw, both fighters retaining their respective titles.
Benn defended his title twice more against fellow Briton Henry Wharton
Henry Wharton
Henry Wharton was an English writer and librarian.-Life:He was descended from Thomas, 2nd Baron Wharton , being a son of the Rev. Edmund Wharton, vicar of Worstead, Norfolk. Born at Worstead, Wharton was educated by his father, and then at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge...
and Juan Carlos Giminez before defending against WBC middleweight champion Gerald McClellan
Gerald McClellan
Gerald McClellan is a former boxer from the United States of America, who was the WBO and WBC middleweight champion. McClellan's record as a professional boxer was 31 wins and 3 losses with 29 wins by knockout...
in February 1995. Most American experts gave Benn little chance. In an exciting fight Benn was knocked through the ropes in the first round and was knocked down again in the eighth round, however Benn managed to twice work his way back into the fight and was able to stop McClellan in the tenth round. At the time of the stoppage, two judges had McClellan ahead and one had the fight even.
Unfortunately, however, McClellan was severely injured as a result of the fight. After collapsing in his corner after the fight had finished, McClellan was rushed to hospital where it was discovered he had developed a blood clot on the brain. To this day McClellan is almost completely blind, partially deaf, and uses a wheelchair, although he has regained some movement and can walk with a cane. In 2007, McClellan, his wife and children attended a benefit dinner organized and hosted by Benn to help McClellan with his ongoing medical expenses.
Two more defences followed against future WBC title holder Vincenzo Nardiello
Vincenzo Nardiello
Vincenzo Nardiello is a retired world championship Italian boxer in the super middleweight division.- Amateur Achievements :*1984 Italian superlightweight champion*1985 Silver Trofeo Italy...
and American Danny Perez
Danny Perez
Danny Perez is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. Perez was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the twenty-first round of the 1992 Major League Baseball Draft. He played at the Major League level with the team in 1996....
before Benn lost his title with an uncharacteristically lacklustre performance to old rival Thulani Malinga
Thulani Malinga
Thulani "Sugarboy" Malinga Thulani "Sugarboy" Malinga Thulani "Sugarboy" Malinga (born December 11, 1955 in Ladysmith, South Africa, was a professional boxer in the Super Middleweight (168lb) division, and was twice WBC super middleweight champion.- Professional career :...
in 1996.
Benn twice attempted to take the WBO super middleweight title from Steve Collins
Steve Collins
Stephen Collins, more commonly known as Steve Collins, is a former professional boxer. Known as the "The Celtic Warrior", Collins is the former WBO middleweight and super middleweight champion....
but failed in both attempts: losing by TKO in four in the first fight, his usual mobility hampered by an ankle injury. He retired following the second loss to Collins in 1996, retiring on his stool at the end of the sixth-round.
Retirement
Nigel Benn retired from the sport of boxing and became a DJ, He later appeared in the first series of the ITV reality TV show I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!.Benn has since developed a strong faith and now lives with his family on the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
island of Mallorca
Mallorca
Majorca or Mallorca is an island located in the Mediterranean Sea, one of the Balearic Islands.The capital of the island, Palma, is also the capital of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands. The Cabrera Archipelago is administratively grouped with Majorca...
, where he is a born again Christian. He also became an ordained minister.
Benn's autobiography, published in 2001, is called Dark Destroyer.
Benn is also featured in the documentary film "Fallen Soldier", directed by Bobby Razak, which examines his bout with McClellan.
Nigel is also a Patron of The Shannon Bradshaw Trust, a UK Children's Charity based in the North West
North West England
North West England, informally known as The North West, is one of the nine official regions of England.North West England had a 2006 estimated population of 6,853,201 the third most populated region after London and the South East...
, helping children with life threatening conditions and their families. www.shannonstrust.org.uk
Professional career summary
Nigel Benn has a record of 42 wins, 5 losses and 1 draw, with 35 wins by way of a knockout as a professional boxer.Amateur accomplishments
- Amateur boxingBoxingBoxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
: 41 wins 1 loss - Undefeated Welterweight for the First Battalion, The Royal Regiment of FusiliersRoyal Regiment of FusiliersThe Royal Regiment of Fusiliers is an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Queen's Division.The regiment was formed on April 23, 1968, as part of the reforms of the army that saw the creation of the first 'large infantry regiments', by the amalgamation of the four English fusilier...
between 1982 and 1984 - won titles all the way up to heavyweight and trained others in his regiment's boxing team - 1986 ABAAmateur Boxing Association of EnglandThe Amateur Boxing Association of England is the governing body of amateur boxing clubs in England. There are separate organisations for Scotland and Wales with boxing in Northern Ireland being organised on an All-Ireland basis. The Association was founded in 1880...
Middleweight Champion, avenging a previous loss to Rod Douglas.