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Nigel Benn Boxer Autograph
Site poster from Nigel Benn vs Steve Collins
that has been signed by former middleweight champion of
the world Britain's Nigel Benn.
Nigel Benn
SOLD
A very eccentric personality who is known to have enjoyed
the nightlife, 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 opened a streak
of 22 consecutive knockout wins for The Dark Destroyer.
The streak extended until 1989. Among the achievements reached
by Benn during the knockout win streak were beating Fermin
Chirino, winning the British commonwealth's Middleweight
title with a win over Abdul Umaru, and retaining it against
David Noel, brother of former world Lightweight champion
Claude Noel. But then, he lost the title to Michael Watson,
by a knockout in round six. With that, he also lost his
record as an undefeated fighter. In 1987, Benn was approached
by TV presenter Pogus Caesar who wanted to make a short
documentary on the boxer for 'Here and Now' Central Television's
flagship ethnic series. Filmed in the East End of London
Benn spoke about growing up on the tough streets, and his
life in the army -the film also included footage of Benn
at his most devastating.
His next fight, against Jorge Amparo, was the first fight
abroad for Benn and also the first Nigel Benn bout to last
the full distance, when he won a 10 round decision over
Amparo in Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States. After
two more wins, he got his first opportunity at a world championship,
when he faced WBO world Middleweight champion Doug DeWitt
in Atlantic City. Benn crowned himself world champion by
knocking out DeWitt (who had lasted 12 rounds against Thomas
Hearns) in round eight. His next defense came against former
WBC world champion Iran Barkley (who beat Hearns twice).
He knocked Barkley out in round one. Then, he lost the world
title, when he got knocked out in round nine by countryman
Chris Eubank.
In 1991, he beat Marvin Hagler's half brother, Robbie Sims,
by a knockout in round seven, and then he embarked in another
winning streak, which would reach ten wins in a row. He
won the WBC's world Super Middleweight title with a knockout
in round four of defending world champion Mauro Galvano,
after having beaten his future conqueror and world champion
"Sugar Boy" Malinga by a decision in ten. He retained
his title against Nick Piper, Galvano and Lou Gent before
engaging in a rematch with Eubank. While Benn's second longest
winning streak came to a halt, he retained the world title
with a twelve round draw against Eubank. Next came Henry
Wharton and Juan Carlos Gimenez, both of whom lost on points
to Benn for the world title.
Benn's next fight would change his life forever: World
Middleweight champion Gerald McClellan, eager to move up
in weight and become a two time world champion just like
Benn had done years before, challenged Benn. The fight was
shown to many countries worldwide, and in the United States
it was carried by Showtime. It was an eagerly anticipated
match-up with many boxing fans tuning in, and McClellan
dropped Benn out of the ring in round one. In round eight,
Benn was dropped again. Seemingly on the verge of losing
his title, Benn kept on charging, however, making for what
several magazines called one of the fights of the year.
In round ten, McClellan suddenly went down on one knee and
the referee counted him the ten seconds to end the bout
while he was still on one knee. McClellan collapsed when
he went back to his corner and the scene inside the ring
went berzerk, so much that Benn did not know what was happening
until he was being interviewed by Showtime's commentator
Dr. Ferdie Pacheco. McClellan was taken out on a stretcher
and with an oxygen mask out of the ring, and he lost consciousness
on his way to the hospital. He wouldn't recover consciousness
for a very long time.
Benn spent the night at the emergency room waiting for
news from his ring foe. The following morning, the McClellan
family arrived in London and Benn was by their side. McClellan
survived, but he has been blind ever since, and he was paralyzed
for a very long period of time. Recently, he began to walk
with the help of a cane. The following week after the fight,
an article about it was published by Sports Illustrated.
According to Benn's trainer, this fight took out all the
fighting spirit from Benn. As it happens many times when
a tragedy of this type happens to a boxer, Benn had an ordinary
record after that bout. He retained the title by knocking
out future world champion Vincenzo Niardiello, and then
he won a non-title bout, but that turned out to be his last
career win. He lost to Malinga by a 12 round decision to
lose the WBC world title, and then he was given a chance
at the WBO's world title, but he lost to Steve Collins by
a knockout in round four, after breaking his ankle during
their fight in Manchester. An immediate rematch was ordered,
also in Manchester, and that time around, Benn lost by a
knockout in round seven.
