Adored as one of Britain’s most exhilarating fighters, Nigel Benn is a man that got British fans off their seats during the 1990’s and twice became world champion, but there is one 168lber who even his son, Conor, believes would have defeated him.
Benn knocked out Doug DeWitt to get his hands on the WBO super-middleweight world title back in 1990, before defending the belt with a first-round knockout of Iran Barkley and then losing it in his fabled grudge match with Chris Eubank all within the same year.
Two years later, ‘The Dark Destroyer’ returned to the pinnacle of the division, this time knocking out Mauro Galvano to claim the WBC world title, a belt which he would retain for three and a half years, defending it on nine occasions.
In 1996, a split-decision defeat to Thulani Malinga cost him that crown and kickstarted a run of three consecutive losses, with back-to-back knockouts to Steve Collins making up the remaining two and bringing Benn’s career to a close.
Speaking to The Daily Mail, when quizzed on a fantasy tournament involving the best fighters to have graced the super-middleweight division, Conor Benn reluctantly admitted that his father would have come up short against fellow British boxing icon, Joe Calzaghe.
“Oh, Dad, I love you mate. I’m so sorry, Dad. Calzaghe [would win].”
Conor went on to predict that, in his opinion, Andre Ward would have come out on top in the tournament, overcoming the legendary Roy Jones Jr in what would be a fascinating final.
