Since 1984 the super-middleweight division has been a rich hunting ground for British fighters. Murray Sutherland set the tone 41 years ago when he lifted the IBF title, but it was the 1990s when the 12-stone landscape truly became synonymous with the UK.
Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank carried their rivalry up from middleweight, while Robin Reid and Richie Woodhall collected the WBC belt in 1996 and 1998 respectively. Benn claimed the same title in 1992 and held it for three years, a reign that included his thrilling yet tragic win over Gerald McClellan — a fight that ended the American’s career after he suffered life-threatening injuries.
Three consecutive defeats to Thulani Malinga and Steve Collins (twice) marked the end of Benn’s career, one which has now taken him all the way to this year’s International Boxing Hall of Fame alongside Gennadiy Golovkin and Antonio Tarver.
The 21st century brought another British resurgence at 168lbs, with Joe Calzaghe and later Carl Froch becoming the division’s standard-bearers. Speaking to The Sun, Benn admitted he would have welcomed the chance to face Calzaghe — and was candid enough to concede he may not have beaten him.
“Joe struggled against nobodies. But when he stepped up in class to fight the likes of Jeff Lacy, for instance, he made them look like nobodies. I’d have loved him to have been around in my heyday. I’ll be honest enough to admit I think he would have beaten me — he’d have been in a fight though.”
Calzaghe retired undefeated at 46-0, and it was against Benn’s great rival Eubank that his career truly ignited, winning the WBO title in 1997 — one year after Benn’s final fight.
