Nigel Benn, known as the Dark Destroyer, was twice a
world champion at middleweight and super middleweight.
He lost only 5 of his professional fights, three of those
defeats coming at the end of his career.
Born in Ilford on January 22nd 1964, as a boxer in the
army he had a record 41 wins and one loss. He turned professional
in 1987, and had 22 consecutive knockout wins. Benn was
crowned world middleweight champion after knocking out
Doug DeWitt, the defending champion. He defended his title
against former WBC champion Iran Barkley, but lost to
Chris Eubank.
In 1991, he won the WBC super middleweight title with
a knockout in round 4 of defending champion Mauro Galvano.
This time he successfully defended his title against Eubank
with 12 round draw.
Benn's next fight would change his life forever. World
middleweight champion Gerald McClennan was eager to move
up in weight and become two time world champion as Benn
had, and challenged him.
In an eagerly anticipated fight, in which many say both
fought the fight of their lives, McClennan suffered brain
damage and went blind and was paralysed. These tragic
events took all the fighting spirit out of Benn, and after
losing his title to Steve Collins. Since retiring from
boxing, Benn has had a successful career as a DJ and has
become a TV celebrity.
Chris
Eubank
World Middleweight Champion
|
Born on the 8th August 1966 in Dulwich, London, Chris
spent one and a half years in Jamaica. On his return,
he lived in Stoke Newington, Dalston, Hackney and then
attended Thomas Carlton Secondary School.
After being suspended 18 times in one year and then being
expelled, he then attended Peckham Manor School, from
where he was suspended 5 times and then expelled, although
he was protecting other children from bullies, but was
then put into care.
He was placed in various institutions by Social Services,
and lived on the streets for one and a half years.
His father took him to New York at the age of 16 for three
and a half years and where he graduated from Morris High
School.
He took up boxing while at school in the USA and won the
amateur Spanish Golden Glove Championships in New York
in 1984. He turned professional on October 3rd 1995.His
early fights took place in Atlantic City. He came back
to the UK in 1988 and was with Barry Hearn from his 13th
fight to his 43rd fight.
In 1990 he won the World middleweight title against Nigel
Benn in November .He had 43 straight wins before his first
loss.
To date out of 25 World Championship fights, he has only
lost 5 fights. He holds the record for the most unbeaten
World Title wins in British history.