Every now and then the boxing gods bless their loyal fans with a story so captivating that the entire event and all involved become immortalised beyond the ropes.
Depending on what generation you belong to, you may be fortunate enough to have been part of one these events. Maybe you’re old enough to have been around when Ali fought Frazier in their brutal 14 round war of attrition, aptly named “the thriller in Manilla”. Or perhaps, you watched in awe as Ali put on the iconic tactical master class against George Foreman during their “Rumble in the jungle”. If you were fortunate enough to have watched or listened to either or those live broadcasts then I am truly envious of you. The build up to those fights must have been amazing and I can only imagine the anticipation of the fans. This era of boxing in particular had some of the greatest boxing stories and it these stories that create unforgettable boxing moments.
For a fight to hold legendary status like the two I have just mentioned, there are key ingredients that must be added. Having two fighters slug it out in a back and forth toe-to-toe war is undoubtedly entertaining but fights like these will never be remembered the way they should be. There have been countless boxing wars but only a very few earn the right to enter the hall of fame. For this to happen the stars must align perfectly and not only do the fighters need to play their part, but also everyone around them. For example, there is an argument to be made that if it wasn’t for the infamous and charismatic promoter, Don King, many of the legendary boxers he promoted would be no more memorable than boxers such as Leon Spinks or Riddick Bowe. Both Leon and Riddick were great boxers and I have great respect for their careers, however, neither will be remembered outside the boxing world. You see, there have been many a great fighter and many a great fight, but I would suggest that it has only ever been those who have the greatest story to tell that have been the ones we truly remember.
Over the years there have been so many great fighters to have graced the squared circle. Mike Tyson, Sugar ray, “Marvellous” Marvin Hagler, Holyfield, Ricky Hatton, Tripple G’, the unbeaten Floyd Mayweather and Joe Calzaghe. All of them have had careers that many people will never forget and some have played their part in boxing folk law. I don’t think there are many people who can’t remember Tyson vs Holyfield’s fight, when Mike decided to bite a chunk from Holyfield’s ear! But then there are boxers such as Joe Calzaghe. Here’s a guy who has had one of the greatest sporting careers ever known. Retired Unbeaten and beat the very best in their own backyard. Yet Calzaghe is a fighter barely known outside the world of boxing. This is a great example of what happens when just one or two ingredients are missing. Fighters that should be household names fade away from the pages of history only to be remembered by a very few.
The fight game is a fickle thing and for a fighter to leave an indelible mark they need to be dealt a perfect hand.
Of all the boxing stories I’ve ever heard about, or read about, or even been lucky enough to be a part of, there is none better than the story I am about to tell you. For these two fighters the stars truly aligned to create a story never told before, and a new story in the world of boxing is as special as it is rare.
This was not just a once in a lifetime event, this was something so much more and will very likely never happen again.
Chris Eubank was a fighter with a granite chin and an unbreakable will. More importantly, Chris Eubanks Sr had an acute eye for the theatre of the sport. Nobody played the role of the heel like Chris Eubank.
During the late 80’s Chris Eubank made his way through the middleweight division, capturing his first title in 1990 (WBC middleweight title taken from Hugo Corti). Eubank was the epitome of a Heel, a true showman and a person you loved to hate. Eubank was not just a boxer, he was a performer. For example, in every fight, while his opponent would slump down on their stool between rounds, Eubank would refuse to sit down. Instead the antagonistic Eubank would swan around the ring and gloat to a jeering crowd. The crowd would eat up his performance time and time again and if you listen back to the old fights so too did the commentary team. Eubanks behaviour even frustrated his own cornermen at times who were desperate to give him instructions for the following round. Arrogant is a word you heard a lot when pundits and opponents spoke of Chris Eubank and they were absolutely right. Chris Eubank was arrogant but he loved every minute of it and couldn’t care less what his contemporaries said about him. Walking to the ring to Tina Turner’s “Simply the best”, Eubank would then vault the top rope to enter the ring. Nobody did a ring walk better. And when this showman finally entered the ring nobody could knock him down, let alone knock him out! His fighting style was flamboyant to say the least. His attacks were mixed with strange pauses and unpredictable footwork, all of it punctuated with contemptuous posturing. He was pure theatre and as much as people didn’t want to admit, they loved every bit of it.
Personally, I thought Chris Eubank was amazing. I was 10 years old when he won his the WBC title and watching a guy who spoke like an aristocrat and fought like a gladiator was absolutely mesmerising. He was my first boxing hero and at that time boxing needed a hero. I mean Mike Tyson was a legendary boxer but unfortunately I missed his best years. By the time I was old enough to see a Tyson fight he had just been released from prison and was well into the “I’m going eat your children” phase. Not exactly someone to admire. For a young Brit like me, Eubank was just the right amount of crazy and boy could he fight!
To become a great fighter you have to have a nemesis, someone who’s the ying to your yang. Nigel Benn, “The Dark Destroyer” was exactly that.
Although Eubank was my boxing hero, I was still only ten years old and at that age my world revolved around Tranformers and Hulk Hogan. Consequently, Nigel Benn had slipped under my radar and when it was announced that Eubank would fight for the WBO middleweight belt against a guy called “The Dark Destroyer”, I didn’t really give it much thought. After watching that epic fight, however, I was as much a fan of Nigel Benn as I ever was of Eubank.
Nigel Benn spoke with anger, like some ruined man who had a vengeance against the world. He was an open wound, a walking toothache, and his anger was directed squarely towards his opponent. Nigel Benn was a scary guy and the complete opposite of Chris Eubank. While Chris spoke eloquently and with a smug calm, Nigel spoke like your local pub thug. The only thing this pair had in common was that they hated one another and this hatred was certainly not just for the cameras. It was the perfect storm and with the public already behind the down to earth Nigel Benn, Eubank’s heel persona could flourish like never before. By the time the bell rang for the first round, the entire United Kingdom was already on the edge of their seats.
The fight itself was a toe-to-toe war. Eubank would knock down Benn, but in true “dark destroyer” style, Nigel would come out fighting like a wounded animal and shake Eubank to his boots. In round 9, Chris landed a barrage of heavy blows and forced the referee to stop the fight.
Eubank admitted in the post fight interview that he’d never felt such power before. While both fighter remained enemies, they certainly won the others respect that night. Subsequently, Chris Eubank also won the respect of the British public too.
Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank fought again in 1993 at super middleweight. Although the rematch was less ferocious than their first encounter, it was still an exciting event. Their rematch ended in a draw, which interestingly was the only result which would allow them to escape a contractual clause that would see them signed to Don King. Funny that. Personally, I liked each fighter so much that a draw was the perfect outcome and my lasting memory from this epic rivalry was their embrace at the end of the fight.
They truly were gladiators of the modern age and I honestly thought I’d witnessed my once in a lifetime fight.
Eubank and Benn were my Ali and Foreman and after their thrilling battles they both continued to strengthen their legacy. But as is with all boxers, Father Time eventually catches up with them and by the late 90’s both had hung up their gloves. Thankfully, Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank came to the end of their boxing careers without much damage. However, both boxers, Eubank especially, were pretty mental to begin with so it’s hard to tell. Both appeared on TV here and there and while Benn chose a much quieter life Chris seemed to enjoy the limelight. As time went on, the TV appearances dwindled and both fighters seemed to walk off into the sunset only to be remembered by those who were lucky enough to have been there. As much as I’d had liked for Eubank and Benn to be around forever, this book had written its final chapter. The end…
While the likes of Naseem Hamed, Ricky Hatton, and Carl “The Cobra” Froch were lighting up the UK boxing world, two young prodigies were convincing their fathers to allow them to follow on in their footsteps. Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr were their names and it seems now that fate would have things no other way…
Amazingly, and against all the odds, both sons began making their mark upon the boxing world. Considering the names they were carrying they certainly had some big boots to fill. The pressure and expectations, I imagine, must have been incredible and under normal circumstances at least one should have buckled under the pressure. I mean the odds of this happening really do need to be appreciated! Two of the worlds most exciting boxers end up having sons of a similar age, and both sons not only take up boxing but become elite boxers just like their fathers!! Incredible. I can only imagine how much the promoters were frothing at the mouth at the mere prospect of a Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn showdown.
Being the older of the two, Chris Eubank Jr was the first to land on the boxing scene. Jr spoke like his father, moved like him too and had lightning fast hands. As a first generation Eubank fan, this was not only encouraging to see it was also exciting. Being able to relive the Eubank era through his son was a fantastic thought and while Jr didn’t have the knockout power his father wielded he still had all of his panache and that was enough for me.
And then Conor Benn came along and as the gods would have it, Conor was also a chip off the old block. Like his dad, Connor was a snarling, ferocious, time-bomb of a fighter who was more than willing to take a punch in order to dish one out.
As a fan, the idea of these two facing off against one another is what boxing dreams are made of. Imagining the two young sons walking to the ring with their respective fathers at their side made me want to pinch myself. This was a dream come true and a fight that had to happen. The stars had aligned and now it was the job of everyone involved to ensure this fight take place. It is the destiny of each son to carry on what their fathers had started 30+ years ago.
