If there was ever a clamor for the next installment of the boxing rivalry, this one that would hopefully settle the question of who is the better fighter once and for all, it would be a very vitriolic and gripping affair. This is Nigel Benn. A rivalry with Chris Eubank that lasted three years.
These two middleweight/super middleweights met twice, in November 1990 and October 1993. Eubank, who was well under the skin of Benn, who was far more experienced and better known at the time, scored first blood. Eubank stopped Benn in a close 9th round. Eubank struggles with Ben’s venom powers, and is later nearly severed by Ben’s punch, with his tongue receiving several stitches.
Yes, Eubank is a strange character with a monocle and a seemingly unsuitable fit as a fighter (Eubank is as controversial as his saying that boxing is “a game of mugs”). (Almost admitted that he could fight just as well as he did). Ben and the British public knew that.
However, Ben insisted that he had not underestimated his irritating rival, but rather “overestimated” him, and wanted a rematch. So did the British people as a whole. It had to happen. After all that happened, including Eubank and Michael Watson’s disastrous comeback fight and the fallout that rocked the boxing world in the biggest story of all time, in the end, it looked like they genuinely hated each other. The two men met again.
The rematch between Eubank and Benn, dubbed ‘Judgment Day’, took place in front of 43,000 fans at Manchester’s Old Trafford. Benn, the current defending WBC super middleweight champion, faced Eubank, who holds the WBO belt. But it was very different from the first fight the two fought, this time both men used patience and boxed smartly. In fact, aside from the thrilling final round, I’d say this rematch was a pretty boring affair.
Of course, the controversy surrounding this decision was similarly highly publicized. The match ended in a draw, with both fighters retaining their titles, but ultimately nothing was proven as to who was the better man and the better fighter.
And that has been the case for 30 years, and will continue to do so.
Thirty years ago today, Benn and Eubank stepped out of the ring as equals, but for reasons that are never fully explained, there was never a third match. Then again, if ever a boxing rivalry screamed and practically begged for another, it was this one. But no, there was no third fight. Instead, Eubank and Benn, who later resolved their differences outside the ring and became friends (of sorts), remained 1-0-1.
As for who was the better fighter between the two, well…that’s just an opinion and nothing more. Who would have won if the third match had happened in 1994 or 1995? We’ll never know.
Today, we fans know that Ben Jr. and Eubank Jr. will take place in/future matches with almost as much hype and attention as the two fights their fathers gave us. , you might be able to see yourself doing it. There was a lot of fuss that day.
