What if Benn had stepped into an over the weight fight against Carl Thompson around '91? Could Benn get by this guy?
No. Similarly to Chris Eubank,he'd haveput up a good fight but would have found Thompson too naturally big.
Eubank is naturally the bigger man compared to Benn, had the better chin and better boxer. Both Thompson fights were great close affairs and Eubank's eye damage is what cost him to lose both fights. Benn would be at a far bigger disadvantage in weight to Thompson than Eubank, but Benn's punching power I believe even at cruiserweight would give him a chance especially in the early rounds as Thompsom was always a slow starter. If the fight went into later rounds I think Thompson's underrated stamina and heavy hands would eventually wear Benn down similar to when Eubank stopped Benn in their 1st fight.
In 1991? Yes he would have a great chance. The then Adrian Thompson did not make his name until that glorious night on Seconds Out when he came in as a same day sub to upset the then unbeaten Nicky Piper. So providing Benn insisted on a fight at 175 tops, he would be a very warm favourite back then, and I think would comfortably win in about four or five rounds, as Thompson had confidence issues at that time.
Yeah this was the version of Thompson I was thinking about...around light heavy...not the cruiser that Eubank tangled with...
Would be a great fight .I can see Benn hurting the cat early but I think Carl would hang in there and turn the tables latter in the fight stopping benn against the ropes in about 7 rnds .
Benn was making a lot of noise about moving up to light-heavy to face Andries, Harding, Barkley, Hearns and Hill, after the Eubank loss and before the WBC win. He simply wasn't naturally big enough. When he faced light-heavies boiling down to super-middle following the day-before weigh-in rule (post-Eubank/Watson II) such as Morgan, Malinga, Galvano, Piper, Gent and Giminez he really struggled to shift them (compared to banging natural same-day weigh-in middles head over heels for fun). In his last two fights against Steve Collins, he looked like a little boy compared to Steve and was manhandled, despite having finally 'grown into' super-middleweight, apparently. Having said that, Thompson wasn't very good back then and Benn was lightning. But Thompson only has to land a jab solidly and Benn's concentration wasn't ever bang-on other than in maybe six or so fights (DeWitt, Barkley, Eubank I, Sims, Galvano I, McClellan, and David Noel) out of about 50?
Benn would put up a good few rounds, but Thompson would stop him, benn did not have the chin like Eubank did
