If you could break down, nigel benns chances vs these dangerous, strong opponets to the ATG elite ones. Thomas Hearns Sugar ray leonard John Mugabi (war) Hamsho Past Prime Bennie Briscoe Willie Monroe Vito Antuofermo Alan Minter Tony Sibson Roberto Duran Caveman lee Add your own if you like.
Nigel would have never made it going into Philly and fighting all those tough hombres the way Marvin did. We're talking pre-title Hagler. Benn loses way too many of those fights. And he isn't going 3-0 against Seales either, come to think of it. And the wear and tear could see him losing to a guy with a negative style like a Geraldo. Nigel doesn't handle that stuff and we aren't even to the controversial Antuofermo #1 fight. That was a grueling 15 rounder and I don't see Benn lasting 15 with that guy back then.
I agree, benn didn't have the boxing skills to take a break off, and he was wild and chinny. But I meant to say how would he do in a one fight situation. Not having to go through the gruelling resume of hagler. Let's say a fresh nigel benn.
Well, you could say how good would Marvin have been if he didn't go through the minefield he had to? That's a lot of tough miles before beating Sibson. Nigel is an exciting fighter that could put fans in the seats, win or lose. I tend to think he loses a lot more than he wins. To name a guy he'd be a big favorite over isn't easy....how about Trinidad at 160? Or better yet Donald Curry.
Nigel vs Sibson would have been a classic. Same in a fight with Mugabi. Antuofermo may well have outlasted Nigel. Leonard and Hearns would have beaten him. Minter,unless he got cut up,would have too much skill.
Nigel Benn would always have been far too powerful for Minter and too fast handed for Sibson. The chin thing is always overstated with Benn, there's never been a chinny fighter in the history of the sport who could have taken the best shots of Gerald McClellan for round after round. The Benn who beat Dewitt and Barkley beats Antoufermo and Lee too. Agree that Leonard and Hearns would have beaten him. Mugabi would have been a tough night too, but a winnable one.
Like someone said on here,pre title Hagler opponents are a BIG problem for Benn. The `Worm` beats him ,too much savvy skills and Philly toughness as well. Briscoe beats him as well, too much chin and too much power. Boogaloo has the style to turn the trick as well. I think Antuofermo beats him over 15,he isn`t stopping Vito (fact !) and Benn would get outowrked by him as well. Hearns would stop Benn if he`s landing the right hand he drilled Hagler with.
Honestly, the real question is does anyone think Benn could have even worked his way to the title fighting when Hagler fought his way to the top !
well obviously no one will think that he can, looking at the mood of most posts. Im giving benn a chance here, does he beat haglers opponents, when hes fresh and not having too go through a dangerous resume beforehand.
i gotta disagree buddy. No doubt Hearns, Leonard & Duran beat Nigel Benn, but i give him a massive shout of KOing Monroe, Watts & Vito. Your really underestimating Benn's punching power here in this thread. Benn could not box to save himself, but boy could he punch. He punched hard enough to STOP Doug "iron-chin"DeWitt, he went over to Vegas and chiseled Iran Barkley in the opening round. Benn was the only fighter to dent the chin of Hagler's half-brother Robbie Sims. So i would fancy him to to beat those guys and also destroy the likes of Mugabi, Lee, Obel & Hamsho.
I think he could beat fighters like Briscoe, Monroe, Lee, Duran, Leonard and even Minter. Minter looked ordinary but he was probably better than he looked Mugabi, he would knock out. Hearns could go either way. Sibson would probably waste him in 5 and Vito would decision him