Benn/EubankII; Big fish in a small pond...

Discussion in 'British Boxing Forum' started by TBooze, Jul 29, 2010.


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  1. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Got an old (Sept 93) Boxing Monthly out. Some interesting comments by editor Glyn Leach on what was arguably the biggest week in British Boxing history (With Bruno/Lewis fighting the week before).

    "If this was America, we'd probably be calling it "Super October" or some other such tag. But this is just "Quaint old Britain" and, if anything this terrific month for the domestic game seems certain to remind us of not just that fact, but of our self-inflicted lack of importance to world boxing as a whole.

    With Lewis/Bruno set for 1 October and Benn/EubankII on the 9 October, British fight fans have every reason to celebrate: Two big "world" title showdowns on British soil, featuring British fighters, can't be bad, can it?

    But to kid ourselves the world will be watching would be wrong.

    Benn/EubankII is only a domestic showdown; James Toney and Michael Nunn would be heavily favoured to beat either Brit, and everyone knows it..."

    I must say, that week was the best I ever had as a boxing fan, I got to see both fights live, if in rather crap seats, and I think like Leach I stepped back a bit underwhelmed.

    Bruno/Lewis was what it was supposed to be, a brave Bruno defeat, and the Benn/Eubank match was a little disappointing as both fought with too much respect.

    This probably was the best week in British boxing (at least in my time), but with the exception of the first Williams/Audley fight and a couple of bills in my own town, I never went to a fight again, and yet from 1988 to 1993 I must of gone to at least one bill every couple of months.

    Perhaps this period truly was the finale of the peak of this sport in this country...
     
    TBooze, Jul 29, 2010
    TBooze, Jul 29, 2010
    #1
  2. sitiyzal

    sitiyzal ................. Full Member

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    What a bellend. Toney would have started favourite, but no certainty to beat either. Nunn lost his title to a journeyman on a Benn undercard :lol:.
     
    sitiyzal, Jul 29, 2010
    sitiyzal, Jul 29, 2010
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  3. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Actually he is spot on, both Benn and Eubank would of been (at least betting) underdogs against both in the time period.

    This was written in 1993, Leach is not using 17 years of hindsight...
     
    TBooze, Jul 29, 2010
    TBooze, Jul 29, 2010
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  4. Beeston Brawler

    Beeston Brawler Comical Ali-egedly Full Member

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    I can see both sides of the argument.

    That said, I've never really rated Toney anywhere near as high as so many people do - I just don't see it in him.

    Jones whipped him, Griffin beat him once clearly and edged him out another time..... take the wins over Nunn, Jirov and Holyfield out and there is a **** load of filler in his record.
     
    Beeston Brawler, Jul 29, 2010
    Beeston Brawler, Jul 29, 2010
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  5. sitiyzal

    sitiyzal ................. Full Member

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    It was an exaggeration from Leach. Far from spot on, imo
     
    sitiyzal, Jul 29, 2010
    sitiyzal, Jul 29, 2010
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  6. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    For the time at least IMO and the people who I knew who were fans of the sport, no one would seriously believe Benn or Eubank could beat either Toney or Nunn.
     
    TBooze, Jul 29, 2010
    TBooze, Jul 29, 2010
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  7. atberry

    atberry Boxing Junkie banned Full Member

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    It's strange actually that American fans (who had seen Eubank) rated Eubank much better than us Brits did.

    Toney didn't look great against Tony Thornton, Eubank's stiff jab would've certainly got him if he fought like that.

    But yeah that Barkley performance of his was unreal.
     
    atberry, Jul 29, 2010
    atberry, Jul 29, 2010
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  8. Lee Mc

    Lee Mc Boxing Addict banned

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    Both Benn and Eubank would have caused trouble for Toney, Nunn and, whilst we're on the subject, Roy Jones Jr as well.

    That's not to say that they would have beaten them for certain but when you're talking about fighters of that excellence, and lets not forget that the Brits mentioned above were excellent and were definitly amongst the best in the World at Super-middle, anyone is capable of beating anyone on the right day.

    For the record, I seriously believe that Benn would have beaten Toney and Eubank would have had a great chance against Jones Jr. But I guess I'll be alone with the latter opinion.
     
    Lee Mc, Jul 30, 2010
    Lee Mc, Jul 30, 2010
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  9. Beeston Brawler

    Beeston Brawler Comical Ali-egedly Full Member

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    :nono
     
    Beeston Brawler, Jul 30, 2010
    Beeston Brawler, Jul 30, 2010
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  10. Lee Mc

    Lee Mc Boxing Addict banned

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    Sometimes the smileys don't really say enough!!

    Are you agreeing with me or am I being reprimanded? :D
     
    Lee Mc, Jul 30, 2010
    Lee Mc, Jul 30, 2010
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  11. robpalmer135

    robpalmer135 Obsessed with Boxing banned

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    isnt there also an arguement that Herol Graham was the best in Britain at the time.
     
    robpalmer135, Jul 30, 2010
    robpalmer135, Jul 30, 2010
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  12. Freakzilla

    Freakzilla Yooo fookin' Rat Full Member

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    At the time of their first fight maybe, but definitely not in their second fight in 1993 when that article was written.
     
    Freakzilla, Jul 30, 2010
    Freakzilla, Jul 30, 2010
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  13. Lee Mc

    Lee Mc Boxing Addict banned

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    There certainly is but I think people mistake avoided for best... Decent fighter but I personally think that Benn and Eubank would have beaten him easily.
     
    Lee Mc, Jul 30, 2010
    Lee Mc, Jul 30, 2010
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  14. Beeston Brawler

    Beeston Brawler Comical Ali-egedly Full Member

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    Agreeing!!

    Toney is probably the most overrated fighter of the past 30 years, whilst Jones didn't really face that many of the best fighters at or close to their peak - though he would probably have beaten them all anyway.

    Benn and Eubank certainly shouldn't be dismissed against any of the best Americans - but listening to the Yanks it's a case of ''if you don't come here you are automatically ducking''..... when they weren't exactly in a hurry to get their passports out and get the fights on themselves.
     
    Beeston Brawler, Jul 30, 2010
    Beeston Brawler, Jul 30, 2010
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  15. robpalmer135

    robpalmer135 Obsessed with Boxing banned

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    Yassine El Maachi the prime example.
     
    robpalmer135, Jul 30, 2010
    robpalmer135, Jul 30, 2010
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