Eubank/Benn/Watson/Collins

Only Groves/Froch 1 lived up to the hype, and unfortunately the referee ruined that one.

They had some good fights outside of fighting eachother, but no classics actually fighting between themselves.

 

It wasn’t just boxing fans, it was EVERYONE. Like nothing we’ve seen before or since.

The Collins stuff came later though and was on subscription tv that few people had back then (or could afford).

Benn, Eubank and Watson caught British sport at its zenith. Windrush produced Linford Christie, Colin Jackson, Ian Wright, John Fashanu etc all household names also.

 

First knockdown in round two wasn’t called. The judges scored round two 10-9 Collins, all three - it should’ve been a 10-8 Eubank round, meaning Eubank would’ve won on points and probably faced Benn and Jones to close his career.

 

That first Eubank-Watson fight at Earls Court was watched by absolutely everyone, all believing the hype that Watson should’ve won (Eubank won clearly).

I remember Eubank on Wogan a week later in front of 10M, calling boxing a ‘mugs game’ and saying he’d write to the boxing authorities himself in the hope Watson would be given a rematch; while talking like an aristocrat from 1935, a black man dressed immaculately. It was like nothing seen before.

crazy times

 

As for Benn….

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That's actually really interesting thanks, it's actually funny because no one ever talks about it. Yet it's a pretty controversial moment, because as you said it determined on who won the fight.

 

Eubank had it coming I guess. We were tired of his roadshow at this point and scraping by the likes of Dan Schommer when he should’ve lost. He redeemed himself years later against Calzaghe and Thompson but it was a little too late for him to pull off the wins with his old sharpness faded.

 

People rejoiced in him losing. The boxing fraternity did not like him and the fans even less so.

 

If I'm being honest, I didn't really enjoy many of Eubanks fights after Watson 2. As you said he didn't have killer instinct anymore, and often laboured to a boring 12 round decision.

The exception would be the Henry Wharton fight, that for me was Eubanks only real standout performance after Watson fight. Apart from his brave efforts against Calzaghe and Thompson.

 

Eubank looked phenomenal against Wharton, when he for once didn’t tire and get sloppy or become a statue.

Ronnie Davies claims it was the weight-making that messed him up, losing 10-15lb in the last few days, whereas against Wharton the control board insisted on weight monitoring for six weeks; he had to be within 5lb of fighting weight 25 days out! It showed, he looked incredible!

I’d like to of seen him campaign at light-hw. That was his true weight class all along.

 

65% success rate in a fight fought at such a fast pace, Eubank v Wharton. That % of punching accuracy hasn’t been seen since over 12 rounds or in a world title fight in computer scoring anywhere.

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That fight took a lot from Henry, who fought out of his skin that night (after freezing against Benn before). He was never the same. A horrendous beating in all honesty.

Origination of dramatic arena entry that night, and it was Eubank’s idea. Hamed took that.

 

( Colin Hart says he saw Eubank at the weigh-in in South Africa the fight before Wharton look GREY, a black man who’s skin had turned fkn grey from dehydration and malnutrition )

 

It’s funny how the English guys hone in on Collins.

 

Eubank had his chance to put it right (rematch) and he didn’t. Collins charged him all night this time and Eubanks just couldn’t get set to bang him over again.

I’m sure he regrets massively not following up in that 10th round of the first one (where he had Collins beat).