Nigel Benn possessed a balance of blinding hand speed and shocking KO power . In the fights I've seen of him - including a few that he lost - he looked like he could knock out any fighter in the world. It took a special fighter to beat him on his night. A fight with James Toney would have been a fight of the year candidate. Nigel Benn was good - damn good.
Collins beat him twice, Eubank beat him also..and som Malinga guy ( spelling ? )...I guess he was pretty good though
It's not as quite as simple as that, you can't just look at a guys record and look at his loses. 3 of those loses came after the McClellen fight, he was DONE then, his career was winding down. Also there's no shame in losing to Eubank.
I'm not shaming him...but he was only what, 31?? when Collins beat him twice..I still feel Lacy is a top guy, just like Benn was, but he got beat by Joe..and Benn got beat by Eubank and Collins. but still Benn was very good, and so was..IS Lacy..Jeff only has lost once still. and Benn lost only what, 4 times or so??..pretty good I'd say,
He was 31, but he was still past his peak. After the McClellen fight he was damaged goods, the guy tried to comit suicide, he was all over the place. Pre-McClellen he wouldn't have lost to Collins or Malinga.
Benn was an animal. Absolutely ferocious. Concussive power, excellent speed, very good at bobbing and weaving to get in close. Just a tremendous fighter who should be in the Hall of Fame.
I think Collins would have beat him atleast 1 of 2 times..the Calzaghe haters don't accept a factual/fractual hand excuse, ineither will I accept an age of 31 - 32 as legite excuses
Collins gets no respect, does he? He beats Eubank twice and Benn twice. He was Irish though, so it would kill their hearts in England to give him any credit. Not enough nuthuggers, I suppose! I happen to believe Benn was past his best in 1996 too, the McClellan fight took something from him undoubtedly, but he got in the ring against Collins, didn't he? Michael Watson beat Benn, Collins had the tools to blunt Benn too, tough guy, big heart, was durable and was blessed with stamina. Collins took Mike McCallum the distance in 90 as an inexperienced pro, McCallum was the Bodysnatcher. I happen to think Collins could have beaten Benn at any stage of their careers. If you could take Benn's power, he got frustrated and was there to be beaten.
In a nutshell, about as good as you just described. Throw in the words "vicious" in that description and that's Benn.
Really? :fight made a big deal about Hopkins' having four losses ... can't have it both ways ... lol Joey surely thinks Benn is a :gayfight then ....
huge power , better chin than people give him credit for also, see the mclellan fight he took some insane punishment, had some great movement on the way in to land shots and was good on the ropes also, great fighter.