Nigel Benn vs Iran Barkley

It wasn't handled well.

Benn was hurt as well in the fight and if Barkley was allowed to continue, he probably would have hurt him again.

A shame there was no rematch.

 

Benn should have been penalized for the late blows. But it was the 3-knockdown rule that really ruined things.

 

that was barkleys first fight after eye surgery and he had to lose about fifty pounds to fight at 160 lbs.he was badly wt drained. ben caught barkley at just the right time.

 

They were correct. Benn was a foul fighter. But exciting to watch, nonetheless.

 

This is also a valid perspective.

Carlos Padilla's worst performance ever. Benn flagrantly fouled him twice, and no dq, no points off, no additional rest, no stern warning. Nothing.

And yes, the three knockdown rule is a horrid rule that should be obliterated forever.

 

The fouls are a black mark on a great shoot out, but compared to how Froch got away with twice blatantly hitting Dirrell after "break" and then throwing him to the ground with the ref doing nothing - with a robbery decision as the icing on the cake - it's relatively easy to swallow.

He made for great fights, Benn did. Too bad he never met Jackson.

 

There is a difference. I have little sympathy for fighters who foul by holding excessively, and then the other fighter in response to that foul tries to get himself free to punch by using some wrestling tactics of his own, or tries to maul the fighter to discourage him from taking illegal time outs with tight grabbing. Part of the sport, and the two fouls cancel out, for one would not take place without the other, so even-steven.

A flagrant foul on a defenseless fighter down on the canvas is an entirely different situation, and is an egregious foul.

 

Froch hitting after the red had said "break" and separated them had nothing to do with holding. That was just flagrant cheating.

I think it's fully warranted that you punch someone who's holding you, even if it's in the back fo the head in some cases. But this was very different.

Was Benn-Barkley also held in England, btw?

 

Always liked Benn's answer when asked "Why did you hit him when he was down"?
Benn's reply: " 'Cause he was trying to get up".

 

Iran cut a ton of weight late for that fight. Completley drained.

 

No.

 

The no foul rule was in play that night. Benn said when the ref came to his dressing room he said 'if you want a war - you've got one.' Thats why he hit Iran behind the head and on the floor. Like everyone else said, I wish it wasn't a 3 knockdown rule, that could hav been epic!!

 

EDIT.............The fight was much more exciting than i remember it being lol. I originally thought Benn just went in there and wiped the floor with him but he did get hurt a few times in the process.