Picked up and started re-reading Dark Trade , outstanding book for those who haven't read it https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Trade-Boxing-Donald-McRae/dp/1949590054/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3BJ7IYFB1D1BH&keywords=dark+trade&qid=1656949067&s=books&sprefix=dark+trade,stripbooks,86&sr=1-1 and then came across this .. This content is protected great stuff ..
Excellent post. Thanks. Work gets in the way (LOL) but I've watched about 1/4 of The Gloves Are Off Super MW Special. How rare to have elite contemporaries together talking about themselves and their eras? Very articulate, very lucid. Unfortunately Nigel Benn couldn't attend the special. Didn't know he is living in Australia. Checked up, he's still involved in boxing training/mentoring and studying Theology, Sports Coaching and Sports Development. Very active. Really looking forward to watching the balance of the video. EDIT: Finished watching the rest of the video. Great insight into the participating fighters who were quite invested in the special and open about themselves.
Glad you liked it ... funny how life plays out .. at the height of their fame Eubank was quoted as saying we all know Benn is destined to ultimately end up as a bouncer somewhere .. meanwhile it appears Benn is very well off having successfully invested in Real Estate and Eubanks is less financially sound ... go figure ..
Interesting also - it’s often said fighters only fight for the $$$ not for any love of the game. For some, I think it’s a combination of the two motives. That special was filmed 2013 and Collins was framing to fight Jones Jr . Collins made it clear it wasn’t for the money - or at least he didn’t need the money -noting he was financially okay - it was to settle unfinished business. During the special Jones Jr also more or less said fighting on was due to the inner fire to compete. Of course fighters will never fight for free -but it seems some really do like fighting for its own sake. I checked Steve Collins net worth online, not that reliable as a source but I found 2 sites that estimated him at 10 Million - not too bad. Nigel Benn also had two listings estimating his worth to be 20 Million. Roy Jones? Well, there was a listing as “low” as 7 Million whereas another had him as high as 50 Million. LOL. As to Eubank, he is quite the eccentric. Great personality type for the game on top of his boxing style - his draw power and contribution to fattening the potential earnings for other fighters was duly acknowledged also.
Eubank showed boxing could be showbiz, with the extravagant ring entrances and press conferences, crowds for weigh-ins etc.
Thanks for adding the link, if it wasent for that I would be accidently reading Helen H. Durrant right now.