Should these Brits make it to the HOF??

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by PowerPuncher, Dec 18, 2008.


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  1. PowerPuncher

    PowerPuncher Loyal Member Full Member

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    Nigel Benn - the Mike Tyson of the middleweights, with a similar style to Tyson. Nigel ran through his first 22 victims with 22 KOs until he ran into the canny Mike Watson, who from my recollection stopped him while benn was blinded from a thumb.

    Benn came back to become WBO MW Champ KO'ing Dewitt and Barkley in America before losing in a brutal battle in what should have been fight of the year to Eubank

    Benn came back from this goin 6-0 before going to Italy (the home of controversal officiating) to take the 168 WBC belt from Galvano, which he would defend 10 times. Benn would draw against

    Benn was considered a lower level below Roy Jones and Gerald McCellan until he faced and beat the GMAN in another brutal great great fight

    In conclusion Benn fought many top opposition, was 1 of the most exciting fighters of the last 30years, was a 2weight champ, was a boxer who transcended into a national hero in Britain.

    Chris Eubanks - you can't say Benn without talking about Eubank. The Eubank-Benn rivalry is 1 of the biggest in boxing history as far as Britain is concerned.

    Eubanks obviously beat and drew against Benn but he also twice beat Mike Watson who himself beat Benn. His other defining win is against the 35-0 Rochiagani who would be robbed against Michalczewski and beat Nunn

    Eubank went 41-2-0 before losing his crown to Collins and 17-2-0 in world title fights, albeit the WBO version. If the truth be told Eubanks had controversal decisions along the way

    Eubanks never faced the top Americans like Roy Jones, James Toney, GMAN, Nunn, McCallum, Barkley. But he beat Benn who had wins over 2 of those and he beat Rochiganni who would go on to beat a past prime Nunn

    Naseem Hamed - Another huge figure in British boxing, champion at 21yo, unified all 4 belts at 126, cleaning out the 126lb division over 6years. Probably goes down as having the best 126lb power ever but at his best had a great radar defense, timing, use of angles and speed

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    I would induct all 3
     
    PowerPuncher, Dec 18, 2008
    PowerPuncher, Dec 18, 2008
    #1
  2. stonerose

    stonerose Guest

    I would certainly induct Benn, don't understand why he hasn't been already. He took on all comers ,never lost on foreign soil and beat some very well known fighters. As well as this he fought in one of the most brutal fights ever, which would recieve more recognition if it wasn't for the way it ended. Unique fighter who was adored and still is by his countryman. Many Britons favourite fighter.

    I would induct Hamed due to his excellant record which while not being full of top names was none the less a who's who of title holders and he held titles at a few different weights.He was also a huge box office draw on both sides of the pond.

    Eubank, while being a british boxing legend and great personality who had ability in spades and a solid chin never faced the best like Benn did and openly admitted he dodged fighters like Jones and Nunn,so i'd say no.
     
    stonerose, Dec 18, 2008
    stonerose, Dec 18, 2008
    #2
  3. WhataRock

    WhataRock Loyal Member Full Member

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    Hamed for sure...Benn and Eubank I dont know about, neither fought the best possible opposition available at the time, No Nunn, Toney, McCallum, Jackson, Brewer, Jones Jr, Liles..Barkley probably wasnt the scalp he was either...he had lost two on the trot when Benn beat him.

    Why these fights didnt happen is irrelevant, the fact is they didnt.

    Supermiddle was a young and not very prestigious division at the time should possibly taken into account.

    That being said there are probably guys in there for less, Galaxy for instance...So its not out of the question, but they arent as deserving as Naz thats for sure.
     
    WhataRock, Dec 18, 2008
    WhataRock, Dec 18, 2008
    #3
  4. WhataRock

    WhataRock Loyal Member Full Member

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    Stoney..I know your a big fan of Benn..you dont hide it well :)...But who has he beaten besides McClellan and Barkley to warrant such praise?
     
    WhataRock, Dec 18, 2008
    WhataRock, Dec 18, 2008
    #4
  5. PowerPuncher

    PowerPuncher Loyal Member Full Member

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    I see your point but he ofcourse beat Benn and fought in 2 of the greatest fights of that period, Benn 1 and Watson 2.

    Eubanks also went all the way to Cruserweight and should have had a 3rd title against Thompson in the first fight. He also probably deserved a decision over Collins

    Eubanks did avoid some big fights, but even Sugar Ray Robinson did that

    The funny thing about these 3 is Herol Bomber Graham is better than both the middleweights, made Hamed what he is and has got bugger all chance of getting recognition :|
     
    PowerPuncher, Dec 18, 2008
    PowerPuncher, Dec 18, 2008
    #5
  6. jc

    jc Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    If they let Gatti in before those three i would be very dissapointed...I can see it happening though.
     
    jc, Dec 18, 2008
    jc, Dec 18, 2008
    #6
  7. stonerose

    stonerose Guest


    De witt , Galvano twice, Simms, draw with Eubank. Tell me the massive names who Jones has beat to be considered one of the best of all time apart from Toney and Hopkins ? People get to John Ruiz before long. Not saying he isn't but sometimes its not just about the names, its about the manner of your victory as well . How long did Benn defend his titles for ?A long, long time . He was an extremely respected operator in his day and what gets me about british fighters, it always seems to be them who were avoiding, rather than being avoided .
    The fact that Benn is so talked about to this day spells out FAME to me.
     
    stonerose, Dec 18, 2008
    stonerose, Dec 18, 2008
    #7
  8. PowerPuncher

    PowerPuncher Loyal Member Full Member

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    Barkley lost an SD and an MD to Nunn and Duran respectively. Benn took him out in 1. He'd go on to beat Hearns again and become a 3weight champ after this.

    GMAN was a massive scalp and was P4P top6 at the time. He obviously beat Jackson

    Benn wanted RJJ after GMAN but RJJ didnt want to work with king. Eubanks didn't want him when RJJ was a prospect

    Toney was the biggest that didnt happen, they were probably both steered away

    Brewer and Liles weren't ever meaningful foes

    Nunn and McCallum were great fighters, pity they didn't happen. You missed Bomber Graham
     
    PowerPuncher, Dec 18, 2008
    PowerPuncher, Dec 18, 2008
    #8
  9. PowerPuncher

    PowerPuncher Loyal Member Full Member

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    He dominated and ko'd Mallinga who beat Benn, he beat Virgil Hill who is a top20 all time LHW, he beat McCallum who is just great but old, he destroyed Griffin who beat Toney (and himself), and beat Tarver. All in all he beat 15 champions

    Agree with you that Benn is great though
     
    PowerPuncher, Dec 18, 2008
    PowerPuncher, Dec 18, 2008
    #9
  10. stonerose

    stonerose Guest


    benn also beat malinga. by the time he lost to him he was finished. and mcallum was ****ed by the time he met jones.
    i fully admit jones is far better than benn, but if someone slates benns competition, there isn't a massive gulf between the two. did jones ever face ( and beat )such a murderous puncher as mclellan ?
     
    stonerose, Dec 18, 2008
    stonerose, Dec 18, 2008
    #10
  11. stonerose

    stonerose Guest

    you can pick holes in pretty much everyones record. Benn has a better one than most, especially taking into account losses.
     
    stonerose, Dec 18, 2008
    stonerose, Dec 18, 2008
    #11
  12. WhataRock

    WhataRock Loyal Member Full Member

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    Massive win on paper and reality but watching that fight it was a definition of a technical knockout..Barkley could have continued and knowing how he could come back..really anything could have happened.
    You could actually see the ref didnt want to stop it but had to because of the 3KD rule.
    Not taking anything away from it though...great win.

    McClellan is quite overrated but a good scalp nonetheless.

    Brewer and Liles were title holder during their reign...I would say they would have been better opponents then a lot their defences were...certainly not meaningless.

    My point is though there records arent bullet proof considering they are missing their fair share of names...still solid though.

    Stone,
    I can tell you how long Benn was champ for at supermiddle...nearly 4 years, making 7 or 8 defences of his title..by no means a record and it wasnt like he was undisputed or anything.
     
    WhataRock, Dec 18, 2008
    WhataRock, Dec 18, 2008
    #12
  13. PowerPuncher

    PowerPuncher Loyal Member Full Member

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    Thats pretty debatable, think the ITV team had Benn-Malinga 1 to Malinga and Benn was having problems figuring the South African out. Eubanks had problems with him too. Malinga was pretty unlucky with the decisions. Agreed Benn was probably borderline shot after the GMAN match
     
    PowerPuncher, Dec 18, 2008
    PowerPuncher, Dec 18, 2008
    #13
  14. WhataRock

    WhataRock Loyal Member Full Member

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    I think the gulf is considerable...It fairly obvious IMO.

    Roy probably didnt fight a puncher like McClellan but he fought better opposition and fought light heavyweights, some of which punch for punch didnt punch that much softer then GMAN Id imagine.
     
    WhataRock, Dec 18, 2008
    WhataRock, Dec 18, 2008
    #14
  15. PowerPuncher

    PowerPuncher Loyal Member Full Member

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    Barkley was a TKO but no way Barkley was getting out of that round anyway
     
    PowerPuncher, Dec 18, 2008
    PowerPuncher, Dec 18, 2008
    #15
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