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After suffering his first career defeat against Michael Watson in 1989, Nigel Benn took his career across the pond to 
After 3 straight wins, Benn looked set to return to England against Roberto Duran for the WBC middleweight title
The story will continue in this thread
After 3 straight wins, Benn looked set to return to England against Roberto Duran for the WBC middleweight title
The story will continue in this thread
The BBBofC were not keen on accepting Duran as an opponent for Benn and the fight fell through. Duran didn’t fight for over a year and that left Julian Jackson to fight Herol Graham for the vacant WBC title.
Benn instead fought Doug DeWitt for the WBO title
Benn instead fought Doug DeWitt for the WBO title
After beating Doug DeWitt for the WBO title, three possible opponents were named for Nigel Benn’s next fight....
Boxing politics (BBBofC not recognising the WBO) were keeping Nigel Benn from returning to fight in the UK so he would fight in the US for a 5th consecutive time.
His opponent was was former WBC champ Iran Barkley.
It was expected to be a war and it turned out to be just that.
His opponent was was former WBC champ Iran Barkley.
It was expected to be a war and it turned out to be just that.
Following his first round win over Iran Barkley, Nigel Benn tore up his BBBofC licence which seemingly put paid to any hopes of returning home to fight in the UK.
Benn’s eyes were now firmly set on a fight with Sugar Ray Leonard
Benn’s eyes were now firmly set on a fight with Sugar Ray Leonard
Nigel Benn was unable to secure big money fights with Hearns, Leonard or Duran but after the WBO title fight between John David Jackson and Chris Pyatt on UK soil a door was opened.
After many back and forths a deal was agreed for Benn to return to the UK and fight Chris Eubank
After many back and forths a deal was agreed for Benn to return to the UK and fight Chris Eubank
Nov 1990
Chris Eubank stopped Nigel Benn in round 9 of a thrilling fight in front of a packed crowd in Birmingham to become the WBO middleweight champion
It was not the end of their rivalry as 3 years later they would meet again in a Super Middleweight unification clash
Chris Eubank stopped Nigel Benn in round 9 of a thrilling fight in front of a packed crowd in Birmingham to become the WBO middleweight champion
It was not the end of their rivalry as 3 years later they would meet again in a Super Middleweight unification clash
