Two egos so combustible they could set the ring alight. Eubank was poetry in motion. Polished and articulate. Benn was raw, relentless and fuelled by rage. When Chris Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn stepped through the ropes an entire nation held their breath. A grudge forged in 1990, and still present 35 years later.
There was no getting away from the rivalry. If you are from the UK, your mother had an opinion on the fight. Heck, your mother’s mother had an opinion on the fight. Their first fight in 1990 drew 16.5m viewers. The scale of the rivalry was unfathomable. Both men were fighting to define their careers. The mere thought of losing to their counterpart was a gut wrenching ordeal. It was a point of pride for both, a battle for supremacy.
Barry Hearn recalled meeting Chris Eubank Sr for the first time, in the Grosvenor Hotel, Sheffield.
“My name is Christopher Livingston Eubank. I’m an athlete, and I know my worth.” Eubank declared.
What a character. This was a man that was brought up in impoverished surroundings, spending his early years in Jamaica before moving to London at six years old, and later moving to New York City at sixteen. He was suspended from school eighteen times in a single year, before eventually being expelled. Why? For fighting bullies, to protect the other children.
“My name is Christopher Livingston Eubank. I’m an athlete, and I know my worth”
Chris Eubank Sr.
Nigel Benn on the other hand was brought up in Ilford, but would join the Royal Fusiliers at the ripe age of eighteen. He later spoke about how his experiences in Northern Ireland were amongst the scariest of his life. Forged by trauma, he would go on to be one of the most devastating punchers from these shores – winning his first 22 professional contents via knockout.
The pair met in November of 1990, but not before their iconic contract signing that was broadcasted on live television. Eubank and Benn gave us the best rivalry in British boxing history. The series would end with a ninth round stoppage victory for Eubank, in their first bout. A draw would follow in their blockbuster rematch in October of 1993. There’s a general feeling that the rivalry was never properly concluded. Many believe that Nigel Benn did enough to win their second fight, and the demand for a third contest was certainly there. Unfortunately, it never came.
35 years on from the first contest between a Eubank and a Benn, we have a third. Two sons will follow in the footsteps of their legendary fathers and do battle at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. This is more than a fight. There’s legacy on the line and the pride of two families. You might not like the circumstances in which this fight has transpired, but one thing is for certain… There will be blood.
