Birmingham 18 November 1990

Here is another epic domestic encounter, (although it was for a world title). Nigel Benn ‘The Dark Destroyer’ fought Chris ‘Simply the Best’ Eubank twenty years ago this November. It was in pure and simple terms the perfect ‘grudge’ match. You could not get two totally different individuals than Benn and Eubank. Their personalities, attitudes and beliefs were in complete contrast.

Benn was the brash, flashy, uncompromising, ex army, all-action slugger who confessed to enjoying ‘a good old fashioned tear up.’ In the opposing corner was the enigmatic, contemplative, quiet family man with modest, almost old-fashioned tastes and ideals, with a ‘stockbroker voice’ who unlike rival Benn who enjoyed designer clothes, jewellery and fast cars wore riding jodhpurs, a monocle, tweed jackets and carried a cane.

Whether much of Eubank’s demeanour and appearance was an act or it was indeed his genuine self, his mannerisms and views seemed to have the uncanny knack of rubbing rival Benn up the wrong way. Both men made for excellent copy and the media loved them for it. The fact that both could produce exciting knockouts and fought in the same weight division meant that it would not be long before their paths crossed.

Benn’s fans loved his no-nonsense, ‘take no prisoners’ approach. He had shown character after a much hyped losing contest against Michael Watson in May of 1989 and since then had fought in the USA beating many top ranked American boxers including Robbie Sims, culminating in winning the WBO title against tough guy and rock jawed, Doug De Witt. More impressively he had destroyed the man who had recently defeated Detroit legend Thomas ‘The Hit Man’ Hearns in a single round, Iran Barkley. To say that Benn was not a hugely confident champion was to make a gross understatement. He had paid his dues, come back from adversity and loved his trade.

Eubank on the other hand was openly critical of the sport describing it as ‘a mugs game’ and making no bones about only being in it for the money. This honesty may not have endeared him to his fellow fighters, but the press lapped it up. He was clearly his own man and had rattled up 24 victories in a row in a career that had began as a light-middleweight in the States and was now based mainly in the British Isles. Some accused him of just being another pretender full of hot air and believed he would crumble at the first serious test.

Promoter Barry Hearn (famous in the world of snooker as well) had total belief in Eubank, they had enjoyed a fruitful partnership so far and now Hearn believed, was the time to put his man to the ultimate test.

It did not take much to get the two together and with the hype and the genuine antagonism and dislike for each other saw a packed 12,000 crowd assembled at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham on 18 November 1990 as well as millions watching on terrestrial television (this was in the days before Satellite television had the monopoly and it was quite common for over 10 million to tune in to a big fight of this calibre).

Benn received an ecstatic reception from the sell out crowd as he entered the ring to the fanfare of a military band. Eubank entered to a mixture of cheers and jeers to the strains of Tina Turner’s ‘Simply the Best.’ He did his customary vault over the top rope to enter the ring and then surprised everyone by standing dead still in his corner for five minutes in a pose that was part body builder, part yoga guru. Whether it was for the benefit of the cameras or to ‘psyche out’ his opponent was unclear. But in years to come this type of unconventional behaviour became a staple of Eubank the boxer.

The anticipation of the first bell was indescribable, Benn stood like a gladiator contemptuously glowering at his opponent while Eubank looked like he was still meditating. The bell rang and the crowd roared and to everyone’s surprise Eubank left his corner in a sideways crab-like manner and fired a wild right that only just missed Benn’s jaw. Reportedly Eubank had bet £1,000 on himself that he would knock the champion out in the first round. Again whether this was self belief or another psychological ploy was never ascertained. The odds of 40-1 meant that it was worth a flutter but Eubank would soon discover that confidence bordering on arrogance is good but it never prepares you for the real thing.

The pair clinched at one point and it was Benn’s turn to try to score psychological points as he lifted the surprised Eubank off his feet and almost over his shoulder. It was clearly designed to unsettle the Brighton man and to show that Benn had the strength to do as he pleased. At the bell Eubank scored well again and then posed and postured for a good fifteen seconds or so before his trainer Ronnie Davies angrily pulled him away.

The second round was more exciting and for the first time after all the mind games the real fighting began. Both tested each others chin. Eubank was first to succeed by landing two chopping rights before leaning in to a powerful Benn right counter that would have flattened a lesser man. To everyone’s surprise the shot that should have knocked him over spurred the underdog into a furious assault that sent the champion reeling back and bobbing on the ropes. At the end of the round it was clear that Benn had sustained some eye damage as his left eye began to redden and swell, it would soon become completely closed. More importantly Eubank had shown the world that he was not all hot air and hype by taking such a powerful shot and responding exceptionally well.

Benn was not world champion for nothing and in the third and fourth rounds he boxed well by bobbing under Eubank’s wide looping punches and landing his own to the body. The challenger now sported some facial damage as his left cheek showed crimson from a cut. There was also blood showing on his lower lip. Benn’s left eye was now completely and grotesquely closed shut. Both men showed the marks of an absorbing and punishing battle.

Eubank boxed sensibly in the fifth staying out of range of the champion’s hooks and utilising the jab well to score points. The momentum had swung back to the challenger and with each passing second Benn’s eye worsened, as did his chances of victory. In the sixth Benn landed a hurtful punch into Eubank’s groin, whether it was a legitimate error due to his impeded vision or a deliberate foul was unclear. The challenger understandably doubled up and sank to the canvas in clear discomfort. He rose showing plenty of heart and thanks to the WBO’s ‘no foul’ rule Benn could not be disqualified. Instead Eubank was allowed a minute or so to recover (once again the alphabet organisations lack of cohesion and strange rules and regulations were in danger of producing a controversy).

In the seventh round it was clear that Eubank was still in distress and he complained bitterly after taking another low blow. This time referee Richard Steele in his infinite wisdom, ignored him. A clubbing right behind Eubank’s ear from a resurgent Benn sent him down in his own corner in the eighth. Eubank quickly got up and complained bitterly to the referee that it was a slip and not a knockdown, yet again Steele ignored him and completed the ‘eight’ count.

Eubank was showing tremendous character and resilience under all this pressure. Not many boxers would have managed to withstand such a determined two-fisted attack from Benn but fatigue was beginning to set in. Unsurprisingly really as the pace both men had set would have tired out most bantamweights!

Late in eighth round the two stood stock still, facing each other daring the other to make a move. Suddenly Benn attacked and once again Eubank complained about rabbit punching. At the bell the question remained: was Eubank beginning to crack? Could Benn sustain his attacking and get Eubank out of there? Or could Eubank who had taken everything thrown at him including the fouls (intentional or not) rally back and win the fight?

The ninth started with a more composed Eubank fighting intelligently on Benn’s blind side, scoring once again with jabs. Benn looked very tired and he was swinging but missing. Suddenly an assault from Eubank shook Benn badly as two rights sent the champion dramatically to the ropes. Eubank opened up with both hands a blur of leather as Benn staggered and soaked up the fusillade of hurtful shots coming his way.

The champion managed to get to a neutral corner only to get caught with more full-blooded hooks and uppercuts. It was clear there was no way back for Benn and referee Steele dived in to end it all. There were only five seconds left in the round remaining (similar to another Steele contest earlier that same year where he stopped Meldrick Taylor who was ahead on points against Mexican great Julio Cesar Chavez with only two seconds remaining).

It was clear that Benn was totally done. There was no way back for him, he was utterly spent and his face was a mask of bruising and an ugly closed left eye. Eubank was cut on his cheek and his mouth. Both men had thrown everything at each other and had shown tremendous reserves of courage and stamina. Together their personalities and styles had produced perhaps the most exciting contest and great all British rivalry this country has seen in half a century or more.