On Saturday the 26th of April 2025, Benn and Eubank will do battle in a huge middleweight bout in front of a sell-out stadium crowd. But of course this is not Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank Sr, but rather their sons, Conor Benn and Chris Jr. The year is not 1990, but 2025, but there may well be the same animosity between the two sons as there was between their fathers some 35 years ago.
The two children, sometimes derided as nepo babies, were originally due to fight on the 8th of October 2022. That contest was postponed after Benn tested positive for the banned substance clomifene. Mainly used to treat female infertility, clomifene can boost testosterone but Benn has fought hard to clear his name, claiming the failed drugs test was due to him consuming a lot of eggs. That explains why his upcoming opponent smashed an egg in his face in a pre-fight promotional event in February. Well, sort of explains it!
Benn has been cleared of intentional doping, with the WBC accepting his “reasonable explanation” for the adverse findings. He will hope to put the whole incident in the past and deliver an upset when he faces Eubank at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. But the past is where we now head, with this exciting bout making many older boxing fans think back to that glorious era of British and Irish boxing in the 1990s.
Benn, Eubank and Collins: Three Great Fighters, Six Huge Fights
Every era has its rivalries and fights that somehow capture the imagination of the public beyond those who are long-term fans of boxing. Muhammad Ali fought in a true golden era for heavyweight boxing and took part in so many iconic fights, forging serious rivalries with a number of fighters, often clashing against the same men multiple times. His fights against Joe Frazier, George Foreman and Sonny Liston are among the most famous in the history of the sport.
In terms of British and Irish boxing, the three-way rivalry between Eubank, Benn and Steve Collins takes some beating. The three champions all held world titles at both middleweight and super middleweight and they all fought twice against the two other members of this holy trinity of the sport.
They provided excitement aplenty, with some classic fights made all the more thrilling by the clear dislike that existed, particularly towards Eubank from the other two fighters. Benn and Collins have subsequently become friends and there was always a degree of respect between them. Eubank, however, was a very singular man who was open in his disdain for both rivalries, though he was particularly scornful of Benn.
Comparing the Fighters
Comparing fighters, even from the same era, is not always a straightforward task. However, to get some uderstandng of these three greats, let’s take a look at some basic facts about their lives and careers.
| Stat | Nigel Benn | Chris Eubank | Steve Collins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 22/1/1964 | 8/8/1966 | 21/7/1964 |
| Place of Birth | Ilford, London | Dulwich, London | Cabra, Dublin |
| Nickname | The Dark Destroyer | Simply the Best | Celtic Warrior |
| Wins/Losses/Draws | 42/5/1 | 45/5/2 | 36/3/0 |
| KO Percentage (of wins) | 83% | 51% | 58% |
| Record Against Other Two | 3 losses, one draw | 1 win, 2 losses, one draw | 4 wins |
On the face of those stats alone it would be easy to claim that Collins was the best of the three boxers but there is far more to life than stats. The bare numbers do not consider the calibre of fighters each man fought, nor where they were in their careers when they came up against each other, to cite just two issues.
To further illustrate the problem when only looking at the stats above, it is worth noting that Eubank lost his final three fights, the last two being against Carl Thompson at junior-heavyweight (cruiserweight). Benn also lost his final three fights. Additionally, Collins fought far fewer bouts than either of his rivals, and only really became a true world-class boxer in his 30s, by which point the other two men were probably past their best to varying degrees, even though they were a similar age.
There is also a strong argument that Benn was not quite the same fighter after his battle with Gerald McClellan, which left the American with a serious brain injury. Equally Eubank was hugely affected by his second fight with Michael Watson. Eubank beat Watson by majority decision in June 1991 and in the rematch again got the better of him, this time by TKO in the 12th round. However, after the fight Watson collapsed and there were sever delays in him receiving adequate treatment. He nearly died and spent 40 days in a coma, needing six operations on his brain. He was left wheelchair bound and struggled to speak for many years, and the incident definitely made Eubank a less savage fighter.
Three Great Champions
Rather than comparing the three fighters, it is perhaps better to remember them all as outstanding champions. Each had their own distinct style and personality, with different strengths and weaknesses. Collins was, as his nickname suggests, a true Warrior, with amazing heart, a good chin and incredible workrate. Many argue that he lacked the real class and skill of the two other fighters but nonetheless, he held the WBO middleweight and super-middleweight titles at the same time and retired without ever losing his titles.
Eubank was an eccentric figure, loved and loathed by many, often at the same time. He was a very skilful pugilist who could fight in a range of different ways, though he became less aggressive after the terrible incident with Watson. His showmanship shouldn’t take away from his brilliant chin and the fact that his first defeat did not come until his 44th fight speaks volumes.
Benn was perhaps the most popular of the three and his power and style were a big part of the appeal. His incredible knockout percentage is testament to his power but he lacked a little of the skill of Eubank. However, Benn was a fighter who people loved to watch, and he produced a number of thrilling fights. His first clash with Eubank must go down as one of the greatest fights in British boxing history. Let’s hope their children can produce something similar!