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Nigel Benn’s Ill-Advised Comeback is Yet Another Bad Look for Boxing

On November 23 in Birmingham, England, 55-year-old Nigel Benn (42-5-1, 35 KOs), will face 40-year-old Sakio Bika (34-7-3, 22 KOs), the former WBC super-middleweight champion from Australia by way of Cameroon. Nigel (pictured with his son Conor Benn, a 15-0 welterweight) is in good shape both physically and mentally and is a Born Again, but none of that matters when fighting a much younger roughhousing guy like Bika. This fight, licensed by the British and Irish Boxing Authority (BIBA), should never have been sanctioned.
Ill-advised comebacks are just that, ill advised. Sugar Ray Leonard, Alexis Arguello, “Little Red” Lopez, Razor Ruddock, Fitz Vanderpool, Ricky Hatton, David Tua, Gerry Cooney, Bert Cooper, Greg Page, Corrie Sanders, Ali, and Earnie Shavers found this out the hard way. But suddenly ill-advised comebacks seem to be metastasizing.
“At 35, I was good as ever; same with 45. But after 49-55, no injuries healed. Slaps on the head Caused confusion. So I said no more boxing……” -George Foreman
“A fighter never knows when it’s the last bell. He doesn’t want to face that.”-Sugar Ray Leonard
The Rain Man
Ray Austin, 48, is still fighting and still losing. After a promising start way back in 1996, he came a cropper against Wlad Klitschko in 2007 and it has been all downhill after that. He has lost six of his last seven albeit against stiff opposition. It’s time for Ray to get out of the rain.
The Atomic Bull
Oliver McCall unwisely decided to get back in the ring at the ripe old age of 53 and has shockingly won two bouts—one in 2018 against Larry Knight (3-20-1) and one this past June against Hugo Lomeli (21-14-1). While his record is 59-14, given his past issues outside of the ring, McCall, now 54, should not be anywhere near a boxing match. There are some who see him as unstable and in possible need of an interdiction.
McCall says, “I know I will stop Tyson [Fury] with body shots which will make his liver quiver and his whole body shiver…The major motivation for me is that I just love the sport of boxing…I want to make history.”
The Southern Disaster
Dominick Guinn, like McCall, has an iron jaw and remains very active but he now loses more than he wins. He also fights just about everywhere in the world. At 44, however, he is flirting with his own “disaster” and he needs to reconsider this line of work, especially given the very high level of his opposition.
Tank
Sherman Williams (42-15-2), another road warrior, has won five straight against fair to middling opposition. He too has the granite chin that seems to be at least part of the reason why these elders last so long (Saoul Mamby being a prime example of this). But that can have a nasty flip side. At any rate, if The Tank quits now, he could nicely bookend his career.
Brixton Bomber
Danny Williams once knocked out Mike Tyson. Now the 46-year-old is fighting wherever he can get a license and going up against men like Martin Stansky (3-42) for something called the Global Boxing Federation World Heavyweight Title. He also beat 42-year-old Pavel Siska who has lost 33 in a row, the great majority by stoppage. When Danny beat Iron Mike, his record was 31-3; now it’s 53-28. The once rock-solid fighter from the UK is now an accident waiting to happen.
The Man
Anthony Mundine is 44; he is scheduled to fight 43-year-old John Wayne Parr in November. All well and good, but Parr’s last fight was against Sakio Bika in 2003. This one has a side-show attraction.
The King
Likable good-guy Sam Soliman is 45 and still fighting. He beat Mark Lucas in April 2019 for a fringe middleweight title, but he needs to get out. He’s too nice of a bloke to stay in the game and risk a humiliation; that is, unless he can find someone even older to fight.
The White Wolf
Meanwhile, shopworn 43-year-old Siarhei Liakhovich is howling like a wolf and saying he wants to come back. “I am very serious about my comeback,” he said. “I’m looking forward to get what I got before: A title.” This comes six years after being KO’d by Deontay Wilder, a knockout that resembled someone being tasered as the White Wolf’s body twitched disturbingly. (Liakhovich defeated Dominick Guinn in 2004. Perhaps they can rematch and then both retire.)
Alexander The Great
Russia’s Alexander Ustinov, closing in on 43, appears useful as a gatekeeper for up and coming heavyweights, as had been true of Maurice Harris, 43, who hasn’t fought since July of last year and may have finally retired. Harris was stopped in the opening round in each of his last three fights and hopefully has seen the light.
The Real Deal
Even 56-year-old Evander Holyfield, emboldened by some sparring, plans returning to the ring next year for a charity event in Japan. The details are still developing.
While boxing is not going anywhere soon, it doesn’t need side show attractions or money grabbing exhibitions in Japan.
There are many others who need to get out and/or not come back.
The Vacillating Nature of Boxing Fans.
Fans are becoming hyper-fickle of late, or so it seems, and this has added to the current cynicism. For example:
GGG in tough and “drama”tic fight –now he’s a loser.
Fury gets sliced up –now he’s a loser.
Spence wins close one –now he’s a loser
Joshua is upset –now he’s a loser
The Shields Affair
Finally, the Claressa Shields vs. Ivana Habazin WBO and WBC 154-pound world title fight was cancelled following a bloody altercation prior to the official weigh-in that resulted in an injury to Habazin’s trainer James Ali Bashir (not to be confused with former boxer Bash Ali), a troubling incident that continues to play out in the news.
Recently, there have been a number of things that have come off that have hurt the image of boxing; the assault of James Ali Bashir was merely the latest. Boxing goes through these stages from time to time and maybe it’s an inherent part of the business, but when incidents and proposed events play with the health of the participants, the tolerance threshold needs to come down. Let’s hope things start to move in a more positive direction.
Ted Sares is a lifetime member of Ring 10, a member of Ring 8, and a member of Ring 4 and its Boxing Hall of Fame. He also is an Auxiliary Member of the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA). In 2019, he received Ring 10’s Harold Lederman Award for Historian. He still competes as a power lifter in the Master Class.
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Jorge Garcia is the TSS Fighter of the Month for April

Jorge Garcia has a lot in common with Mexican countrymen Emanuel Navarrete and Rafael Espinoza. In common with those two, both reigning world title-holders, Garcia is big for his weight class and bubbled out of obscurity with a triumph forged as a heavy underdog in a match contested on American soil.
Garcia had his “coming of age party” on April 19 in the first boxing event at the new Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, California (roughly 35 miles north of San Diego), a 7,500-seat facility whose primary tenant is an indoor soccer team. It was a Golden Boy Promotions event and in the opposite corner was a Golden Boy fighter, Charles Conwell.
A former U.S. Olympian, Conwell was undefeated (21-0, 16 KOs) and had won three straight inside the distance since hooking up with Golden Boy whose PR department ballyhooed him as the most avoided fighter in the super welterweight division. At prominent betting sites, Conwell was as high as a 12/1 favorite.
The lanky Garcia was 32-4 (26 KOs) heading in, but it was easy to underestimate him as he had fought extensively in Tijuana where the boxing commission is notoriously docile and in his home state of Sinaloa. This would be only his second fight in the U.S. However, it was noteworthy in hindsight that three of his four losses were by split decision.
Garcia vs. Conwell was a robust affair. He and Conwell were credited with throwing 1451 punches combined. In terms of punches landed, there was little to choose between them but the CompuBox operator saw Garcia landing more power punches in eight of the 12 rounds. At the end, the verdict was split but there was no controversy.
An interested observer was Sebastian Fundora who was there to see his sister Gabriela defend her world flyweight titles. Sebastian owns two pieces of the 154-pound world title where the #1 contender per the WBO is Xander Zayas who keeps winning, but not with the verve of his earlier triumphs.
With his upset of Charles Conwell, Jorge Garcia has been bumped into the WBO’s #2 slot. Regardless of who he fights next, Garcia will earn the biggest payday of his career.
Honorable mention: Aaron McKenna
McKenna was favored to beat veteran campaigner Liam Smith in the co-feature to the Eubank-Benn battle this past Saturday in London, but he was stepping up in class against a former world title-holder who had competed against some of the top dogs in the middleweight division and who had famously stopped Chris Eubank Jr in the first of their two encounters. Moreover, the venue, Tottenham Hotspur, the third-largest soccer stadium in England, favored the 36-year-old Liverpudlian who was accustomed to a big fight atmosphere having fought Canelo Alvarez before 50,000-plus at Arlington Stadium in Texas.
McKenna, from the small town of Monaghan, Ireland, wasn’t overwhelmed by the occasion. With his dad Feargal in his corner and his fighting brother Stephen McKenna cheering him on from ringside, Aaron won a wide decision in his first 12-round fight, punctuating his victory by knocking Smith to his knees with a body punch in the 12th round. In fact, if he hadn’t had a point deducted for using his elbow, the Irishman would have pitched a shutout on one of the scorecards.
“There might not be a more impressive example of a fighter moving up in class,” wrote Tris Dixon of the 25-year-old “Silencer” who improved his ledger to 20-0 (10).
Photo credits: Garcia/Conwell photo compliments of Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy; McKenna-Smith provided by Mark Robinson/Matchroom
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Chris Eubank Jr Outlasts Conor Benn at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Feudal bragging rights belong to Chris Eubank Jr. who out-lasted Conor Benn to
emerge victorious by unanimous decision in a non-title middleweight match held in
London on Saturday.
Fighting for their family heritage Eubank (35-3, 26 KOs) and Benn (23-1, 14 KOs)
continued the battle between families started 35 years ago by their fathers at Tottenham
Hotspur Stadium.
More than 65,000 fans attended.
Though Eubank Jr. had a weight and height advantage and a record of smashing his
way to victory via knockout, he had problems hurting the quicker and more agile Benn.
And though Benn had the advantage of moving up two weight divisions and forcing
Eubank to fight under a catch weight, the move did not weaken him much.
Instead, British fans and boxing fans across the world saw the two family rivals pummel
each other for all 12 rounds. Neither was able to gain separation.
Eubank looked physically bigger and used a ramming left jab to connect early in the
fight. Benn immediately showed off his speed advantage and surprised many with his
ability to absorb a big blow.Chris Eubank Jr Outlasts Conor Benn at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Benn scrambled around with his quickness and agility and scored often with bigcounters.
It took him a few rounds to stop overextending himself while delivering power shots.
In the third round Benn staggered Eubank with a left hook but was unable to follow up
against the dangerous middleweight who roared back with flurries of blows.
Eubank was methodic in his approach always moving forward, always using his weight
advantage via the shoulder to force Benn backward. The smaller Benn rocketed
overhand rights and was partly successful but not enough to force Eubank to retreat.
In the seventh round a right uppercut snapped Benn’s head violently but he was
undeterred from firing back. Benn’s chin stood firm despite Eubank’s vaunted power and
size advantage.
“I didn’t know he had that in him,” Eubank said.
Benn opened strong in the eighth round with furious blows. And though he connected
he was unable to seriously hurt Eubank. And despite being drained by the weight loss,
the middleweight fighter remained strong all 12 rounds.
There were surprises from both fighters.
Benn was effective targeting the body. Perhaps if he had worked the body earlier he
would have found a better result.
With only two rounds remaining Eubank snapped off a right uppercut again and followed
up with body shots. In the final stanza Eubank pressed forward and exchanged with the
smaller Benn until the final bell. He simply out-landed the fighter and impressed all three
judges who scored it 116-112 for Eubank.
Eubank admitted he expected a knockout win but was satisfied with the victory.
“I under-estimated him,” Eubank said.
Benn was upset by the loss but recognized the reasons.
“He worked harder toward the end,” said Benn.
McKenna Wins
In his first test in the elite level Aaron McKenna (20-0, 10 KOs) showed his ability to fight
inside or out in soundly defeating former world champion Liam Smith (33-5-1, 20 KOs)
by unanimous decision to win a regional WBA middleweight title.
Smith has made a career out of upsetting young upstarts but discovered the Irish fighter
more than capable of mixing it up with the veteran. It was a rough fight throughout the
12 rounds but McKenna showed off his abilities to fight as a southpaw or right-hander
with nary a hiccup.
McKenna had trained in Southern California early in his career and since that time he’s
accrued a variety of ways to fight. He was smooth and relentless in using his longer
arms and agility against Smith on the outside or in close.
In the 12 th round, McKenna landed a perfectly timed left hook to the ribs and down went
Smith. The former champion got up and attempted to knock out the tall
Irish fighter but could not.
All three judges scored in favor of McKenna 119-108, 117-109, 118-108.
Other Bouts
Anthony Yarde (27-3) defeated Lyndon Arthur (24-3) by unanimous decision after 12 rounds. in a light heavyweight match. It was the third time they met. Yarde won the last two fights.
Chris Billam-Smith (21-2) defeated Brandon Glanton (20-3) by decision. It was his first
fight since losing the WBO cruiserweight world title to Gilberto Ramirez last November.
Viddal Riley (13-0) out-worked Cheavon Clarke (10-2) in a 12-round back-and-forth-contest to win a unanimous decision.
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Avila Perspective, Chap. 323: Benn vs Eubank Family Feud and More

Next generation rivals Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr. carry on the family legacy of feudal warring in the prize ring on Saturday.
This is huge in British boxing.
Eubank (34-3, 25 KOs) holds the fringe IBO middleweight title but won’t be defending it against the smaller welterweight Benn (23-0, 14 KOs) on Saturday, April 26, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. DAZN will stream the Matchroom Boxing card.
This is about family pride.
The parents of Eubank and Benn actually began the feud in the 1990s.
Papa Nigel Benn fought Papa Chris Eubank twice. Losing as a middleweight in November 1990 at Birmingham, England, then fighting to a draw as a super middleweight in October 1993 in Manchester. Both were world title fights.
Eubank was undefeated and won the WBO middleweight world title in 1990 against Nigel Benn by knockout. He defended it three times before moving up and winning the vacant WBO super middleweight title in September 1991. He defended the super middleweight title 14 times before suffering his first pro defeat in March 1995 against Steve Collins.
Benn won the WBO middleweight title in April 1990 against Doug DeWitt and defended it once before losing to Eubank in November 1990. He moved up in weight and took the WBC super middleweight title from Mauro Galvano in Italy by technical knockout in October 1992. He defended the title nine times until losing in March 1996. His last fight was in November 1996, a loss to Steve Collins.
Animosity between the two families continues this weekend in the boxing ring.
Conor Benn, the son of Nigel, has fought mostly as a welterweight but lately has participated in the super welterweight division. He is several inches shorter in height than Eubank but has power and speed. Kind of a British version of Gervonta “Tank” Davis.
“It’s always personal, every opponent I fight is personal. People want to say it’s strictly business, but it’s never business. If someone is trying to put their hands on me, trying to render me unconscious, it’s never business,” said Benn.
This fight was scheduled twice before and cut short twice due to failed PED tests by Benn. The weight limit agreed upon is 160 pounds.
Eubank, a natural middleweight, has exchanged taunts with Benn for years. He recently avenged a loss to Liam Smith with a knockout victory in September 2023.
“This fight isn’t about size or weight. It’s about skill. It’s about dedication. It’s about expertise and all those areas in which I excel in,” said Eubank. “I have many, many more years of experience over Conor Benn, and that will be the deciding factor of the night.”
Because this fight was postponed twice, the animosity between the two feuding fighters has increased the attention of their fans. Both fighters are anxious to flatten each other.
“He’s another opponent in my way trying to crush my dreams. trying to take food off my plate and trying to render me unconscious. That’s how I look at him,” said Benn.
Eubank smiles.
“Whether it’s boxing, whether it’s a gun fight. Defense, offense, foot movement, speed, power. I am the superior boxer in each of those departments and so many more – which is why I’m so confident,” he said.
Supporting Bout
Former world champion Liam Smith (33-4-1, 20 KOs) tangles with Ireland’s Aaron McKenna (19-0, 10 KOs) in a middleweight fight set for 12 rounds on the Benn-Eubank undercard in London.
“Beefy” Smith has long been known as one of the fighting Smith brothers and recently lost to Eubank a year and a half ago. It was only the second time in 38 bouts he had been stopped. Saul “Canelo” Alvarez did it several years ago.
McKenna is a familiar name in Southern California. The Irish fighter fought numerous times on Golden Boy Promotion cards between 2017 and 2019 before returning to the United Kingdom and his assault on continuing the middleweight division. This is a big step for the tall Irish fighter.
It’s youth versus experience.
“I’ve been calling for big fights like this for the last two or three years, and it’s a fight I’m really excited for. I plan to make the most of it and make a statement win on Saturday night,” said McKenna, one of two fighting brothers.
Monster in L.A.
Japan’s super star Naoya “Monster” Inoue arrived in Los Angeles for last day workouts before his Las Vegas showdown against Ramon Cardenas on Sunday May 4, at T-Mobile Arena. ESPN will televise and stream the Top Rank card.
It’s been four years since the super bantamweight world champion performed in the US and during that time Naoya (29-0, 26 KOs) gathered world titles in different weight divisions. The Japanese slugger has also gained fame as perhaps the best fighter on the planet. Cardenas is 26-1 with 14 KOs.
Pomona Fights
Super featherweights Mathias Radcliffe (9-0-1) and Ezequiel Flores (6-4) lead a boxing card called “DMG Night of Champions” on Saturday April 26, at the historic Fox Theater in downtown Pomona, Calif.
Michaela Bracamontes (11-2-1) and Jesus Torres Beltran (8-4-1) will be fighting for a regional WBC super featherweight title. More than eight bouts are scheduled.
Doors open at 6 p.m. For ticket information go to: www.tix.com/dmgnightofchampions
Fights to Watch
Sat. DAZN 9 a.m. Conor Benn (23-0) vs Chris Eubank Jr. (34-3); Liam Smith (33-4-1) vs Aaron McKenna (19-0).
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