Chris Eubank, SR – Nigel Benn III: Has a New Feud Erupted?
There are few things more likely to gather your attention than bad words. I don’t mean cussing or swearing but words which bring the worst out in you; insults that are personal and dislike that is touchable. In fighting – no matter what discipline – when people clash the audience get going.
If wrestling has taught us anything it is that bad behavior sells. We love to see the pantomimic actions of stars with muscles who act as badly as the scenery in a sitcom. We adore the stupid and the bizarre and the downright awful corny action that follows the words designed to sting and hurt.
Tonight I interviewed a boxer who has got the talk down to a T. This is a guy who knows that a lot of it is showbiz and entertainment but when the bell goes, he is aware that the new face comes on and he has to turn up with the goods otherwise people shall laugh and take heart for his upstart image to take a battering. Once all is over, he is always massively respectful.
Sometimes though the talk is neither pantomimic nor is it false. It is heartfelt and people are genuinely disrespectful of their fellow professionals. In some communities, such as the traveling communities which boast the like of Tyson Fury 25- 0, 18 KO’s, and Billy Joe Saunders, 23-0, 12 KO’s, that legacy of hatred can cover generations. It is increasingly often we find it in professional boxing.
In a recent press conference to publicize his son’s fight with Tom Doran, 17-1, 7 KO’s, Chris Eubank, SR. took the opportunity to hand out some words of fatherly wisdom to Conor Benn, 3-0, 2 KO’s. It was an interesting tactic. It resulted in an explosive retort. Connor Benn was not slow to tell Mr Eubank that his advice was unwelcome. Underneath the affair, the under current is of course that during the eighties, Chris Eubank, SR. and Connor Benn’s father, Nigel Benn were THE big box office draw and bitter rivalry in UK boxing.
In boxing audiences of the 80’s you had two camps – those that loved the dandiness and showiness of Eubank or those that despised his arrogance and loved the rough and ready attitude of the Dark Destroyer, Nigel Benn. For many there was a battle in the ring that was being waged outside of it. This was the eighties in the UK and the time of Margaret Thatcher.
On the one hand we had the new market led economy, an analytical style of government that promoted appearance and showmanship and did not embrace community as concept. The individualism of Eubank appealed to people. They liked his jodhpurs and monocle and arrogant stance in the ring.
On the other had we had the struggle of the working people epitomized by strikes that ended in failure. History has told us that the struggles were based on truth that people who went for a year and more without pay whilst they were vilified and ridiculed at the time were right in their struggle and what they were being lauded as liars for – they were the honest ones. Benn was the desperately plucky man who would walk through treacle and walls for you. This was an era where these qualities were being questioned but for those of us who valued them we had the dangerously honest endeavor of a true warrior.
They fought twice and both times were widely anticipated. What added to it all was that they did not like each other. They may not have hated each other but they did despise the images and attitudes of each other. The first time Eubank walked off the victor and the rematch, organized and negotiated by Mr Don King, at Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester ended a draw. Ironically King had clauses in each fighter’s contracts that win or lose, they would join his stable…
42,000 crammed into the stadium to witness the rematch and when it was mooted earlier this year that there could be a Benn – Eubank III there were plenty who thought this could be another spectacular night.
Both also share the unfortunate distinction of having been in the other corner when a fighter ended up disabled after their fight. For Eubank it was Michael Watson and for Benn, Gerald McLellan. Both have been exemplary in their support for the fellow boxers who shared a ring with them in terms of time, support and simply being there – both deserve immense credit.
But back to today or at least that press conference…
The words offered as advice from Eubank, SR. to Benn, JR. were to do with fatherly support and how his dad ought to be there for him. It was typical of a man who used to jump into the ring over the ropes and strike a pose. His antics were summed up by English commentator Reg Gutteridge who coined the phrase “the ego has landed.” Senior’s ego suggested he had some advice to give to his former nemesis and son; it may have sparked the feud up again and my even lead to their 3rd meeting. I hope not but as a Benn fan, this time round…
[si-contact-form form=’2′]