Back in August 1990 a Benn breezed into Las Vegas for a second time and blew away a seasoned American inside three minutes.
That man was Nigel, the former two-divisional world champion, as he blitzed New Yorker Iran ‘The Blade’ Barkley at the Bally’s Resort Casino.
Admittedly, it was an opponent who’d seen his best days and was coming back from a long layoff after a detached retina diagnosis, but the manner in which the Englishman destroyed the former middleweight world champion was impressive, abeit very controversial.
Benn scored three knockdowns, with the first, including two unanswered punches whilst Barkley was slumped on the ropes from the first knockdown. Referee Carlos Padilla waved the fight on without a point deduction. Outrage ensued.
This week, the ‘Dark Destroyer’ has held court with the boxing media in support of his youngest son Conor Benn who is in deep tomorrow (12 September) with Californian-Mexican Ryan Garcia, the current WBC world middleweight champion. Held at the T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas the contest promises much and will be broadcast on the DAZN streaming platform as a pay-per-view event.
The champion, Garcia (25-2, 20 KOs), although impressive in his comeback from earlier defeats and a drug penalty, enters as the favourite. Benn (25-1, 14 KOs), who’s had his own legal challenges relating to supposed indiscretions, is moving down two weight classes after last winning a rematch against Chris Eubank Jnr. at middleweight.
Saturday’s fight is at 10st, 7lbs (147lbs) and Benn has openly admitted boiling down to make weight has been a massive challenge. He successfully managed to come in a pound inside at Friday’s weigh-in, but the outcome may be determined by how much strength he’s retained, especially if it goes into the later rounds.
Both are popular, good talkers and busy on social media. The pre-fight barbs have been frequent and entertaining.
Garcia stands a half inch taller at just over 5′ 8″ and has a two inch reach advantage. He also fights ‘taller’, using his jab and footwork, whilst the challenger fights like his father at 100% ‘throttle-down’. It’s sure to be entertaining for as long as it lasts !
We expect the left-hooking power of Garcia to prevail, but the aggressive but smart Briton, like his father before, to give it his all coming up short inside ten rounds. He will earn respect in defeat and come again.
Enjoy the fireworks !