The Undisputed

Saturday (22nd) saw some fantastic action in largely competitive fights from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Ring IV event gave us four world championship contests with standout performances from David Benavides, Devin Haney, Abdullah Mason and Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez.

Pick of the bunch for competitiveness was the Abdullah Mason versus Sam Noakes fight for the WBO lightweight championship. This should be in the running for Ring Magazine ‘fight of the year’ come February as this to-ed and fro-ed throughout.

Mason from Cleveland, Ohio, USA won the fight widely on points 117-111, 115-113 (twice), but this doesn’t tell the full story. The determining factor probably being influenced by the horrific cut Maidstone, England’s Sam Noakes received over his left eye due to an unintentional clash of heads early in the fight.

Mason (20-0, 18 KOs) always looked the slicker of the two and had to dig deep to withstand the Naokes onslaught. The tough and skilled Englishman suffered his first defeat as a pro but came out with much credit and, after regrouping, will surely get another world title shot.

In victory, Mason at 21, became the youngest ‘world’ champion in boxing today. His future looks bright.

Noakes (28) meanwhile dropped to 17-1 with 15 KOs.

Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez (26-0, 23 KOs) registered an almost complete shutout against teak tough Argentinian Fernando Martinez (18-1, 9 KOs) in unifying WBA, WBO and WBC junior-bantamweight titles. The silkiness of the American-Mexican’s footwork and his accuracy of jab were the telling factors in this contest.

Rodriguez one of Ring Magazine’s pound-for-pound top ten stakes a further claim to be their #1. A move up to full bantamweight (8st, 6lbs/118 lbs) is almost inevitable.

An all-American contest saw Brian Norman Jr. against Devin Haney for the former’s WBO welterweight (10st, 7lbs/147 lbs) title. This was eagerly anticipated given it pitched an undefeated power-puncher (Norman) against a former two-divisional ‘world’ champion who is widely skilled, but, known for his safety first approach. The ultimate irony was the elite Haney (now 33-0-1, 16 KO’s) out-bombed the bomber, dropping him in the second round and ultimately cruising to victory.

Norman dropped to 28-0-1 (22 KOs) whilst Haney moves onto bigger challenges.

Top of the bill, certainly in terms of weight and world significance, was the WBC light-heavyweight championship between American David Benavides and Britain’s Anthony Yarde. After a highly competitive fight the defending champion Benavides walked down and stopped the three-time ‘world’ title challenger Yarde on 1:59 of the seventh round.

The Brit was bothered for much of the later rounds by an increasingly bashed-up face as the Benavides power-punching took its toll. Yarde started well, working off a good jab, but in the end hit the wall as his muscular frame seemed to fatigue the quicker. The referee stopped the contest with Yarde backed onto the ropes for another time and under-siege from the Phoenix, Arizona, USA and elite WBC champion.

Benavides, already a two-divisional world champion, looks like he has the frame to step up to a third division (cruiserweight) at the very least.

However, after failing to secure a unification fight against Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez last year here are still plenty more lucrative contests at light-heavy (12st, 7lbs/175 lbs) for him to earn big money. A possible opponent, Joshua Buatsi, was watching from ringside, who will do well to meet the American before the latter inevitably moves up.

Yarde (27-4, 24 KOs) had previously been stopped by Russian bangers Sergey Kovalev and Artur Beterbiev in firefights, and post-fight rated Benavides somewhere between the two. Former undisputed champion Beterbiev being the pick of the crop.

Benavides (31-0, 25 KOs), having already adorned the cover of Ring Magazine, is on the road to mega-fights ad potential superstardom. It seems only when, not if.

A great night of boxing with some champion performances.

Tonight, in the Tottenham Hotspur stadium, London, England, the thirty-five year boxing family feud between the Eubanks and Benns may finally be settled for good. We say ‘finally’, but this is boxing.

What’s remarkable is the main event of the bill titled ‘Unfinished Business’ has taken a mere seven months to come together, this after the three years it took their fathers to meet again across the ring back in the early 1990’s. There have been three professional fights between the two families and three absolute barnstormers. Tonight promises no exception.

The fight between the two sons of former world champions Nigel (Benn) and Chris (Eubank) held back in April at the same venue for tonight’s contest was fitting of the two many years ago. After three years of to’ing and fro’ing and controversy upon controversy it resulted in an all-out war but clear unanimous decision for Chris Eubank Jr (now 36) over the younger Conor Benn (now 29). The latter had stepped up two boxing weight classes for the first time and delivered an excellent performance in defeat. The contest was so ferocious that both boxers were hospitalised post-fight.

Tonight’s contest at middleweight 11st, 6lbs (160lbs) has strong domestic interest and lesser world title implications. Neither fighter has held a world title (unlike their fathers), but both are world ranked. However, given the current fractured state of world boxing amongst the middleweights, a title may well be within reach.

A more lucrative option will be to continue the family feud. For this reason we see a situation, albeit cynical, where anything but another Benn defeat is palatable to the paying public. The score currently is 2-0 to the Eubanks with one draw/tie.

Ironically, the family feud that existed between the seniors for three decades has mellowed in recent months, maybe more so in the demeanour of the always more ferocious and intense Nigel Benn. Eubank always played the cerebral role to his counterpart and was known for his eccentricity rather than his ferocity. This always rubbed Nigel up the wrong way and led to two great fights.

The DNA of the fathers is clearly evident in their juniors and this to many makes compulsive viewing. The fight is guaranteed to be a 60,000+ live sell-out at the new impressive stadium and sales will steadily grow on DAZN streaming site today where it will also be shown live and exclusive. It will though be pay-per-view so sales will be tempered by this somewhat. Both bouts between the seniors were shown prime-time on terrestrial TV to millions so that shows the modern difference.

It’s also available on TalkSport radio and BBC radio channels.

Consequently both fighters will be handsomely rewarded no matter what the outcome.

Chris Eubank Jr (36-3, 25 KOs)will rightly go in as the favourite being the naturally heavier man and having the more impressive and longer record. Conor Benn (23-1, 14 KOs) has youth on his side and being his second fight at the weight will enter with more comfort and confidence than first time up. The latter quality has never been a shortcoming of either which has again made for an interesting build-up. We expect both fathers to again be at ringside and another cracker to result.

Pushed for a prediction we are tending to ‘sit on the fence’. Eubank Jr. possesses the greater boxing ability – height, weight and reach. But, we think that Benn’s ferocity and youth will be telling factors over twelve rounds and will give him at least a draw. This will set up a trilogy between the youngers, which their fathers never had.

Enjoy and expect a Benn-Eubank V sometime early next year !

Yesterday’s final press conference in North Greenwich, London added fuel to the heavyweight fire between New Zealand’s WBO mandatory challenger Joseph Parker and rising Brit Fabio Wardley.

With just today’s weigh-in left, they finally meet head-on at the O2 Arena on the Greenwich peninsula Saturday night (25th). The winner will likely go on to face current undisputed world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk.

Aptly titled ‘All or Nothing’ by Queensberry Promotions, this is a crossroads fight with the winner in pole position for that world shot, whilst the loser will have to rebuild. Parker, the former-WBO champion has been in a mandatory position for some time but been denied a third world title shot thus far.

Parker qualified it in his opening remark: “For me, this is all or nothing”. He explained his belief and confidence in what lay ahead paying reference to his opponent: “I’m (on) a different level to be honest … I want to explain in actions, not words !”. Seemingly looking bored and slightly irritated by the formality and proceedings he conveyed ‘all-business’ about Saturday’s challenge.

Ipswich, England’s Fabio Wardley, then took to the microphone and explained “Every time I step up, … I step up on Saturday and it’s not going to be an exception !”.
Hall-of-fame promoter Frank Warren took up the mic’ to embellish and endorse his promotion.. “This is the most significant fight at the moment in the heavyweight division” emphasizing the earlier point.

On explaining the danger that Wardley possesses and, particularly responding to the Parker comment on ‘levels’ he said “One thing he’s got going for him is he’s got the leveller !”. The dramatic final round KO of Justis Huni in Wardley’s last fight provides proof of this.

It’s an intriguing matchup with high stakes. Parker is coming off three high profile victories against world ranked opponents and is very much the man ‘in possession’ of the mandatory shot. Wardley is aiming to ‘gatecrash’ his party and the right to challenge whom Warren politely described as “Mr Usyk”.
The claim is that the Ukrainian has already verbally assured he will fight again in the New Year and the winner of this is his likely first opponent.

Wardley in still undefeated with a high KO ratio and is very much on the rise. The Huni KO, despite the Brit being heavily behind on points at the time, emphatically kept his momentum going.

It’s true that Wardley hasn’t fought as long and at the level that Parker has, but he certainly has that KO power. He explained that he has much more than that in his arsenal and won’t be wholly relying on it.

In the final comments from both combatants, Parker retorted “I’m gonna smash him !”. Wardley equally responded on the outcome, a “Fabio Wardley win by KO”. When there was a suggestion that Parker was looking beyond Wardley, the Kiwi responded “I don’t care about what’s next, I care about Saturday !”.

It should be an excellent contest with both men having size, durability and power. They will meet head-on but have the skills to take the fight deep. We think the Brit powered on by his youth and vociferous local following will get the win by eight-round KO.

Catch it on on DAZN or BBC Radio5. Main ring entrances from 22:00 BST.

Fight of the week sees the long awaited return of the heavyweights. The scene has lay dormant since July.

This Saturday (25th) in a Queensberry promotion at London’s O2 Arena mandatory world title contender Joseph Parker returns to the ring against recent British champion Fabio Wardley.

It’s a potential crossroads fight which promises much and looks to have real world significance with unified champion and undoubted #1 Oleksandr Usyk currently in enforced inactivity whilst recovering from injury. The Ukrainian has recently announced he will fight next in 2026. Meanwhile the contenders have to remain active and get in line.

New Zealand’s Parker (36-3-0, 24 KOs) is mandatory contender for Usyk’s WBO title and been waiting for a third tilt at a world belt having lost his former title to Anthony Joshua in March 2018. He’s essentially the ‘gatekeeper’ for any world title challenge. Inactivity may be his problem despite holding notable victories over Andy Ruiz, Derek Chisora, Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang.

Wardley (19-0-1,18 KOs), the younger of the two at 30 compared to Parker’s 33, is fortunate to get this opportunity having been on track to be soundly outpointed by Australia’s Justis Huni in June before detonating a right hand in the final round to emphatically turn it his way. The KO remains one of the knockouts of the year and is sure to be in The Ring magazine’s final three come February.

That turnaround has given Wardley his big opportunity with Parker.

The man from Ipswich, England is sure to have big vocal backing within the 20,000 indoor arena on the south bank of the Thames.

The undercard is still work in progress after the injury and withdrawal of British and Commonwealth light-heavyweight champion Lewis Edmondson in the last 24 hours, who was the main support in meeting fellow Brit Ezra Taylor.

Look out for more copy of this event over the next few days as fight week builds.

Get ready !

In the context of world boxing and its headline acts this is a big weekend. Three of the Ring Magazine ‘pound-for-pounders’ enter the four ropes to stake their claim to be the ‘main man’. Two of them face off against each other.

It’s largely accepted that multi-heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk is the ‘pound-for-pound’ champion by virtue of this dominance in the unlimited weight category. However, come Sunday night two will stake a claim to replace him.

First up, in the early hours of Sunday morning (UK time) we will witness and know the outcome of the ‘Superfight’ between multi-divisional world champions Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford. Between them they’ve won ‘world’ titles from 9st, 9lbs (135lbs) to 12st (168lbs). Canelo being soundly outpointed by Dmitry Bivol in his attempt at 175lbs.

Tonight’s match from Las Vegas, USA on Mexican Independence weekend is at super-middleweight (168lbs) and promises a great matchup which hopefully lives up to the billing. The contest is anticipated so much among the boxing fraternity that the esteemed Ring Magazine dedicated a whole edition to it. Unheard of in recent times.

Then, on Sunday lunchtime (UK time) the ‘Monster’ is up live from Nagoya, Japan.

Four-weight world champion and current junior-featherweight (8st, 10lbs/122lbs) Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue faces Murodjon Akhmadaliev before his almost inevitable move up to a fifth weight class at featherweight.

Inoue and Crawford are currently considered Usyk’s main challengers in the ‘pound-for-pound’ stakes and his heir-apparent. This is the mythical boxing’s best of the best, regardless of weight.

Who will ultimately reign, we shall see. Enjoy !

Who are the top fifty South African fighters of all time ?

For those of you who retain, or have a keen interest in South African boxing, here is a historical article from the doyen of boxing writing from that proud boxing nation, Ron Jackson. He is a former contributor to The Ring and South African Boxing World and has over seven decades of boxing knowledge and experience. Over the years he’s seen and met them all ! Over to Ron…..

I will try to rate in order, South Africa’s top fifty fighters of all-times. Any form of measurement is however subjective, but possibly the most asked question by fight fans when they get together is, who was the greatest or could boxer A from 1920 have beaten boxer B from 1960. There will be people out there who will not agree with my list or even express outrage at some of my selections, but anyhow here we go.

This is a very good exercise for boxing fans as everyone has their own favourite fighter and the undermentioned list only includes fighters who have retired.

1. Vic Toweel

2. Brian Mitchell

3. Vuyani Bungu

4.  Enoch “Schoolboy” Nhlapo

5.  Laurie Stevens

6.  Gerrie Coetzee

7.  Wille Toweel

8.  Moruti Mthalane

9.  Dingaan Thobela

10. Baby Jake Matlala

11. Jake Tuli

12. Pierre Fourie

13. Andries Steyn

14. Welcome Ncita

15. Mbulelo Botile

16. Thulani “Sugarboy” Malinga

17. Nkosana “Happyboy” Mgxaji      

18. Corrie Sanders

19. Elijah Mokone

20. Lehlohonolo Ledwaba

21. Jacks Lalor

22. Ernie Eustice

23. Anthony Morodi

24. Hekkie Budler

25. Piet Crous

26. Pierre Coetzer

27. Ben Foord

28. Arthur Douglas

29.  Gert Steyn

30.  Nkosinathi Joyi

31. Mike Holt

32. Elijah “Tap Tap” Makhathini

33. Andrew Jeptha

34. Norman “Pangaman” Sekgapane

35. Joe “Axe Killer” Ngidi

36. Gert “Hottie” van Heerden

37. Arnold Taylor

38. Johnny “Smiler” van Rensburg

39. Peter Mathebula

41. Barney Malone

42. Willie Ludick

43. Watty Austin

44. Jimmy Toweel

45. Eddie Maguire

46. Harold Volbrecht

47. Arthur Mayisela

48 Don McCorkindale

49. Lovemore Ndou

50. Simon Skosana

This list and Ron’s boxing knowledge and it’s history is further substantiated and explained in his book ‘Champions – An Illustrated History of SA Boxing’ published in 2017. This is the ‘go to’ book for all on South African fights and fighters.

If you believe the hype and copy on world heavyweight contender Moses Itauma you’d think we have an emerging Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Frank Bruno and Lennox Lewis all rolled into one !

The undefeated 20 year-old boxing out of Chatham, England is good, and to date, has massively impressed doing more than he should do by this stage of his career. With a cold, calm demeanour he’s compiled a 12-0 (10 KOs) record containing some devastating knockouts, clearly beating some seasoned campaigners to warrant the excitement of a new emerging talent.

Itauma could fill the massive void to be left by undisputed world champion Oleksandr Usyk when he inevitably hangs his gloves up sometime soon. At 38, and having beaten (sometimes twice) all champions and challengers and, with his legacy secured, the end is surely in sight for Usyk.

The big British southpaw, Itauma, a former amateur world youth champion, could be Usyk’s heir-apparent but, by heavyweight comparisons he really is a ‘boxing baby’. His management team Queensberry Promotions, to their credit, still know they have a diamond in the rough. Francis Warren, eldest son of hall-of-fame promoter Frank, is talking cautiously but with more than a twinkle of optimism in his eyes.

Tonight in Riyadh, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia we will ultimately know more when he faces former world title challenger Dillian Whyte (31-3, 21 KOs). At 37 years old, the fellow Brit is at the opposite end of the boxing spectrum, but Itauma’s first legitimate test at world title level. Whyte holds good wins over Joseph Parker and Derek Chisora (twice), plus gave Anthony Joshua all he could handle.

The odds though are heavily stacked in the younger man’s favour, being viewed as a fringe contender ‘changing of the guard’. If, as widely expected, Itauma bombs out the man from Brixton, London then the hype and excitement will gain further momentum, and justifiably so.

Whilst not being over-surprised if that outcome results, we expect the well-trained and lighter than usual Whyte to give it a good-go for as long as it lasts. He’s been a top contender for close to a decade and can also bang a bit himself. His fighting pride and quality at the highest level will not allow him to be humiliated (ala Ken Norton by an emerging Gerry Cooney or Gerrie Coetzee by Frank Bruno).

In many ways Itauma-Whyte is the most intriguing fight on a good bill, but the likely ‘fight of the night’ will be the co-main event between undefeated featherweights Nick Ball and Sam Goodman. It pits an English world champion, in Ball, as recognised by the WBA, against an Australian. The summer before an Ashes cricket winter will draw out the best from undefeated fighters from these two proud sporting nations.

‘Wrecking’ Ball from Liverpool, England has compiled a 22-0-1 (13 KOs) record and Goodman is at 20-0 (7 KOs).

The KO ratio favours the Brit and he’s competed at the higher level to date. This should be a real slugfest as Ball fights at a high pace, continually coming forward. We expect him to prevail in a very competitive fight.

Another good match-up is between two heavyweights who’ve some question marks against their ability to break through to world title contention, in Britain’s David Adelaye (14-1, 13 KOs) and Croatian Olympic medallist Filip Hrgovic (18-1, 14 KOs).

Hrgovic has the better resume having only lost to former IBF world champion Daniel Dubois. Both can still compete and eat at the heavyweight table, but a win is essential for either to push on. This is a pick ’ems in our view.

The fights are available on the DAZN streaming site, as a pay-per-view (box office) package. The main fights can also be heard in the UK on talkSPORT radio. Either should be worth considering.

South African Boxing Hall of Fame

When Chris Lessing died on June 1, 1976 at the age of 43 at Garden City Clinic in Johannesburg he left behind a superb collection of boxing books, autographed photos of  famous boxers, 16mm films and museum  memorabilia including statuettes, trophies and signed gloves.

Subsequently his collection was donated to the South Africa Boxing Board of Control who established a Chris Lessing Boxing Hall of Fame which was housed at their offices in the Fattis and Monis Building in Johannesburg. The museum was under the curatorship of long time sports writer Bill Bosch.

On October 12, 1979 at the official opening of the museum and the first ever South African Boxing Hall of Fame ten boxers were inducted into the Hall and it was reported that elections to the Hall of Fame would be held on an annual basis.

The Boxing Hall of Fame was divided into three categories. The Pioneer Group for boxers who were active before the first World War, the Oldtimers Group for boxers who fought between the two World Wars, and the Modern Group for boxers who were active after the second World War.

 The first ten ring greats to be honoured were:

Pioneer Group – James Robertson Couper and Arthur Douglas.

Oldtimers Group – Don McCorkindale, Ben Foord, Willie Smith and Laurie Stevens.

Modern Group – Vic Toweel, Arnold Taylor, Jake Tuli and Pierre Fourie.

Subsequently the museum was down sized when the Boxing Control Board moved offices to Nasrec and Midrand. 

It is believed that over the years a lot of the memorabilia has disappeared but there are still were still a number of items held by Boxing South Africa at their offices in Pretoria.

However, over the years many items have gone missing and there is a story which has never been substantiated that at one time a leading boxer visited museum and remarked that the gloves which were marked as being those of the Welshman Jimmy Wilde, considered by many to be the greatest world flyweight champion all-time were not a pair of gloves as they were both left hand gloves.

What has happened the items is unknown.

Rather sadly in recent years there has been very little interest in establishing a South African Boxing Hall of Fame.

Some time ago a South African Boxing Hall of Fame was established at the Sun City Resort in the Pilansberg in the Northern Province.

However this is was not a Hall of Fame in the true sense as there are not annual elections in the various groups. Brian Mitchell South Africa’s most successful boxer of all-time was the host and conducted interviews with well-known South African fighters, which went down well with everyone. It made up for the time being.

This is BIG.

In the context of the 150+ year history of the Heavyweight Championship of the World, the fact that it fills Wembley Stadium, London with some 90,000 spectators, and, as they love to say, it’s “For all the marbles”.

Factor in a worldwide TV audience, albeit the majority through the new phenomena of streaming sites (DAZN in this case) and the purse bids up for grabs, it’s huge.

The ‘Undisputed’ heavyweight clash, the very name upon which the site you’re visiting was chosen, it’s a mouthwatering prospect.

Ukrainian world champion Oleksandr Usyk (23-0, 14 KOs) risks his almost dominant heavyweight status against Britain’s Daniel Dubois (22-2, 21 KOs). The latter a Londoner, in his hometown, faces the ‘road warrior’ who because of the military conflict in his own country caused by Russian invasion, has had to hit the road again. This is also the lucrative option and he will be paid heavily wherever he goes.

As the crowning moment of this year’s Riyadh Season the accepted lineal champion Usyk brings the WBC, WBA and WBO world championship belts to the party. Dubois the IBF strap. No splinters of the title will be uncontested on Saturday night. That in itself is a rare luxury and justifies the Saudi investment.

In a final press conference held yesterday in the banqueting suite at Wembley Stadium the fighters came face-to-face for almost the final time before the opening bell. Only today’s weigh-in remains.

‘ Dynamite’ Daniel Dubois (aka DDD) entered the fray with “I’m on a different level now…I’m ready to make history. I’m gonna do a real demolition job and I’m ready for it !”.

Usyk responded “Hello London, I’m happy to be here again because I believe for this – Ukraine”, and gave the victory salute to emphasise on both counts. Asked about his challenge ahead he replied “Every fight is important for me. Now, it’s very important for my country and soldiers who protect my country”. Everyone in attendance listened tentatively and this there could be no denying.

International Boxing Hall-of-Fame promoter and Queensberry Head, Frank Warren, added to the hype, “It’s a historical and phenomenal fight…unbelievable, competitive and great fight”. This is to be confirmed, but the match-up is a sure thing.

It’s a rematch two years on from Usyk controversially beating Dubois in Wroclaw, Poland after being dropped by a borderline body shot and being allowed to recover by the referee temporarily stopping the fight before the Ukrainian rallied again to get a ninth round stoppage.

Since then, Dubois has been nothing short of sensational racking up three consecutive victories against world title challengers, the zenith being his devastating stoppage of fellow Brit Anthony Joshua in the same venue last August.

So what can we expect Saturday ? An older Usyk as his career moves towards its close having beaten all-comers and challengers to win and unify heavyweight titles. A much improved and confident Dubois.

Dubois’ camp headed up by chief trainer Don Charles believe now is his time. Having worked together for two years the Brit is as Charles said “Destined to make the impossible, become the possible”. The twice beaten IBF champion has improved significantly since his first loss to Joe Joyce during COVID lockdown, and considerably since losing to Usyk in Poland.

Frank Warren earlier cited Dubois’ excellent jab which was “understimated”. This is fact, resulting from his graduation from the Team GB centre of excellence and his progress as a pro since. He knows how to box his way in to unleash his ‘dynamite’ power.

Whether this will be enough against the London 2012 Olympic heavyweight gold medallist and undisputed former cruiserweight and heavyweight world champion remains to be seen. We expect Usyk’s advancing years, now 38, and Dubois’ youth at 27 to be telling factors in how the fight goes, in possibly an explosive start followed by a cagey middle rounds, with the southpaw Usyk not wanting to fully exchange, but gradually using his elite experience and ring know-how to prevail.

We see Usyk stopping the Brit by round ten, but it will be exciting whilst it lasts. Enjoy !

Newsflash – Weights – Dubois 243.8 lbs, Usyk 227.3 lbs.

As a survivor from the last Benn-Eubank dust-ups, prior to a sensational Saturday night (26 April) at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium, north London, I feel I’m well placed to put it into context.

Firstly, the highest compliment I can give the enthralling twelve round middleweight non-championship fight is that “It was as good as any of their father’s previous two encounters”, of 1990 and 1993 respectively. I bore witness to the hype and intensity of those meetings first hand, on-site in an excellent seat for both. I was also close to what was happening behind the scenes.

Whilst Saturday may have lacked the drama and knockdowns of the 1990 Birmingham NEC fight and the controversy of the rematch at Old Trafford, it more than equalled in their theatre and intensity.

The near 65,000 in attendance and millions ‘stumping up’ again to watch on box office/pay-per-view/stream (or whatever you want to call it) were not disappointed with the quality on-show throughout the evening and in particular the climax between a super-middleweight/middleweight Chris Eubank Jnr. and a rising welterweight Conor Benn.

Both, the latest in the fistic bloodline (and almost dynasties) of their respective families. The former now 35 years old and the latter 28. None have yet become world champions, but after Saturday night are sure to challenge at some point for one of the splintered titles that are now available in this generation.

The venue was fitting for a match of this interest and hype. The soccer stadium being the most spectacular recently constructed in London and with state of the art facilities. The electricity in the air as dusk moved in was evident, even from my couch !

On this occasion, I decided that I would watch from the comfort of my living room as the evening unfolded. I elected to pay for that ‘privilege’ to what used to be available ‘free to air’. Those days I know are long gone !

After an excellent undercard brought together by The Ring magazine, Saudi investment, Matchroom and BOXXER promotions, among others, THE main event was imminent. The competitiveness of the so-called ‘Co-main event’ between Anthony Yarde and Lyndon Arthur in their trilogy fight at light-heavyweight set the tone.

It was an excellent match-up and, it delivered. On our card we thought Arthur just edged it by taking the last round, but the judges saw it the other way. Yarde being victorious. It was so enthralling, being more of a bludgeoning chess match than the actual main event, that a fourth match-up would be welcome. Both will move onto other challenges though we’re sure.

With the venue rocking as the two main eventers emerged from their dressing rooms and shown on the big screen the electricity was ramped up. As a domestic viewer hopes, you could feel it emanate from your television screen.

We knew Chris Eubank Snr. Would finally show up ……resplendent in his shin-length mock flying jacket/coat, with fur to spare ! He looked the same eccentric we had come to love three decades ago.

Nigel Benn was always going to turn up and backed his son throughout the weeks of build-up. Thankfully both seniors met and embraced each other on numerous occasions though the event.

The promoters and fighters did well to mimic and reminisce about the senior’s previous encounters with the ring entrances and fighting attire. I knew Conor would come out to the chimes of Big Ben and strains of ‘Dangerous’, ala his father. It took a while for the latter sounds to kick-in but, they came.

Eubank Jnr. Would inevitably come into Tina Turner’s anthem ‘Simply the Best’. Both son’s also donned copies of the shorts their father’s wore in the first 1990 fight. On conclusion of the twelve rounds, when the decision was given and Eubank Jnr. announced the winner he dropped to his knees like his father back in the NEC. That was full circle and absolute sporting theatre.

Both fighters gave it their all throughout in a real toe-to-toe contest. Skills were evidently shown and one area of my being surprisingly impressed was the strength of Benn’s chin. He took and withstood shot after shot from his adversary. This his father showed many years back too, but in the first fight eventually succumbed to Eubank Snrs. power.

If any fight warranted a rematch this, is it. The contest was excellent entertainment and both came out with the shields and heads held high. An immediate rematch has been mooted for September, but boxing politics is a fickle thing. We can only hope that, like their father’s, that hostilities are repeated. Only then will we know who truly is the better boxing family.

If it doesn’t materialize, then the family boxing pedigree and legacy of each is up there and has been one to behold.

Congratulations to all involved. Boxing is back in the mainstream.