Nigel Benn says a comeback fight against Steve Collins will finally give him closure on his boxing career
Tuesday 8 August 2017 16:21, UK
Nigel Benn says a proposed comeback against Steve Collins is not motivated by money and will seek a licence elsewhere if he is not cleared to fight in Britain.
The 53-year-old former world champion has announced that he intends to end his 21-year absence from the ring for a third fight against Collins, which could take place in October in November.
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Benn, who retired after a second successive stoppage defeat to Collins in 1996, insists he still needs closure on his ring career and will attempt to fight outside this country if the bout is not sanctioned by the British Boxing Board of Control.
Asked if he will seek another licence, Benn told Sky Sports News HQ: "One hundred per cent, because what it is, I need closure and the reason I need closure is for like four or five years long they are saying it's passed, but it hasn't.
"It's still in me and I'm doing things I have never done before. I feel in tip top condition and it's not about money. If it was about money, I could have trebled my money fighting Mr Eubank.
I don't care if it's Eubank, I don't care if it's Steve, I just need closure and once I get closure, that's it boom.
"I went to Steve 'how do you feel like a fight?' and Steve went 'Yeah, when?' No mucking around, straight to the point.
"For me, I don't care if it's Eubank, I don't care if it's Steve, I just need closure and once I get closure, that's it boom. I can go back working for Jesus."
Benn will be supporting his son Conor this Saturday as the exciting 20-year-old returns on the undercard for Frank Buglioni's British title defence against Ricky Summers, live on Sky Sports.
"The person I really want to talk about is my son Conor," said Benn. "He has been out for eight months, he's absolutely the business. I watched him mature for that time out of the ring. He's doing really well."
Joshua Buatsi also makes his professional debut on a packed bill, with Lawrence Okolie, Ted Cheeseman and Reece Bellotti in action.
Watch Frank Buglioni against Ricky Summers this Saturday night, with Joshua Buatsi, Conor Benn, Lawrence Okolie, Ted Cheeseman and Reece Bellotti also in action at The 02, from 7.30pm on Sky Sports 1.
