Ringside Special: Nigel Benn on his career highs and lows, including Eubank and McClellan

Nigel Benn ventured into the Ringside studio recently to lift the lid on his extraordinary life, both in and out of the ring.

The former middleweight and super-middleweight world champion discussed how he made his way in the fight game and his bitter rivalry with Chris Eubank, whom he lost to in 1990 and drew with in 1993.

Benn also spoke candidly about his victory over storied American puncher Gerald McClellan - which saw the Englishman retain his WBC super-middleweight title and his opponent left paralysed, blinded and all-but deaf - and how religion and his wife helped him beat his addictions.

Read below to see what the man previously known as the Dark Destroyer had to say...

Early fighting days

My life was out of control so if I didn't join the army.

NIGEL SAYS: "My life was out of control so if I didn't join the army - which I joined because I wanted to be like my brother John, who I loved very much and wanted to be like - I don't know where I would be today. I spent four years, 256 days, in the army and it was the best move I ever made - and that's where I really started boxing. I became a security guard after I left the army, but thought I wasn't bad at boxing, and gave it a shot. The only thing I ever wanted out of boxing was a terraced house like my dad and a BMW, I was happy with that, but then I had 22 fights and 22 knockouts and was like: 'Wow, I can make a lot of money from knocking people out - and might have a shot at the British title'."

Dislike of sparring and how time in Miami helped him

NIGEL SAYS: "I really could not stand sparring whatsoever, but out there (in Miami) the guys come in, and fight you for nothing; they're great. But I used to think: 'Lord, break my leg or something because I don't want to go in and spar! I didn't want to have a war in there and I wasn't paying people to bash me up. I just wanted to go the distance and in Tenerife I was able to do all of that, but in Miami you get in a war whether you like it or not - and that's what really made me; I didn't believe that I could ever do 10 rounds, so once you have done your first 10 rounds that was it."

Rivalry with Chris Eubank

NIGEL SAYS: "I just couldn't stand him - at all. Everyone said 'was it a joke?' but it was real. Why? He should have been living Buckingham Palace. He was coming with his Jodhpurs, his monocle and his cane, and he was looking down on me and I just couldn't hack it. He was the sharpest dresser going, got to give him that! I've got nothing against Chris now, though. He was a great ambassador for the sport and I thank the Lord for putting him in my path."

Two bouts with Eubank

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NIGEL SAYS: "It was his night in the first fight (when he won the WBO middleweight title), which was great and better than the second. He got me with a thumb - I don't know if it was an accident - but he was tough, muscle upon muscle; his jaw was like granite and my punches were just bouncing off, and I remember thinking I wish I had that Joe Calzaghe power to put him down. But I didn't want to lose to him again and I really, really wanted to do him. I was a bit apprehensive, but the atmosphere at Old Trafford, at the mighty Man United was electrifying; 47,000 were going crazy. It was an okay fight - but I kept the belt around my waist and got a million pounds."

Gerald McClellan

NIGEL SAYS: "McClellan was by far the hardest hitter I fought and when he put me down in the firs