Joshua vs Breazeale: Benn or Eubank? We asked the experts where their loyalty lies
Thursday 23 June 2016 14:31, UK
It's a boxing question for the ages - not just the ancients. So our panel of fighters past and present answer: are you Team Benn or Team Eubank?
Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank provided fans with the ultimate rivalry. Starkly contrasting characters outside of the ring and contrasting styles in it; bound together by a similarly uncompromising attitude towards fighting.
Ahead of their two classic world title bouts in 1990 and 1993, the British public (and boxing enthusiasts further afield) were enthralled by their bitter relationship even before Benn the straight-talking 'Dark Destroyer' from Essex expressed 'hate' for his debonair counterpart from Brighton.
Benn has thrown down the challenge of a third clash between the two as recently as this year but with no progress on that front, Eubank incurred the wrath of his old foe's son Conor Benn at a press conference for Saturday's Sky Sports Box Office bill at The O2.
So what better time to ask... Benn or Eubank?
Carl Froch
I loved Eubank. I loved his flair and loved him, Naseem Hamed and Muhammad Ali. He had that exciting style, maybe not in terms of the fight itself, but the way he would strut around the ring with finesse - as he used to say.
Of course we all loved Nigel Benn but we always knew what we were going to get, whereas with Eubank you never knew what you were getting - in or out of the ring. I wouldn't have liked to fight Eubank either because at least with Benn, you knew he'd be in front of you, nothing awkward compared to Eubank. The problem is he'd be smacking you on the chin and both of them could do that.
Joe Gallagher
Oh that's a tough one. When they were at their peak it was very hard to split them. I liked Eubank because he was so entertaining and brought something different in.
They both put it all on the line in the first one and Eubank took some absolute bombs but came back and won. After that, look at the bombs Benn took against Gerald McClellan and he came back and won that. It's really very hard to split them. I am not sitting on the fence... my favourite was always Michael Watson.
Anthony Crolla
I was a bit young to really want one of them to win so I only really learned about it from watching it back. They are two of the greats of British boxing. I know I'm not supposed to sit on the fence but it's so hard. I haven't got a favourite out of them.
Nigel Benn fights were so exciting but how many great fights was Eubank in, too? Even right up until the end with Carl Thompson, he was in those right up until the end. It would be a tough choice either way but stylistically, I think Eubank would have been the harder opponent for me… but then you see Benn after learning so much from the Michael Watson defeat and he became one of the best there's been.
As for the dancing, if we're in a ballroom then I'd go for Eubank but if we're in a club going for some street-dancing then I'll go for Benn.
James DeGale
I've heard good things about Conor. He trains hard and I saw his professional debut and he looked a bit wreckless but he's Nigel Benn's son, he wants to go out there and knock people out! I like the way he moves and looks and I will be watching his career progress.
I prefer Nigel Benn. All day long. I actually liked Chris Eubank when I was growing up but Nigel was my favourite. My family all liked him, the Dark Destroyer, his attitude and the way he went out about things.
We don't - or wouldn't have - boxed like each other but I just loved that attitude. He was a bit like Marvin Hagler. He did exactly what it said on the tin and let's not forget he was a proper world champion. He went to America and he beat Iran Barkley, he beat Doug DeWitt. He beat Gerald McClellan. Who did Eubank box? Who did he box like that? He was a domestic world champion.
Jamie Moore
I was a massive, massive Nigel Benn fan. I didn't really like Chris Eubank but it wasn't because of anything personal - it was just that Nigel Benn hated him that much and I was always on Team Benn so I didn't like Eubank. My dad used to sit me in the chair to watch Benn and he was the guy who got me into boxing. I was lucky enough to meet him when I was 14 in Tenerife and it really made me a massive fan.
I tried to base my style on Nigel Benn from when I was a kid and that's probably the reason I ended up in so many wars myself as a professional.
I don't think either Benn or Eubank will be winning any dance competitions but I think the ones who had the better moves were the Benns. I'm always on Team Benn so if anyone's going to win on the dancing front then it's a wide points decision for Benn.
Tony Bellew
Nigel Benn all day long, he is my favourite British fighter ever. I have idolised him ever since I was 12. I never had the boxing ability at a young age and I wanted to box like him when I came up as an amateur.
Riddick Bowe is my favourite fighter ever but I loved barbaric fighting when I didn't have the ability, so I used to copy Nigel Benn.
Callum Smith
I was more of a Nigel Benn fan. I liked his no-nonsense attitude. He seemed like a normal lad off the streets who really liked to fight, who'd fight anyone and would always give his all in that fight. They were both great fighters but I think I'll just have to side with Benn for his attitude inside and outside the ring.
I'm not sure either of them has great dance moves but it's great to see them both back involved in boxing. Both their sons are on the undercard and that's a great side-story for this occasion. It's going to be a great show.
Lee Selby
I'm not sure I liked one of them over the other. I liked them both and they were both great fighters. They were completely different in how they approached boxing but in some ways, they were very similar.
I think they're both terrible dancers but it's entertaining. They shouldn't fight each other again - they should have a dance-off instead. I'd gladly referee that...
Craig 'Spider' Richards
I watched them when I was really young and then I watched the tapes back as I got older. Nigel Benn's daughter went to my primary school and was best friends with my sister. Because of that, of course I was always leaning towards Benn.
When I first saw the Eubanks I thought Jr was trying to be a replica of Sr but now I really like them because Eubank Jr can really fight. He's building a legacy of his dad's name but if you scrapped that name and called him Darren Smith, then Darren Smith can fight. He gets hit with straight shots and doesn't show his skills much but when he gets on to your chest, he can fight and he's got a nice, nice uppercut.
Watch Chris Eubank Jr vs Tom Doran and Conor Benn v Lukas Radic as part of Joshua vs Breazeale, live on Sky Sports Box Office from The O2, on June 25. Book the event online here or via your Sky remote.
