There has been plenty of talk over the years on social media and within the boxing media industry about Nigel Benn planning on making a comeback. Many scoffed at the idea.
But at grand old age of 55, "The Dark Destroyer" will be stepping back into the ring at the end of the year.
The former two-weight world champion last fought in November 1996, when his son Conor (now 22) was only two months old. Benn lost his second straight WBO super middleweight title bout to Steve Collins in that outing and hung up the gloves with a record of 42-5-1, with 35 KOs. His career made him a household name in the U.K., as he claimed the Commonwealth, WBO middleweight and WBC super middleweight titles over the course of his pro ledger.
Benn's opponent, although currently being kept under wraps, will be a former WBC world champion.
“It’s been spoken about for years — Chris Eubank Sr., Steve Collins, etc. — but I can actually say it's happening. The fight is actually happening!” Conor told DAZN News. “I can’t say who, but it will be one hell of a fight!”
The fight is scheduled for the end of the year, and Nigel will train alongside Conor, who's preparing for his bout on the undercard of the World Boxing Super Series final on Oct. 26.
“My dad’s coming over on the 20th (of October) and he will be staying with me and will be doing training camp with me as well," Conor revealed. "I’ll be doing my bit to help him. Obviously for me, never seeing my dad fight and then for him to be 55, 56 and having one more crack at it, it’s bit weird. It puts me on a weird one, you know, as his son, but he’s been obsessed with it for years, so I think either way it was going to happen. Whether it was a retired opponent or a relatively lively opponent, it was going to happen.”