Nigel Benn lost to fellow British boxing legend Chris Eubank Sr in 1990 before a contentious draw three years later.
More than three decades on, he is by his son’s side as the jovial pair joke with the team. It’s a real family affair, with Benn’s sisters and cousin also joining him in camp.
Having spent 12 years of his childhood in Mallorca, Benn speaks fluent Spanish to the locals in the gym.
When the training session begins, however, the laughter stops. There is noticeable shift in mindset – a sign of just how serious Benn is approaching this fight.
He says he is “leaving no stone unturned” as he fights for the family name – and to prove his own worth – in this bloodline rivalry.
“I’ve got a chip on my shoulder about [people] saying I’m the nepo kid, that I had it easy,” he adds.
But this is no longer about fathers. Benn’s reputation amongst boxing fans has been stained.
Although he has been cleared to fight by an anti-doping panel, they feel he should be more transparent about the reasons behind the failed test.
Benn says he has been “cleared three times” and is reluctant to dwell on the past.
Nigel, meanwhile, speaks more openly about the impact it had on them both, saying £1m was spent on the legal battles.
The former super-middleweight champion says he is not a drinker but would consume “half a bottle of red wine every night” during the period as his mental health issues worsened, while his son turned to therapy to get through the dark times.
“I was watching my son really crying in my arms, heartbroken. I just knew [he was innocent],” Nigel adds.
“Because [if he was] I would let the public know, I’d say, ‘Mate, yeah, sorry mate, he’s done this’. But I know he hasn’t and I will stand with my son.”
Leave a Reply