Somewhere Chris Eubank And Nigel Benn Are Getting Warmed Up

March 6, 2008

If you’re a wrestling fan you know all about the term “cruiserweight.” It’s basically a glorified jobber (aka loser for the non-wrestling folks out there). Coincidentally enough, it kind of has the same connotation in boxing.

Basically, Cruiserweights have always been known as plumpy Light Heavyweights or tiny Heavyweights. You know, guys who just don’t belong in one particular weight class. But all that is beginning to change and a good example of this cruiser-revolution comes in the form of Saturday night’s David Haye-Enzo Maccarinelli tilt from the O2 Arena in jolly ol’ London, England.

Forget the fact that the WBA, WBO and WBC Cruiserweight titles are on the line. Forget that both men have only lost once in 20+ fights and are not big fans of going the distance. No, the real reason to watch this tilt is that it’s the most important boxing match in Britain history’s since Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank fought to a draw in their famous 1993 rematch on the hollowed grounds of Old Trafford in Manchester.

It’s hard to say whether this battle of Britain will come close to generating the kind of interest Benn-Eubank II did because, after all, 18 million people watched it in Britain alone. However, something tells me that, given their history, Haye and Maccarinelli will put on a great show come Saturday night. Considering the lackluster state of the Heavyweight division (and, yes, I am aware Peter and Maskaev will also be fighting on Saturday – more on them later) who says this can’t be the Cruiserweights time to shine? At least for the time being of course – Haye does plan on moving up to Heavyweight in the near future.

Anyhow, to get you pumped up for Saturday’s fight, have a look at this tremendous video previewing Benn-Eubank I. I love hearing people trash-talk in British accents especially when they break out lines from Shakespeare.

  1. 2 Responses to “Somewhere Chris Eubank And Nigel Benn Are Getting Warmed Up”

  2. benn v eubank was televised on national TV, so of course they will have had many viewers.
    we have sadly entered an age of money-grabbing businessmen, who do not care about the fans and will put on a fight at 0300 if they make more money.

    By owen on Mar 7, 2008

  3. Good point, Owen. Those days in boxing were certainly a hell of a lot different than today.

    Are you from the UK? If so, care to share what kind of coverage this fight is getting over there. I’m curious to know if people are genuinely excited about it? What’s the mood like?

    By AH on Mar 7, 2008

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