Benn V Collins III A Headache Boxing Doesn't Need

Benn V Collins III A Headache Boxing Doesn't Need
13:55, 29 Jun 2017

It's hard to remember a year when boxing has been in the headlines more than 2017, for both good and bad reasons, and that looks set to continue with the news that Nigel Benn and Steve Collins have agreed to an astonishing 3rd fight.

2017 has been particularly exciting in the UK for boxing fans with famous fights taking place on an almost monthly basis, and with big nights like Canelo v Triple G on the horizon, it really has been a feast for supports of the sweet science. It hasn't all been plain sailing though, with many purists dismissing the upcoming Floyd Mayweather v Conor McGregor bout as nothing more than a circus event, and we can expect Benn and Collins to attract a similar response.

The two warriors famously went head-to-head in two fights back in 1996 but with both men now the wrong side of 50, they have agreed to a third and final match. Collins came out on top on both occasions 21 years ago, but both are clearly looking for a big pay day and Collins in particular, has been vocal about returning to the ring, despite being well into his 50s. He was reportedly close to fighting Roy Jones Jr back in 2013 but that ultimately fell through, but it appears as if he is finally getting his wish.

A potential fight with Chris Eubank is another one that failed to materialised which has seen Benn enter the mix to take on the Irishman, and the "Dark Destroyer" has reportedly jumped at the chance to avenge those two defeats.

Since retiring, Benn has had a stint in I'M A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here and has moved to Australia, whilst Collins is quoted as saying the money for the fight will go towards buying new land. 

There is no doubt that Nigel Benn is in great shape with recent social media pictures of him in training doing the rounds as a result of this announcement. He is obviously spending plenty of time in the gym, especially with his son Conor Benn now in the paid ranks, and there is no doubting that he was a very dangerous man in his prime.

He earned a massive following amongst British sporting fans for his marauding aggressive style which saw him take part in some of the best fights in recent memory. Benn was not the most subtle of boxers in his hey day but he was amongst the most exciting, and with Steve Collins was very similar, there will be no shortage of attention on the pair of them, even in 2017.

Social media reaction in the wake of the announcement has been largely negative, and there will be very real concerns for many about the fight going ahead.

The British Board of Control will need to award both fighters licenses for the fight, and that could well prove to be the major talking point in the next few weeks. All eyes will be on the sanctioning body with the integrity of the sport likely to be called into question as two men who have been out of the ring for two decades look to face off. 

The spectacle of two men, with a combined age of 105, knocking each other about is hardly likely to be well received, but if the British Board don't award the fighters a license, there is every chance a foreign body will.

Then there is the question of TV coverage with the mainstream sports broadcasters likely to be staying as far away from this one as possible, and you can hardly blame them. Expect Dave to be interested in screening the fight...

Those of us that love boxing, love watching the very best fighting the very best, and that is the worry ahead of this fight. It is a sport that often fails to show itself off in the best of light, and whilst a 3rd fight between Collins and Benn would have some curiosity appeal for fans old enough to remember their initial contests, there is a real concern that it would play straight into the hands of those that seek to criticise the sport.

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