MAKE HIM STOP
Warren plea over Benn comeback plan at 55
FRANK WARREN has urged anyone who cares about Nigel Benn to put a stop to his comeback.
Benn, 55, is set to announce his return to the ring at a press conference today in London, almost 23 years after his last fight against Steve Collins in November 1996.
But Warren, who promoted many of the former two-weight world champion’s fights, has called on the Dark Destroyer to shelf his plans for an unlicensed bout.
He said: “Anyone who cares about him should discourage him from doing it. I don’t know if he is doing it for financial reasons but, whatever the reason, he shouldn’t be doing it.
“I don’t want him to do it. I have a lot of love for him.
“I promoted the start of his career and he finished his career with me but 55-year-old men should not be fighting, especially when they’ve been out of the ring for 23 years.
“I hope he is not doing it for financial reasons. It can’t be good for his health.
“He is well loved by the British public, he is one of the boxing icons of the 1980s and 1990s. It’s sad that he is doing it. This can’t, under any circumstances, be good for his health even if he fights some old geezer who is going to fall on the floor.”
Benn is expected to reveal he will return on November 23 at Resorts World Arena in Birmingham, where it is understood he will face another former world champion.
But he will not be granted a licence by the British Boxing Board of Control.
Benn approached them only to be advised not to apply – a clear message they would refuse any application.
That means any bout will not be considered a professional contest and will not go on Benn’s record, which stands at 42 wins, five defeats and one draw after he lost his last three bouts, including two against Irishman Collins.
The British and Irish Boxing Authority will oversee his comeback but are not a recognised professional boxing governing body.
Warren added: “You can’t start licencing guys at 55. God forbid anything did go wrong, the message I want to get across is that this is not boxing.
“This is not what the safeguards of boxing are all in place for.”