Old foes to top bill in Derby

NIGEL Benn and Chris Eubank are to meet again in Derby – and this time the gloves are off.

No punches will be exchanged between the two old rivals when they share a stage at the Riverside Centre at the end of this month, but the sparks are sure to fly.

In their heydey, Benn and Eubank were two of the biggest names in boxing – not only in Britain but across the world.

When they met for the first time, in Birmingham in 1990, Benn had lost only once in 28 professional outings and Eubank was unbeaten in 24. Both were ferocious punchers. Their bouts tended not to go the distance.

What was more, they really did not like each other.

Benn’s WBO world middleweight title was at stake and, not surprisingly, it produced an explosive finish. Benn knocked his man down in the ninth but Eubank got to his feet to unleash a barrage of punches that forced the referee to step in and stop the contest five seconds from the end of the same round.

It was almost three years until they met again, this time in Manchester.

Both were world champions at super-middleweight by then, with Benn holding the WBC belt and Eubank the WBO. The only blot on Eubank’s 36-fight record was a single draw, while Benn had lost only twice in 39 – one of them to Eubank.

The rematch did not disappoint but this time it did go the distance. After 12 brutal rounds, one judge scored it 115-113 to Eubank, another 114-113 to Benn and the third could not separate them. It was a draw.

Their two fights have been hailed as among the best seen in a British ring. Despite a clamour for a third meeting, it never happened.

But they will meet again at the Riverside Centre on Friday, October 29, as part of a national tour to talk about their rivalry and their careers.

Standard tickets are £60 plus a £5.27 fee. A gold ticket is £160 plus £13.07 and includes a glove signed by both boxers. A VIP ticket is £300 plus £23.99 and includes a signed glove, a picture and a meet and greet.

They are available at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/nigel-benn-v-chriseubank-iii-tickets-163847332783