Yesterday it was announced that former professional boxers Nigel Benn, 53, and Steve Collins, 52, will fight for a third time sometime this year. The two famously fought twice in 1996 with Benn losing both contests. The 53-year old has said that he needs ‘closure’ and apparently this is something that he has to do.
However, his son disagrees strongly.
Professional welterweight Conor Benn (6-0, 4 KO’s) is naturally worried about his father’s health. To him, this is far from entertaining.
“He’s my dad at the end of the day, and it’s not entertaining for me, he’s my dad. He’s had a blessed career, and once you go into the ring, you’re on your own. I think he should leave it, what’s he fighting for? Because he wants to? But he’s got kids, he’s got family,” he said to The Sun.
He knows the risks that boxer’s take especially at an older age when they step into the ring. Benn does not support the idea of a third fight and refuses to corner his father.
“I don’t think I could be in his corner. It’s a brutal sport. I don’t think people realise how much of a brutal sport it is. He’s taken all the blows he has taken his whole career. Look at all the blows my dad took from devastating punchers, and he’s come out fine. That’s a gift from god, to come out with all your faculties intact, that’s a gift from god. But to dip back into it now, it’s a spiteful sport. His mind is so set on it. It’s done in his head, he’s fighting.”
The fight between Benn and Collins might not even get sanctioned in the UK by The British Boxing Board of Control due to both fighters being inactive and old. Apparently, if it’s a no go in the UK, they will fight abroad.