Best of these three boxers: Eubank, Collins and Benn

[IronDanHamza]

When did he struggle with subpar opposition before the second Watson fight?

I don't recall any. But for me, the second Watson fight concluded what was Eubank's "prime". He was never the same after that.

I think it's hard to pick Benn over Eubank when they fought when both of them were at their peak and Eubank won.

So Eubank was out of prime in 1991? He only won the belt in 1990.

I don't buy that excuse.

Watson beat him up in the first fight and the second fight before the KO.

He didn't struggle with anyone pre Watson because outside of Benn he'd only fought road sweepers and window cleaners. After he won the belt and he was defending it against fringe contenders he struggled against basically every single decent fighter he fought.

Benn 1 was impressive, outside of that I don't think he had a single imoressive performance after that. He struggled with sub par fighters time and time and time again and should have lost a lot of those fights aswell.

Probably is hard to pick Benn over Eubank. I struggle to pick any of them I don't rate any that highly.

[LacedUp]

So Eubank was out of prime in 1991? He only won the belt in 1990.

I don't buy that excuse.

Watson beat him up in the first fight and the second fight before the KO.

He didn't struggle with anyone pre Watson because outside of Benn he'd only fought road sweepers and window cleaners. After he won the belt and he was defending it against fringe contenders he struggled against basically every single decent fighter he fought.

Benn 1 was impressive, outside of that I don't think he had a single imoressive performance after that. He struggled with sub par fighters time and time and time again and should have lost a lot of those fights aswell.

Probably is hard to pick Benn over Eubank. I struggle to pick any of them I don't rate any that highly.

Yeah pretty much. I never saw him look as good as he did in the Benn fight ever again after that.

I agree he got beat up, but Watson was also a good fighter, unlike the plumbers he pulled out of the gutter after Watson.

That's what i'm saying though. He proved he was a great fighter vs Benn and even Watson II, coming back like he did - Despite what happened in the previous rounds, he found a way to end it.

Pre Benn, he made easy work out of these road sweepers and taxi drivers. He didn't after Watson. He even refused to knock people out and asked for the ref to jump in and all that good stuff. Not a fighter in his prime.

Maybe it's a case of Eubank only being able to perform at his best vs Benn because of the person issues between them, but in my opinion his level severely dropped after Watson and he certainly wasn't at his best against Collins - although he put up a decent performance in one of the fights. Second one I think.

[IronDanHamza]

Yeah pretty much. I never saw him look as good as he did in the Benn fight ever again after that.

I agree he got beat up, but Watson was also a good fighter, unlike the plumbers he pulled out of the gutter after Watson.

That's what i'm saying though. He proved he was a great fighter vs Benn and even Watson II, coming back like he did - Despite what happened in the previous rounds, he found a way to end it.

Pre Benn, he made easy work out of these road sweepers and taxi drivers. He didn't after Watson. He even refused to knock people out and asked for the ref to jump in and all that good stuff. Not a fighter in his prime.

Maybe it's a case of Eubank only being able to perform at his best vs Benn because of the person issues between them, but in my opinion his level severely dropped after Watson and he certainly wasn't at his best against Collins - although he put up a decent performance in one of the fights. Second one I think.

Maybe because he isn't that good?

I can't see how a guys passed it after his first title win. That's always been the excuse for his poor performance after poor performance throughout the 90's but like I said I don't and have never brought it.

Nah, pre Benn he fought literal taxi drivers. Post Benn he fought mostly fringe contenders and looked terrible every time.

I always see this excuse aswell "Eubank was calling for refs to stop the fight" the only fight I rememeber him doing that in was against Henry Wharton and he only gestured to the ref to stop that one because as per usual he was struggling in that fight and wanted it to end.

He has a impressuve win against Benn 1 that he won well. Other than that I don't see another impressive performance. He got a gift in the first Watson fight and he did well to get the KO in the second one so that's a good win but he was well behind at the time of the stoppage.

People said he was past prime in 94 for Benn 2. Maybe he was, or maybe he just wasn't that good a fighter. Maybe a bit of both. He was passed his best for the Collins fights defintely but I'm still going to go with Eubank being an overrated fighter. He struggled with sub par opponents way too many times.

[LacedUp]

Maybe because he isn't that good?

I can't see how a guys passed it after his first title win. That's always been the excuse for his poor performance after poor performance throughout the 90's but like I said I don't and have never brought it.

Nah, pre Benn he fought literal taxi drivers. Post Benn he fought mostly fringe contenders and looked terrible every time.

I always see this excuse aswell "Eubank was calling for refs to stop the fight" the only fight I rememeber him doing that in was against Henry Wharton and he only gestured to the ref to stop that one because as per usual he was struggling in that fight and wanted it to end.

He has a impressuve win against Benn 1 that he won well. Other than that I don't see another impressive performance. He got a gift in the first Watson fight and he did well to get the KO in the second one so that's a good win but he was well behind at the time of the stoppage.

People said he was past prime in 94 for Benn 2. Maybe he was, or maybe he just wasn't that good a fighter. Maybe a bit of both. He was passed his best for the Collins fights defintely but I'm still going to go with Eubank being an overrated fighter. He struggled with sub par opponents way too many times.

We agree that Eubank is overrated. The amount of top quality opponents he had can probably be counted on one hand and a few fingers. His top wins can definitely be counted on one hand.

I'm not saying he was past it after Benn, but after Watson II - Which changed him imo. I think the Eubank who fought Benn, or even Watson in the second fight would have had a good day with Sugarboy Malinga in '92. but Eubank did not.

Just looking over some of the fighters he fought between Watson II and Benn II, I mean some were atrocious.

I agree Eubank is overrated, but I think it's tough to put Benn over Eubank when they fought at the best times of each career, and Eubank stopped him in impressive fashion.

I don't think Collins, even for his wins against worn-out Benn and over the hill Eubank was as great as those two.

But the two also made each other great.

[The Hammer]

I don't think Collins, even for his wins against worn-out Benn and over the hill Eubank was as great as those two.

But the two also made each other great.

So Benn was worn out and Collins was prime despite them being the same age?

And age 27 Eubank was over the hill when he fought age 29 Collins?

But age 39 (nearly 40) Klitschko is not "worn out" or "over the hill" when he fights age 27 Fury?

[LacedUp]

So Benn was worn out and Collins was prime despite them being the same age?

And age 27 Eubank was over the hill when he fought age 29 Collins?

But age 39 (nearly 40) Klitschko is not "worn out" or "over the hill" when he fights age 27 Fury?

Basing a fighters prime on their age doesn't hold any water.

Klitschko is clearly past his prime - It was Klitschko fans who said Wlad was at the top of his career before the Fury fight, not me.

[phallus]

For me it's clearly Collins, who beat Benn twice and Eubank twice. But for some reason, he doesn't receive much recognition or credit.

Let's not forget, Collins was TWO YEARS OLDER than Eubank, and the same age as Benn.

And Collins had been in plenty of wars (he wasn't a "defense-first" kind of fighter who rarely gets hit).

Collins was "Nothing Special" he managed to sc**** a victory over Eubank after Eubank had fought 8 times in 14 months. All world title fights. Collins got two victories over Nigel Benn when Benn had absolutely nothing left, Benn was a shot`fighter by the time he fought Collins... Collins beat a couple of Class C fighters along with the Nigel Benn victories in world title fights. But the thought of facing his No1 contender Joe Calzaghe gave Collins diarrhea and he quickly ran off into retirement with his trousers full of brown... Eubank was the best of the 3 fighters by some way. However Nigel Benn with his devastating punchin-power was the crowd favorite..

He didn't beat them when they were at their best, in fact nowhere near really.

My vote goes to Eubank who beat Benn when Benn was at his best. He also came back and beat Michael Watson, a superb fighter, the second time around but unfortunately injured him for good.

Number two spot would be Benn for me. Beat Iran Barkely and of course one of the scariest fighters of all times in Gerald McLellan and getting punched through the ropes and came back to win - Something that probably hasn't happened in a championship fight since Jack Dempsey Vs Firpo.

Great fighter Benn was, I would love to put him ahead of Eubank but can't since he obviously lost when at his best to Eubank. Probably lost the rematch though when Eubank had lost his killer instinct.

Steve Collins would be my third choice.

Those are facts.

But if you look at the tragics of Benn & Eubank's careers it will show you exactly why they were out of their prime against Collins.

They had been struggling with guys they would have had a field day with leading up to Collins, and Collins was tough as old boots. Not the best preparation.

Yeah pretty much. I never saw him look as good as he did in the Benn fight ever again after that.

I agree he got beat up, but Watson was also a good fighter, unlike the plumbers he pulled out of the gutter after Watson.

That's what i'm saying though. He proved he was a great fighter vs Benn and even Watson II, coming back like he did - Despite what happened in the previous rounds, he found a way to end it.

Pre Benn, he made easy work out of these road sweepers and taxi drivers. He didn't after Watson. He even refused to knock people out and asked for the ref to jump in and all that good stuff. Not a fighter in his prime.

Maybe it's a case of Eubank only being able to perform at his best vs Benn because of the person issues between them, but in my opinion his level severely dropped after Watson and he certainly wasn't at his best against Collins - although he put up a decent performance in one of the fights. Second one I think.

Maybe because he isn't that good?

I can't see how a guys passed it after his first title win. That's always been the excuse for his poor performance after poor performance throughout the 90's but like I said I don't and have never brought it.

Nah, pre Benn he fought literal taxi drivers. Post Benn he fought mostly fringe contenders and looked terrible every time.

I always see this excuse aswell "Eubank was calling for refs to stop the fight" the only fight I rememeber him doing that in was against Henry Wharton and he only gestured to the ref to stop that one because as per usual he was struggling in that fight and wanted it to end.

He has a impressuve win against Benn 1 that he won well. Other than that I don't see another impressive performance. He got a gift in the first Watson fight and he did well to get the KO in the second one so that's a good win but he was well behind at the time of the stoppage.

People said he was past prime in 94 for Benn 2. Maybe he was, or maybe he just wasn't that good a fighter. Maybe a bit of both. He was passed his best for the Collins fights defintely but I'm still going to go with Eubank being an overrated fighter. He struggled with sub par opponents way too many times.

So Benn was worn out and Collins was prime despite them being the same age?

And age 27 Eubank was over the hill when he fought age 29 Collins?

But age 39 (nearly 40) Klitschko is not "worn out" or "over the hill" when he fights age 27 Fury?

benn fought collins right after his legendary war with Gerald McLellan, in which benn was knocked through the ropes by the Gman and afterwards his doctor found a shadow of blood on benn`s brain. benn was never the same after this fight, collins was lucky to get benn after the Gman busted him up. steve colins was a classy guy though, he made some very respectful comments toward benn after he`d won their fight.

steve collins was a tough mother****er with a great chin and heart, but far from the best boxer. he got a few gift decisions in close fights because of his heart, but by far eubank was the better boxer, he just had mental - motivational issues.

in the second benn fight, i think the judges ripped benn off, he should have got the win over eubank. it was a very close fight but benn had made some adjustments from their first fight, he boxed very carefully and didn`t give eubank any chances the second time around. like the other two guys i quoted said eubank wasn`t that much greater a boxer than benn, but because he beat benn in his prime he gets the nod. the personal stuff between benn and eubank was just funny, i still remember eubank saying how ``�f benn wasn`t a boxer, he`d be a bouncer in the West End with 3 kids from 3 different women`` lolz, but out of the three of them, the dark destroyer benn is my favorite british fighter.

[The Hammer]

Basing a fighters prime on their age doesn't hold any water.

Boxers do age differently, but OBVIOUSLY age is a factor.

Few fighters are "washed up" at age 27 and very few are not over the hill by age 40.

Klitschko is clearly past his prime - It was Klitschko fans who said Wlad was at the top of his career before the Fury fight, not me.

No, I said Klitschko looked old in recent fights, especially against Jennings.

I thought Fury had a good chance of winning against the over-the-hill Wlad, and posted that opinion several times.

However, if I was to post Wlad lost to Sanders because he was "over the hill" at age 28, then that would be a silly fanboy excuse. Or Vitali lost to Byrd because he was "worn out" at age 29, that would be fanboyism at it's worst.

It's less difficult to believe Benn was past his best at age 30, but no way was Eubank over the hill at age 27. Collins was simply the better fighter than Eubank, he had greater determination and more heart.

[D-MiZe]

How old was Tyson when he was considered past it?

Like Tyson, Eubank's decline was mental because of his fight against Michael Watson. The only argument I see here is Collins is better than either man because he beat them and was the younger man.

[HughJass]

I chose Eubank.All three deserve the utmost respect.All three men may have lacked in skill but they could darnwell fight!

They had a bundle of heart and determination that's rarely seen in the sport today.They could give a beaten and they could also take one as well.

They also had solid beards.