Nigel Benn vs. Iran Barkley explained

Fight Name:Nigel Benn vs. Iran Barkley
Fight Date:August 18, 1990
Location:Bally's Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada
Titles:WBO middleweight title
Fighter1:Nigel Benn
Nickname1:The Dark Destroyer
Hometown1:West Ham, London, U.K.
Purse1:$400,000
Record1:26–1 (24 KO)
Height1:5 ft 9+1/2 in
Weight1:159 lb
Style1:Southpaw
Recognition1:WBO
Middleweight Champion
Fighter2:Iran Barkley
Nickname2:The Blade
Hometown2:The Bronx, New York, U.S.
Purse2:$200,000
Record2:25–5 (16 KO)
Height2:6 ft 1 in
Weight2:160 lb
Style2:Orthodox
Recognition2:IBF
No. 4 Ranked Middleweight[1]
WBA
No. 8 Ranked Middleweight[2]
Former WBC middleweight champion
Result:Benn wins via 1st round TKO

Nigel Benn vs. Iran Barkley was a professional boxing match contested on August 18, 1990, for the WBO middleweight title.[3]

Background

After losing his WBA middleweight title to Roberto Durán in February 1989, Iran Barkley would get a shot at the IBF's version of the middleweight title when he challenged champion Michael Nunn six months later, though he would lose via unanimous decision.[4] Despite the loss, Barkley secured another middleweight title fight, this time against the inaugural WBO champion Doug DeWitt. However, the fight, which was scheduled to take place on January 15, 1990, on the undercard of the George Foreman–Gerry Cooney fight, was called off after Barkley had to withdraw after suffering a torn retina in his left eye.[5] Matthew Hilton was subsequently named as Barkley's replacement.[6]

DeWitt defeated Hilton and then was matched up against Nigel Benn for his next defense. Benn dominated the fight, knocking DeWitt down four times en route to a technical knockout victory.[7] In July, after Barkley's left eye finally healed and he was cleared to return to boxing, the Benn–Barkley fight was made official.[8]

The fight

As soon as the opening bell rang, Benn quicky attacked Barkley with a combination that left Barkley stunned and backed into the corner. Barkley, caught off guard by Benn's aggressive start, attempted to clinch but was unable to do so and was caught with a left hook that sent him down only 20 seconds in. Barkley answered referee's Carlos Padilla Jr.'s 10-count at six and continued the fight as Benn continue to wildly throw big power punches that Barkley was able to mostly dodge before countering with a left hand that sent Benn back into the ropes. Barkley continue to attack Benn while he was against the ropes but Benn was able to weather the attack and hit Barkley with several big punches to regain control of the fight and again sent Barkley down with a right-left combination, landing an illegal punch while Barkley was on his knees though the referee did not punish Benn for the infraction. A dazed Barkley again got back up but was quickly sent down for the third time. With the three knockdown rule in effect, Padilla, unsure if Barkley was knockdown or slipped, briefly consulted members of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, who ruled that Barkley had indeed been knockdown, resulting in the fight being immediately stopped and Benn awarded the victory via technical knockout.[9]

Aftermath

Benn would return to the UK and meet Chris Eubank three months later in Birmingham. After losing to Benn, Barkley underwent surgery for a detached retina and was inactive for a year.

Fight card

Confirmed bouts:[10]

Weight ClassWeightvs.MethodRoundNotes
Middleweight160 lbs.Nigel Benn (c)def.Iran BarkleyTKO1/12
Super Lightweight140 lbs.Charles Murraydef.Salvador VillaKO1/8
Bantamweight118 lbs.Eddie Cookdef.Martin Perez RamirezKO2/6
Flyweight112 lbs.Scotty Olsondef.Robert GarzaTKO2/6
Super Middleweight168 lbs.John McClaindef.Joey DeGrandisUD4/4

Broadcasting

align=center Countryalign=center Broadcaster
GMA Network
ITV
ABC

Notes and References

  1. News: The International Boxing Federation official ratings as of August 1990 . 1 December 2024 . Gainesville Sun . International Boxing Federation . 8 August 1990 . Richmond, Virginia.
  2. News: The World Boxing Association official ratings as of June 1990 . 1 December 2024 . The Daily Gazette . World Boxing Association . 18 July 1990 . Caracas, Venezuela.
  3. Web site: Nigel Benn vs. Iran Barkley . boxrec.com . BoxRec . 28 August 2024.
  4. https://www.nytimes.com/1989/08/15/sports/nunn-retains-title-and-runs-streak-to-34-0.html Nunn Retains Title and Runs Streak to 34-0
  5. https://www.deseret.com/1989/12/20/18837675/iran-barkley-injured-fight-is-off/ IRAN BARKLEY INJURED; FIGHT IS OFF
  6. https://www.nytimes.com/1989/12/22/sports/sports-people-boxing-hilton-in-for-barkley.html Hilton in for Barkley
  7. https://www.nytimes.com/1990/04/30/sports/benn-stops-dewitt.html Hilton in for Barkley
  8. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/07/11/Barkley-Benn-bout-announced-for-Aug-18/2181647668800/ Barkley-Benn bout announced for Aug. 18
  9. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/08/18/Benn-TKOs-Barkley-in-first-round/5655650952000/ Benn TKO's Barkley in first round
  10. Web site: BoxRec - event.