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Nigel Benn vs. Iran Barkley

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Nigel Benn vs. Iran Barkley
DateAugust 18, 1990
VenueBally's Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada
Title(s) on the lineWBO middleweight title
Tale of the tape
Boxer Nigel Benn Iran Barkley
Nickname The Dark Destroyer The Blade
Hometown West Ham, London, U.K. The Bronx, New York, U.S.
Purse $400,000 $200,000
Pre-fight record 26–1 (24 KO) 25–5 (16 KO)
Age 26 years, 6 months 30 years, 3 months
Height 5 ft 9+12 in (177 cm) 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 159 lb (72 kg) 160 lb (73 kg)
Style Southpaw Orthodox
Recognition WBO
Middleweight Champion
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.[1]

Background

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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.[2] 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.[3] Matthew Hilton was subsequently named as Barkley's replacement.[4]

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.[5] In July, after Barkley's left eye finally healed and he was cleared to return to boxing, the Benn–Barkley fight was made official.[6]

The fight

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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.[7]

Aftermath

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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

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Confirmed bouts:[8]

Weight Class Weight vs. Method Round Notes
Middleweight 160 lbs. Nigel Benn (c) def. Iran Barkley TKO 1/12 Note 1
Super Lightweight 140 lbs. Charles Murray def. Salvador Villa KO 1/8
Bantamweight 118 lbs. Eddie Cook def. Martin Perez Ramirez KO 2/6
Flyweight 112 lbs. Scotty Olson def. Robert Garza TKO 2/6
Super Middleweight 168 lbs. John McClain def. Joey DeGrandis UD 4/4

^Note 1 For WBO middleweight title

Broadcasting

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Country Broadcaster
 Mexico Televisa
 Philippines GMA Network
 United Kingdom ITV
 United States ABC

References

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  1. ^ "Nigel Benn vs. Iran Barkley". boxrec.com. BoxRec. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  2. ^ Nunn Retains Title and Runs Streak to 34-0, NY Times article, 1989-08-15 Retrieved on 2024-07-14
  3. ^ IRAN BARKLEY INJURED; FIGHT IS OFF, Deseret News article, 1989-12-20 Retrieved on 2024-07-12
  4. ^ Hilton in for Barkley, NY Times article, 1989-12-22 Retrieved on 2024-07-14
  5. ^ Hilton in for Barkley, NY Times article, 1990-04-30 Retrieved on 2024-07-14
  6. ^ Barkley-Benn bout announced for Aug. 18, UPI article, 1990-07-11 Retrieved on 2024-07-14
  7. ^ Benn TKO's Barkley in first round, UPI article, 1990-08-18 Retrieved on 2024-07-15
  8. ^ "BoxRec - event".
Preceded by Nigel Benn's bouts
18 August 1990
Succeeded by
Preceded by Iran Barkley's bouts
18 August 1990
Succeeded by
vs. Juan Hernandez