Nigel Gregory Benn (born 22 January 1964) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1987 to 1996. He held the World Boxing Organization (WBO) middleweight title in 1990. He also held the World Boxing Council (WBC) super-middleweight title from 1992 to 1996. At regional level, he held the Commonwealth middleweight title from 1988 to 1989. As an amateur, he won the ABA middleweight title in 1986.
Benn's knockout-to-win percentage stood at 83.3%. Benn was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2026.
BoxRec-style profile
- Birth name: Nigel Gregory Benn
- Born: 22 January 1964 — Ilford, Greater London, England
- Nationality: British
- Height: 5 ft 9½ in
- Reach: 73 in (185 cm)
- Stance: Orthodox
- Pro debut: 28 Jan 1987 (Win by TKO vs Graeme Ahmed)
- Last bout: 9 Nov 1996 (Loss by RTD vs Steve Collins)
- Total rounds boxed: 238 (summed from the bout table below)
- Divisions: Middleweight, Super-middleweight
- KO percentage: 83.3% (35 KO wins in 42 wins)
- Titles held (major, with reign dates): WBO middleweight title April 29, 1990 – November 18, 1990 (won from Doug DeWitt; defended against Iran Barkley; lost to Chris Eubank); WBC super-middleweight title October 3, 1992 – March 2, 1996 (won from Mauro Galvano; defenses included the Chris Eubank draw and the Gerald McClellan win on February 25, 1995; lost to Thulani Malinga) — all dates per the bout table; the Commonwealth middleweight title (1988–1989) is flagged inline in the bout table
Record at a glance
- Total bouts: 48
- Wins: 42
- Wins by KO: 35
- Losses: 5
- Losses by KO: 4
- Draws: 1
- No contests: 0
- Born: 22 January 1964 — Ilford, Greater London, England
- Nationality: British
- Height: 5 ft 9½ in
- Reach: 73 in (185 cm)
- Stance: Orthodox
- Divisions: Middleweight, Super-middleweight
Fight-by-fight record
| No. | Date | Opponent | Result | Method | Round/Time | Venue / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28 Jan 1987 | Graeme Ahmed | Win | TKO | 2 (8), 1:10 | Fairfield Halls, London, England |
| 2 | 4 Mar 1987 | Kevin Roper | Win | TKO | 1 (6) | Festival Hall Super Tent, Basildon, England |
| 3 | 22 Apr 1987 | Rob Nieuwenhuizen | Win | TKO | 1 (6), 2:03 | Royal Albert Hall, London, England |
| 4 | 9 May 1987 | Winston Burnett | Win | TKO | 4 (8) | Latchmere Leisure Centre, London, England |
| 5 | 7 Jun 1987 | Reginald Marks | Win | TKO | 1 (6) | Royal Albert Hall, London, England |
| 6 | 1 Jul 1987 | Leon Morris | Win | KO | 1 (6), 0:25 | Royal Albert Hall, London, England |
| 7 | 8 Sep 1987 | Eddie Smith | Win | KO | 2 (8), 1:08 | Blazers Nightclub, Windsor, England |
| 8 | 16 Sep 1987 | Winston Burnett | Win | KO | 3 (6), 1:55 | Royal Albert Hall, London, England |
| 9 | 13 Oct 1987 | Russell Barker | Win | TKO | 1 (6), 1:15 | Blazers Nightclub, Windsor, England |
| 10 | 3 Nov 1987 | Ronnie Yoe | Win | TKO | 1 (8) | Crowtree Leisure Centre, Sunderland, England |
| 11 | 24 Nov 1987 | Ian Chantler | Win | KO | 1 (8), 0:16 | The Hudson, Wisbech, England |
| 12 | 2 Dec 1987 | Reggie Miller | Win | TKO | 7 (10), 1:08 | Wembley Conference Centre, London, England |
| 13 | 27 Jan 1988 | Fermin Chirino | Win | KO | 2 (8) | York Hall, London, England |
| 14 | 7 Feb 1988 | Byron Prince | Win | TKO | 2 (8) | Bingley Hall, Stafford, England |
| 15 | 24 Feb 1988 | Greg Taylor | Win | TKO | 2 (8) | Afan Lido F.C., Port Talbot, Wales |
| 16 | 13 Apr 1988 | Darren Hobson | Win | KO | 1 (8), 1:49 | Norwich Lads Boxing Club, Norwich, England |
| 17 | 20 Apr 1988 | Abdul Umaru Sanda | Win | TKO | 2 (12) | Alexandra Pavilion, London, England — ★ Title fight — Won vacant Commonwealth middleweight title |
| 18 | 28 May 1988 | Tim Williams | Win | TKO | 2 (10), 0:59 | Royal Albert Hall, London, England |
| 19 | 26 Oct 1988 | Anthony Logan | Win | KO | 2 (12), 1:15 | Royal Albert Hall, London, England — ★ Title fight — Retained Commonwealth middleweight title |
| 20 | 10 Dec 1988 | David Noel | Win | TKO | 1 (12), 2:04 | Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, London, England — ★ Title fight — Retained Commonwealth middleweight title |
| 21 | 8 Feb 1989 | Michael Chilambe | Win | KO | 1 (12), 1:07 | Royal Albert Hall, London, England — ★ Title fight — Retained Commonwealth middleweight title |
| 22 | 28 Mar 1989 | Mbayo Wa Mbayo | Win | KO | 2 (10), 2:20 | Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Scotland |
| 23 | 21 May 1989 | Michael Watson | Loss | TKO | 6 (12), 1:34 | Majestic Ballroom, London, England — ★ Title fight — Lost Commonwealth middleweight title |
| 24 | 20 Oct 1989 | Jorge Amparo | Win | UD | 10 | Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US |
| 25 | 1 Dec 1989 | Jose Quinones | Win | TKO | 1 (10), 2:51 | Hacienda Resort Hotel and Casino, Paradise, Nevada, US |
| 26 | 14 Jan 1990 | Sanderline Williams | Win | SD | 10 | Caesar's, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US |
| 27 | 29 Apr 1990 | Doug DeWitt | Win | TKO | 8 (12), 0:44 | Caesar's, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US — ★ Title fight — Won WBO middleweight title |
| 28 | 18 Aug 1990 | Iran Barkley | Win | TKO | 1 (12), 2:57 | Bally's Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, US — ★ Title fight — Retained WBO middleweight title |
| 29 | 18 Nov 1990 | Chris Eubank | Loss | TKO | 9 (12), 2:56 | National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, England — ★ Title fight — Lost WBO middleweight title |
| 30 | 3 Apr 1991 | Robbie Sims | Win | TKO | 7 (10) | York Hall, London, England |
| 31 | 3 Jul 1991 | Kid Milo | Win | TKO | 4 (10) | International Centre, Brentwood, England |
| 32 | 26 Oct 1991 | Lenzie Morgan | Win | UD | 10 | Leisure Centre, Brentwood, England |
| 33 | 7 Dec 1991 | Hector Abel Lescano | Win | KO | 3 (10), 2:35 | G-Mex Centre, Manchester, England |
| 34 | 19 Feb 1992 | Dan Sherry | Win | KO | 3 (10), 2:34 | Alexandra Pavilion, London, England |
| 35 | 23 May 1992 | Thulani Malinga | Win | SD | 10 | National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, England |
| 36 | 3 Oct 1992 | Mauro Galvano | Win | TKO | 4 (12) | Palaghiaccio, Marino, Italy — ★ Title fight — Won WBC super-middleweight title |
| 37 | 12 Dec 1992 | Nicky Piper | Win | TKO | 11 (12), 1:44 | Alexandra Pavilion, London, England — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC super-middleweight title |
| 38 | 6 Mar 1993 | Mauro Galvano | Win | UD | 12 | Exhibition and Conference Centre, Glasgow, Scotland — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC super-middleweight title |
| 39 | 26 Jun 1993 | Lou Gent | Win | TKO | 4 (12), 0:35 | Earls Court Exhibition Centre, London, England — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC super-middleweight title |
| 40 | 9 Oct 1993 | Chris Eubank | Draw | SD | 12 | Old Trafford, Manchester, England — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC super-middleweight title; For WBO super-middleweight title |
| 41 | 26 Feb 1994 | Henry Wharton | Win | UD | 12 | Earls Court Exhibition Centre, London, England — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC super-middleweight title |
| 42 | 10 Sep 1994 | Juan Carlos Giménez Ferreyra | Win | UD | 12 | National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, England — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC super-middleweight title |
| 43 | 25 Feb 1995 | Gerald McClellan | Win | KO | 10 (12), 1:46 | London Arena, London, England — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC super-middleweight title |
| 44 | 22 Jul 1995 | Vincenzo Nardiello | Win | TKO | 8 (12), 1:43 | London Arena, London, England — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC super-middleweight title |
| 45 | 2 Sep 1995 | Danny Perez | Win | TKO | 7 (12), 2:33 | Wembley Stadium, London, England — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC super-middleweight title |
| 46 | 2 Mar 1996 | Thulani Malinga | Loss | SD | 12 | Telewest Arena, Newcastle, England — ★ Title fight — Lost WBC super-middleweight title |
| 47 | 6 Jul 1996 | Steve Collins | Loss | TKO | 4 (12), 2:44 | NYNEX Arena, Manchester, England — ★ Title fight — For WBO super-middleweight title |
| 48 | 9 Nov 1996 | Steve Collins | Loss | RTD | 6 (12), 3:00 | NYNEX Arena, Manchester, England — ★ Title fight — For WBO super-middleweight title |
Titles & notes
Major title reigns (start–end): WBO middleweight title April 29, 1990 – November 18, 1990 (won from Doug DeWitt; defended against Iran Barkley; lost to Chris Eubank); WBC super-middleweight title October 3, 1992 – March 2, 1996 (won from Mauro Galvano; defenses included the Chris Eubank draw and the Gerald McClellan win on February 25, 1995; lost to Thulani Malinga) — all dates per the bout table; the Commonwealth middleweight title (1988–1989) is flagged inline in the bout table
- 20 Apr 1988 vs Abdul Umaru Sanda: Won vacant Commonwealth middleweight title
- 26 Oct 1988 vs Anthony Logan: Retained Commonwealth middleweight title
- 10 Dec 1988 vs David Noel: Retained Commonwealth middleweight title
- 8 Feb 1989 vs Michael Chilambe: Retained Commonwealth middleweight title
- 21 May 1989 vs Michael Watson: Lost Commonwealth middleweight title
- 29 Apr 1990 vs Doug DeWitt: Won WBO middleweight title
- 18 Aug 1990 vs Iran Barkley: Retained WBO middleweight title
- 18 Nov 1990 vs Chris Eubank: Lost WBO middleweight title
- 3 Oct 1992 vs Mauro Galvano: Won WBC super-middleweight title
- 12 Dec 1992 vs Nicky Piper: Retained WBC super-middleweight title
- 6 Mar 1993 vs Mauro Galvano: Retained WBC super-middleweight title
- 26 Jun 1993 vs Lou Gent: Retained WBC super-middleweight title
- 9 Oct 1993 vs Chris Eubank: Retained WBC super-middleweight title; For WBO super-middleweight title
- 26 Feb 1994 vs Henry Wharton: Retained WBC super-middleweight title
- 10 Sep 1994 vs Juan Carlos Giménez Ferreyra: Retained WBC super-middleweight title
- 25 Feb 1995 vs Gerald McClellan: Retained WBC super-middleweight title
- 22 Jul 1995 vs Vincenzo Nardiello: Retained WBC super-middleweight title
- 2 Sep 1995 vs Danny Perez: Retained WBC super-middleweight title
- 2 Mar 1996 vs Thulani Malinga: Lost WBC super-middleweight title
- 6 Jul 1996 vs Steve Collins: For WBO super-middleweight title
- 9 Nov 1996 vs Steve Collins: For WBO super-middleweight title
Photo: Unknown author via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0).
Record source: Wikipedia professional boxing record table (cross-checked against the bout list), retrieved 2026-11-03.
