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Nigel Benn Confirms Return To Boxing With Fight Against Sakio Bika

Nigel Benn Confirms Return To Boxing With Fight Against Sakio Bika

The 55-year-old last fought in 1996 but has decided to return to the ring against Bika, whose last fight was in 2017.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

British boxing legend Nigel Benn has announced he will make his comeback against Sakio Bika aged 55, 23 years after retiring from the sport.

The former super-middleweight world champion stopped boxing in 1996 after losing to Steve Collins for the second time but will return to the ring in Birmingham, at the Resort World Arena on November 23rd.

Australian Bika last fought in 2017, beating Geard Ajetović, and the former two weight world champion last fought for a world title belt in a 2015 loss to Adonis Stevenson at light heavyweight.

The British Boxing Board of Control refused to give Benn a license for the fight so it will instead be licensed by the British and Irish Boxing Authority.

There will be a brain scanner and surgeon ringside for the fight between the two men whose ages combine to 95, to allay fears of Benn's health.

The Dark Destroyer's promoter Mark Peters recently told the BBC, "It's not like Nigel left the sport, hung up his gloves and never trained again. He must be the fittest 55-year-old on planet Earth.

"He has still been training twice a day and he will shadow box anywhere. I wouldn't support Nigel if I didn't believe he was fit to box.

"It's his life and his prerogative to fight. From his point of view, this is closure for him."

Benn with son Conor who has started his own career. Image: PA Images
Benn with son Conor who has started his own career. Image: PA Images

Promoter Frank Warren recently pleaded with Benn on iFL TV not to do the comeback, saying, "It shouldn't be happening, Nigel, don't do it, I don't want you to do it mate, I really do not want to see you doing that.

"He shouldn't be fighting, I know he's doing it for a reason and it seems in this day and age, all these things are happening, people who are not boxers are fighting each other and that's the world we live in.

"He shouldn't be fighting, he shouldn't do it and I wish he wouldn't do it, I don't think that's in his best interest.

"It's dangerous when you're a young man, let alone when you're at that age. He keeps himself fit and he's a sensible guy I just wish he weren't doing it."

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Topics: Boxing News