On This Day In 1990 - Benn TKO’s Barkley In One R

By James Slater: Exactly 17 years ago today (August 18th) Britain’s Nigel Benn - “The Dark Destroyer” as he was known – won one of his most exciting fights in a career that was filled with seemingly non-stop drama. The bout with Iran Barkley may have lasted only one round, but what a round it was!

Benn certainly picked a serious challenger for the first defense of his newly acquired WBO middleweight title. Having won the belt with an impressive eight round stoppage of the always-tough Doug DeWitt, “The Dark Destroyer“ signed up to put it on the line against Iran “The Blade” Barkley. No easy first defense, in no uncertain terms, however going into the bout Barkley had a serious problem. He had needed surgery on his left eye after his fight with Michael Nunn (a losing effort for the IBF middleweight title) a full year before. So not only would he be ring rusty against Benn, he would also participate in his first fight since having undergoing treatment for a detached retina. A tune-up against someone who punched with less authority than the lethal “Dark Destroyer” would not have been a bad idea. In fact, the British Boxing Board of Control refused to let the match take place in England and the champion had to defend in America. The fight took place at Bally’s casino in Las Vegas on the 18th and there were instant fireworks.

The fight turned into a disaster for Iran almost immediately. Before the sound of the first bell had even faded, he was knocked down in his own corner by a devastatingly quick attack from the champion. The Blade bounced back up straight away, having clearly been surprised by the swiftness of the onslaught - there was no feeling out process in this one. Then Benn clipped him with another punch before referee, Carlos Padilla, could get in to administer the mandatory eight count. Once the action resumed Barkley was under fierce pressure again as Nigel was slinging absolute haymakers in an effort to spectacularly finish the fight at the moment. However, his punches were too wild and did not find their mark. This gave Barkley a chance and, showing incredible grit, he came back with his own shots. The fight had turned into a slugfest and now it was Benn who had to take some hurt. He was badly stunned by two left hooks from his challenger and driven across the ring into the ropes. Somehow, though, he survived and came back at Barkley, decking him for a second time - this time in ring center - with a crunching left of his own. Then, while Iran was still down, Benn hit him with an illegal right hand.

“Benn could find himself getting disqualified here!”, exclaimed an alarmed Jim Watt, the former world lightweight champion who, along with Reg Gutteridge, was doing commentary for ITV in the UK. And indeed he could have been, maybe should have been, because this was now his second infringement in the fight. At the very least Iran should have been given time to recover, but Padilla gave him nothing, not even appearing to warn Benn with any severity. So after the second count of the bout the action resumed once more and Barkley was quickly down for the third time, and although he was again up very quickly, this time the fight was stopped on the ludicrous three knockdown rule. Then the arguments started. Barkley’s fans in the crowd were unhappy…Iran was definitely hurt, but he wasn’t out…should he have been stopped? They clearly didn’t think so; such was their visible and audible anger.

After the fight Barkley’s manager, John Reetz, protested and said he would file a complaint to the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Barkley himself demanded a rematch, but it seemed clear this wasn’t going to happen.

One of the wildest opening rounds ever, and with it the entire fight itself, was over. Mostly one-sided, but there had been brutal action in those three minutes. The fight was a vicious brawl that seemed too savage for a boxing ring. Nigel Benn had arrived on the world stage!

And although Bob Arum’s prediction of him becoming “The English Marvin Hagler” didn’t quite come true, Nigel nonetheless proved he was definitely a top-class operator in the hurt business with his fine win over Barkley 17 years ago today.