Product Description

In this book, Nigel Benn tells it like it is. From the grim days he spent in the army in Northern Ireland, to his notorious battle with Chris Ewbank. From the women of his past - including the girl who took his virginity when he was just twelve years old and the numerous women he has romanced since - to the love and support he has now found with his wife Carolyne and his adored children. Nigel also reveals all about: * The murky world of boxing politics * How the tragic death of his elder brother led him to psychotherapy * How the hypnotist Paul McKenna got Nigel's life back on track From fighter to family man, this book explores the contrasts that make up the figure of a mighty world champion.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #27244 in Books
• Published on: 2009-02-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

Customer Reviews

FASCINATING INSIGHT INTO ONE OF BOXINGS 'HARD MEN'
Many books on fighters give a very limited and one-sided view but after reading this you feel that you know more about Nigel Benn than just that he could hit hard.

He has been very open about things that he has done in his life and allowed the reader to make there own judgement.

Aside from concentrating on his fight career that we all know about he gives a fascinating insight into his private life before, during and after his career, as well as giving the reader a chuckle on more than one occasion when revealing some escapades that he and his friends have encountered.

All-in-all a very entertaining and enlightning read.

Disappointing
It's fair to say that before Hatton and Calzaghe, Nigel Benn was one of British boxing's premier superstars who captured the imagination of the public, delivering excitement and thrilling knockouts on a regular basis in a time when the cream of British boxing regularly did their thing live on ITV. As boxer I regard Benn as one of Britain's best - a two weight champion who went from a knock-em, sock-em brawler to a ring-wise veteran who made ten successful world title defences.

This book however, fails to deliver. We learn of Benn's early life and the death of his brother Andy. We learn about the wild days of his youth which led to a stint in the army and then a career in the prize-ring. We learn of his sexploits that see him regularly cheating on the women in his life. The fights are described as though he is merely reading his own press-cuttings. How did it really feel to batter Iran Barkley in less than two minutes? You want to know what it felt like to be involved in one of the most primally savage fights ever beamed into the homes of a prime-time Saturday night audience. What did it feel like to walk away with his faculties intact while his opponent was so badly injured that he has never made anything close to a full recovery. Instead, we learn about the cars he's driven and the money he's made. And then there's the end, with Benn in a new relationship becoming a born-again Christian. I'm always deeply suspicious of those who find the light after freely enjoying the bounty of their sinners ways. If you want to a down-to-earth, funny and enjoyable boxing read - go for the Ricky Hatton book!

Benn but no bang
On the whole I found this book to be very disappointing. I was looking forward to reading about what made this ferocious puncher tick, but it didn't deliver. There are also some glaring errors, which should have been picked up by someone at some stage. Not least of which was calling Dennie Mancini, `Danny'! DENNIE has worked with some of the biggest names in British boxing, and to be honest that was poor to say the least.

I learnt nothing about what it was like in training camp, nor was there any insight into his big fights. Much of the book is taken up with Benn bragging how much money he has to spend so rich that he can thrash his sports car through the streets of London going through three clutches and two gear boxes in a year, when not boasting about money he is telling the reader of the women he bedded, then on the next page saying how he was missing his partner and children. For me Nigel Benn just came across as an overgrown chav with plenty of money in his pocket. I went to a lot of Nigel's fights but after reading this book I knew nothing more about the man than when I started.