The ‘Dark Destroyer’ turned pro in 1987 and began his career with a startling record of 22 successive wins inside the distance.

In May 1989 Benn lost his first professional bout, stopped by Michael Watson in the sixth round of their Commonwealth middleweight title fight at Finsbury Park.

On April 29, 1990, the Londoner became WBO middleweight champion of the world, beating Doug DeWitt in Atlantic City.

Nigel Benn fought British super-middleweight rival Chris Eubank in 1990 and 1993, losing one and drawing the other. These were considered two of the decade’s greatest fights.

Beating Italian Mauro Galvano in Rome, Benn won the WBC super-middleweight belt in October 1992. He successfully defended his title nine times.

Benn retired from boxing in 1996 after losing to Steve Collins, but he left the sport with an outstanding record of 42 wins (35 knockouts), one draw and five defeats.