Former world champion Nigel Benn’s comeback at 56 years-old is on hold after injuring his shoulder as he prepared for bout against Sakio Bika, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“There was no way I was going to con British fight fans, who have been so good to me, by fighting when I’m not 100 percent fit,” Benn told The Sun. “I never stopped training since the day I retired, and I’ve never felt fitter in my life. I have been dreaming of a one-off fight for years, and I’m heartbroken I have had to call it off. Maybe it’s a blessing in disguise. I’m now going to forget about ever fighting again.”

“I will sit back and enjoy watching my son Conor follow in my footsteps and become a world champion,” Benn told The Sun.

“I can confirm that I have made a formal application for a boxing licence with the British & Irish Boxing Authority. I refute the claims that I re-applied for a licence with any other accredited sanctioning body (as has been stated in the press). Therefore, I have not been refused a licence as alleged. It is my decision to box again (although may be seen by some as ‘controversial’). However, unlike many boxers, I have continued to maintain my fitness and healthy lifestyle since my last fight with Steve Collins. 

I acknowledge the risks associated with the sport, and fully understand the importance of being fully assessed by medical professionals. Therefore, I’ve welcomed the requirements of BIBA to clearly establish that I AM ‘fit to box’. I have undergone numerous and regular medical investigations to confirm this, including periodic MRI brain scans. Now that I’m in the UK, within the next few weeks I have welcomed (at the request of BIBA) a further series of tests – including another MRI brain scan to provide clear clarification of my state of health. BIBA are also facilitating additional safeguarding at ringside for my fight (which far exceeds the criteria of any other sanctioning organisation).

My desire to box again is something that has remained within me for several years… It is MY choice alone, and I’ve not been persuaded or coerced by any other person. I feel like that I am being discriminated against because of my age.  I can also confirm that I have chosen to fight an opponent who is a renowned former world champion in his own right. The challenge that I’ve set myself is high. This IS a tough challenge, but one that I feel I need to pursue to bring about final closure and an inner peace of mind for myself as a man. It’s NOT about the money, it’s about closing a desire that remains within my mind, body and soul. This is my dream, and I hope boxing fans around the world will embrace my wishes, and support and respect the fact that this is my decision alone.”

It’s official, former WBC & WBO World Champion Nigel Benn will return to the ring one last time for CLOSURE.

The event will be held on the 23^rd November 2019 at Resorts World Arena, located in the National Exhibition Centre, Perimeter Rd, Birmingham, England.

The event will be broadcast globally upon the Epicentre.TV broadcast platform on Nigel’s own channel: WWW.Epicentre.TV/Nigel-Benn

So why is he returning to the ring?

“This one is for me and has been many years in the making. My return to the ring is an itch I need to scratch. I feel fitter, stronger and more focused than at any time in my career. Age is nothing but a number, I still have good movement, quick hands and a good whack. I have been training for five years ahead of this event, the last two years intensively and as an elite athlete ahead of the fight. It is eight weeks until I return to the ring, and I am only a couple of Kilograms off weight. I feel strong and looking forward to stepping in the ring for the last time in November. Looking back at my career I feel I cheated myself. Even though I accomplished so much, I was walking on the dark side; cheating, taking recreational drugs at parties and smoking weed. Starting at eight years old, I smoked cigarettes throughout my entire career! Towards the end of my career my life was out of control. When I hit my lowest point, I attempted to take my own life. By reconnecting with my faith, I have made the changes needed and now live a blessed life in Australia with my beautiful wife Carolyne and three of my eight wonderful kids. I want my return to the ring to demonstrate to anyone who is struggling that no matter how low you feel and no matter how bad things get there is always hope, there are people that can help you and you can always make the change to be a better version of yourself.” Nigel Benn

Nigel will face former WBC Super Middleweight World Champion Sakio Bika who is 15 years Nigel’s Junior. Sakio Bika is one of the toughest boxers of the last two decades. In his 20 year career, Sakio has never been stopped and has taken undefeated boxing superstars Joe Calzaghe and Andre Ward the distance giving them the hardest night of their lives.

So why Sakio Bika?

“I respect Sakio immensely, he is a true warrior and did not want to take an easy option. He has shared the ring with some of the great world champions of recent years. He will come to fight and will not take a backward step. It will be a war” Nigel Benn

Ticket and Broadcast Information can be found at the following event destination page – WWW.Epicentre.TV/Nigel-Benn

LUCAS “BIG DADDY” BROWNE says he’s fitter than ever and ready to make history.

The 36-year-old Australia aims to become his nation’s first ever world heavyweight champion when he squares off with WBA kingpin Ruslan Chagaev in Grozny, Chechnya on March 5.

Browne has been training like a demon with head coach Rodney Williams and British legend Nigel Benn for a number of weeks and believes he will be a whole new animal come fight night.

“My camp has been unreal. We’ve been in the gym for over six weeks and there’s still over seven weeks to go so people are going to get a shock when they see me in the ring,” he said.

“I’m lighter now and I’m working on my footwork every day with Rodney so I think people are going to be surprised at how agile I’ve become. My power is still there, but I’m slipping better and I’ve learned that I don’t need to stand directly in front of an opponent to knock them out.

“I’ve got the perfect team now and each day I’m learning new things. Rodney is the quiet one who provides a calming influence and concentrates on the pad work while Nigel is the loud one who shouts and gets me pumped up. He’s the motivator and the cheerleader.”

Come fight night there will be few in Grozny cheering for Browne. While hailing from Uzbekistan, Chagaev has become something of a national hero in Chechnya and even has the backing of the republic’s president and famed boxing aficionado Ramzan Kadyrov.

Browne is expecting a hostile atmosphere at the 5,000 capacity Colosseum Sports Hall, but he does not feel any trepidation.

“To me it’s just a place I have to go to if I want to fulfil my dream of being a world champion,” he said.

“The crowd will be against me and I’m fine with that. I’ve been in hostile situations in my personal life so this holds no fear for me.

“Back when I was working as a bouncer I had people attack me with chairs and knives and I was shot at. I came through that because I don’t scare easily and I’m certainly not scared of Chagaev or having fans shouting things against me.”

LUCAS BROWNE cannot wait to begin working with legendary former world champion Nigel Benn and experienced trainer Rodney Williams.

“Big Daddy” is currently from a hand injury sustained in his fight with Julius Long last month but will join up with the pair in Blacktown, New South Wales in the coming weeks.

Browne is the current mandatory challenger for Ruslan Chagaev’s WBA crown and believes Benn and Williams are the right men to help him become Australia’s first ever world heavyweight champion.

“My hand is still in a cast, but I can’t wait to get in there and work with Nigel and Rodney,” Lucas, 23-0 (20 KOs), said. “I watched Nigel train yesterday and I was really impressed with him and what Rodney was showing him.

“I’m sure that fight fans in the UK and Ireland will be excited about Nigel training me and bringing out the beast! He was always in exciting fights and always in tip-top shape.

“I’m the mandatory contender for the winner of Ruslan Chagaev and Fres Oquendo and I know that I need to ramp it up to get my hands on that WBA belt. I know that Rodney and Nigel have a lot of blood, sweat and pain installed for me but I need that so on fight night I know I’m the superior boxer in there.”

Lucas is moving back to Perth to be closer to his family, but will return to New South Wales for full training camps ahead of his fights.

Matt Clark, Browne’s manager, stated: “I’m genuinely excited about Big Daddy teaming up with Nigel and Rodney at the Blacktown Police Citizens Youth Club. Both have told me that they intend to get the best out of Lucas Browne and transfer some of the things he can do in training and sparring, into the ring on fight night. They want to bring back that explosiveness that we all know he possesses.

“Nigel Benn was the ultimate blood and guts warrior and he wants to further instil that mentality into Lucas. That ferocity and hunger that Lucas already possesses is going to be ramped up by Nigel and Rodney.

“Rodney Williams is an excellent technical trainer and I’m looking forward to him teaching Lucas some new tricks.”