Nigel Benn to have brain scanner and surgeon ringside for comeback fight against Sakio Bika on November 23
NIGEL BENN will make his ring return on November 23, after 23 years out of the ring, against 40-year-old Sakio Bika.
The 55-year-old legend will compete in a one-off bout with a combined age of 95, without a licence from the British Boxing Board of Control in a fight commissioned by the British and Irish Boxing Authority.
The Birmingham showdown - dubbed Closure - will have a brain scanner at ringside in a bid to allay fears for the brilliant veteran’s comeback.
Benn's last three fights ended in defeat, the final pair against Steve Collins in 1996 when he was stopped and then retired in round six.
On the fight, Benn opened up saying: "It’s been a long time coming, I have been on a journey, this fight is all about me, it was not financial, I wanted closure that I never had.
"I had a lot of issues in my life after my brother died in 1972, that I carried through to my adult life.
"I started smoking aged eight and took ecstasy and suffered with depression for most of my life.
"I don’t know how I did it, I look at fights and don’t know how I did it. I was in a dark place for so many years, there was no joy.
"I dealt with the tragedies to Gerald McClellan and Michael Watson, I only had peace when I was away training.
"I wrestled with so many suicidal thoughts during most of my fights. In 2008 I had an encounter with Jesus and my life changed, no more spliff, ecstasy or women.
BENN-JAMIN BUTTON
"I feel the time is right now, people will say ‘you are 55’ but it has nothing to do with age. I am not the Dark Destroyer, I am Nigel Benjamin Button Benn.
"I have to have closure, I know I will get it with this fight. I could have picked an easy opponent but that is not who I am.
"Age is just a number, I am fitter now than I ever was. I am in good shape and am ready to rock and roll.
"The power is still there, I don't know if I can still take a shot but we will find out soon when I start sparring."
Bika has not boxed since two bouts in 2017 but went the distance with Adonis Stevenson for the WBC light-heavyweight title as recently as 2015.
Both boxers are both now based in Sydney, Australia so are not strangers but the Cameroon-born slugger will not shy in using his head in brutish attacks on his neighbour.
Bika did hold the WBC super-middleweight title for a year after beating Marco Antonio Periban in 2013 after suffering defeats to Joe Calzaghe and Andre Ward earlier in his career.
Matchroom promoter Hearn has serious concerns over the pairing, saying: “I don't like that fight.
“Bika is still a right handful, he is strong, he can punch. He is horrible with his head, he is dirty.
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"Maybe two years ago I would have promoted a fight for him. He was always going to fight Chris Eubank, that was always going to be the big comeback fight.
“I don't understand the Sakio Bika fight. If it was Benn and Chris Eubank, you would think that was big, but not Benn against Sakio Bika in Birmingham."
On the fight, BIBA vice-president Gianluca Di Caro said: “BIBA is honoured to sanction the event, we consider health and safety paramount.
“We will have infascanners ringside and trained medical officials appointed.
Michael Graham, BIBA chief medical officer, said: “The tests we have done on Nigel Benn give him an age of 15 years younger than his actual age.
"That’s blood tests, MRI’s, body fat content and other tests. Nigel is one of, if not, the fittest 55-year-old people on the planet.
Meanwhile, Frank Warren has pleaded with Benn to not take the fight, calling it "dangerous".