Inside Nigel Benn’s intense training camp ahead of return at 55 including brutal 35km virtual bike rides and plant diet
Richard Pelham
SUNSPORT’S award-winning photographer Richard Pelham has worked with Nigel Benn for more than 30 years.
From running at altitude with him on Tenerife’s Mount Teide, to snapping training for the epic Chris Eubank fight and seeing him lifting weights with his neck. Yesterday, they got together again and Benn is training as hard as ever.
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Nigel Benn returns at aged 55 to face Sakio Bika in BirminghamCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
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Benn faces former world champion Bika on November 23 in a PPV clashCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
THE Dark Destroyer is no more — but Nigel Benn is in the best shape of his life.
After he smashed 35km in an hour on a Zwift bike ride — a daily session at 7am — Benn is back in the gym at 2pm for another workout.
Even at 55, he is in supreme shape.
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The former two-weight world champion training for his 1993 rematch against Chris EubankCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
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Benn replicates his pose for SunSport 16-years after his draw against bitter rival EubankCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
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The 55-year-old boxing great grinds away in a gritty strength and conditioning sessionCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
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The English brawler reigned as middleweight and super-middleweight world championCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
There has been a change of lifestyle, a plant-based diet and new focus for the Sakio Bika fight on November 23.
Benn said: “The Dark destroyer is dead, gone.
"He took drugs he cheated on his wife. No more, I must not be known as that.
“My timing is good, my fitness levels now are through the roof.
"But this is my last fight, no more after this.”
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Proud dad Benn has long been involved in his son Conor's careerCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
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Veteran Benn begins his brutal 35km virtual bike rideCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
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A visual of Benn's long distance bike ride he works through in the boxing gymCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
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Many boxers have ditched road running for cycling and swimmingCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
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Benn checks out the useful equipment helping him prepare for his comeback 23-years in the makingCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
After brain scans, lung tests and heart checks, Benn was compared to an athlete 25 years his junior.
Calling himself Nigel Benjamin Button Benn, he added: “It’s not about age. I’m in training all the time, I’ve got army discipline.
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In his prime the fan-favourite used good old fashioned training drillsCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
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Benn strengthens his neck muscles ahead of the Eubank rematch in 1993 having been stopped in the first boutCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
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The ex-champion last fought in 1996 losing a rematch against Steve CollinsCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
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Dedicated Benn works with an oxygen mask on in a bid to make his training tougherCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
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The 'Dark Destroyer' claims to be the fittest 55-year-old on the planetCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
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Tattooed Benn claims to have spent every day in the gym since he found GodCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
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A photo taken in 1987 shows a toned Benn with hair lifting weightsCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
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Benn was formerly trained by British legend Jimmy Tibbs but will have a new corner in his comeback boutCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
