Nigel Benn was sent hurtling towards the canvas after taking a huge jab.
In his esteemed career, ‘The Dark Destroyer’ captured the hearts of fans with his all-action style inside the ring.
Benn started his career with 22 consecutive knockouts and eventually became a world champion in two weight divisions.
However, before the Brit conquered the sport, he had to overcome the adversity of a difficult stoppage defeat.
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Michael Watson knocked out Nigel Benn
On May 21, 1989, Nigel Benn put his Commonwealth title on the line against Michael Watson at Finsbury Park in London, UK.
The bout pitted a natural-born brawler against a master technician in an interesting blend of styles.
Benn started fast, looking to land huge hooks to head and body, while Watson covered up and attempted to find counters.
By the fourth round, the contest was really heating up, with both men detonating shots that buzzed the other.
In the following segment, Watson began to let his hands go, catching Benn as he tried to bob and weave his way inside.
The challenger landed a series of cracking right hands that had his opponent in trouble, but refusing to give in, Benn fired back, connecting with a big uppercut.
In the sixth, Watson badly staggered his rival, who took a second to recompose himself before jumping back in the fire.
Then, in a moment of madness, the underdog landed a crushing jab that sent Benn spiraling towards the floor.
The brave operator got back to his feet, but not in time, with the referee waving off the contest.
Nigel Benn knocked down opponent three times to become world champion
The loss to Watson was heartbreaking for Benn, but in a testament to his fighting spirit, there was no way he was going to give up on his dreams.
Believing he could become world champion, the brawler embarked on the comeback trail.
After three consecutive wins, the Brit was ready to challenge for the WBO middleweight world title.
In a tremendous performance, Benn knocked the champion down three times to win the belt.