No Middle Ground: Eubank, Benn, Watson and the golden era of British boxing

by Sanjeev Shetty

2014 marked the 25th anniversary of the first bout in the epic battle between Nigel Benn, Michael Watson and Chris Eubank to contest the WBO Middleweight Championship that would keep us entertained for five manic, magnificent and ultimately tragic years, marking the start of an epic saga in British Boxing. The fight took place a month after the Hillsborough disaster and was screened live on TV, in a slot now dominated by talent contests. It was a time when kids could stay up late to watch 12 rounds of madness. It was also the last Golden Era of British Boxing. While for us these greats of British boxing provided entertainment away from the hooliganism of football, for them it was much more personal. Rivalries exist in every sport, but their loathing was real and in the ring it nearly became deadly. But this is what the swaggering early-90's Britain tuned in for. These three fighters were Britain's alpha-ego. They made the country proud. No Middle Ground takes us back to the years when these boxers pounded the heavy bags and tells their story as well as that of Britain's love affair with the sport, and how these fight came to define them and us. In tracing the boxers' journeys to centre-stage Sanjeev Shetty reveals the story of the dark side of Thatcher's nation - the blood, the sweat, the dangerous hatred that fuelled these men, and the ultimate price they would pay for their moment in the sun.  

321 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2014

About the author

And we are nearly ready! Who is Jeff Walker? hits the shelves on the 30th November! I'm not comfortable with giving big announcements but I will stay I really enjoyed writing this book and I hope it comes across when you read it. It's a follow-up to Man's Work, with Sam Langford returning, older, sometimes wiser but still as dry as they come. And I really hope you'll like Catherine Horvill, who is here to stay. I actually started writing this in 2017, having finished Total Football. I was inspired by two things - the desire to go back to fiction and tell a story. And making a book out of the name Jeff Walker, two words my then 12-year-old kept saying.

A third book featuring Sam Langford, tentatively called 'She's electric' is in development.

Reviews

[Allan Heron · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating look at the rivalry between these three boxers who captivated fans.

That rivalry was fought out just before PPV and satellite televsion took over boxing (and other sport) and the book makes a solid case why we may never see the likes of them again.

[Joseph Hirsch · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard to fathom at this point, but for a time world class boxing was available in England, domestically and mostly for free, and millions would tune in to watch the action. Boxing tends to have its own cycles, but for the most part the English fighter has usually been treated as an also-ran/a bit of a bride's maid to his more flamboyant (and many times more talented) American counterpart. The scene is certainly peaking now, with the UK holding something like twelve world titles (and at least half of the fractured heavyweight picture, courtesy of Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury).

Shetty's book takes us back to a time in English history that many remember fondly (at least the pop culture elements, like the nascent "Brixton sound" and a thriving club scene). "No Middle Ground" claims to detail the lives (both public and private) of three boxers, and while it does its job more than ably, there can be no dispute that most of the action and drama in the time under question centered on the war of words and fists exchanged between Nigel "Dark Destroyer" Benn and Chris "Simply the Best" Eubank.

The two men were similar in background (growing up poor and dabbling in crime), but one would be hard-pressed to find two more diametrically opposed personalities and boxing styles. Chris Eubank was a dandy, a genuine eccentric who wore jodhpurs, sported a monocle, and pleaded for "parliamentary procedure" if he felt a rival boxer was talking over him; Nigel Benn was a brutal puncher whose style was at times caveman-primal, but he had more tools in his arsenal than he's generally given credit for, and his background as a soldier in Her Majesty's royal forces, serving in Northern Ireland at the height of the Troubles, gave him a credibility with working class boxing fans that rival Eubank didn't enjoy (or probably even court).

The author does a good job of showing how the enmity these two warriors felt for each other was both real and made for prime-time TV, explaining how and why a sport usually derided as "niche" got the entire nation's attention, from those involved in fashion to the daily chat and comedy shows. Shetty has a good grasp of boxing's general history, and the man frankly has a cobra clutch grip on this specific time. His occasional attempts to tease out an allegory between Margaret Thatcher and Nigel Benn is forced, and a touch bizarre, but this is a minor quibble that shouldn't merit much consideration when making a general assessment of the book, which is excellent. Highest recommendation.

[Eddie Oakwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Real life events about about Watson who I meet just before his last fight Benn and Eubank and some amazing clashes at a time when you could access boxing and follow fighters . If you never watched these fights a good insight . and entertaining. If you did I think you will really enjoy this book!

[Carl · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the golden era of British boxing....eminently readable .
Fans of boxing will love this, transported back in time,
A must read!

[Vince · Rating 5 out of 5]

A superb recounting of the last golden era of British boxing.

[Lee Tait · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 and a half stars

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this, it’s a great era with fascinating characters and this book brings the story to life. Great read for boxing fans or those just interested in sorts stories.

[Frank Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I looked forward to reading this book after reading Ben dirs "the hate game" which covered the same topic, whilst had no great problem with it, I found something that really niggled at me. In a paragraph covering the early career of Nigel benn, his manager, burt McCarthy was referred to as managing a British heavyweight champion "David price" who was referred to as "not the same David price who turned professional after the commonwealth games" well, that's because it wasn't "the same David price" in fact it wasn't even the same person, the boxer burt McCarthy managed was David "bomber" PEARCE who died tragically young at 41,due to Alzheimer's disease feel that this was only a minor critiscism, feel that more thorough research should have been done..