NIGEL BENN woke up yesterday morning having second thoughts about his fighting future. After analysing his defeat by South Africa's Thulane `Sugar Boy' Malinga at the Newcastle Arena on Saturday night, the former WBC super-middleweight champion, who said after the fight that he would retire, decided it was worth giving the subject further consideration. Malinga may now take on Steve Collins.
Benn should have fought WBO champion Collins in a unification in late May or early June, and as Malinga is under a promotional agreement with Warren he will now get that chance. In fact, that is the fight he wants most.
Malinga initially said he wanted just one more bout if he beat Benn before building a church in Johannesburg to preach full-time. That plan is now likely to be put on hold.
A tearful Benn told 10,000 shocked Geordies and a Sky television audience that he was retiring after losing his 10th defence of the world crown.
"I acted in an emotional state," confessed Benn yesterday. "I'm going on holiday to think about it and talk it over with my girlfriend Caroline. I'll also talk to my manager Peter DeFreitas and my trainer Kevin Saunders.
"I will decide when I come back from holiday. I realise that wasn't me in the ring. I was mentally complacent. I thought it was going to be an easy night.
"My training camp in Tenerife was a circus with so many holidaymakers around. I just didn't have the fear factor which is what I need to perform at my best."
After slumping to only the third defeat of his 46-fight career, Benn had declared: "I think I've done my bit for British boxing. I've fought the best fought everyone, never avoided anyone.
"Sugar Boy prepared good, and I'm not going to make any excuses. And almost breaking down, Benn announced: "But it's time I called it a day."
And the ring warrior turned towards his girlfriend. kneeled and asked: "Caroline, will you marry me?" A kiss on the cheek indicated "yes".
Benn simply could not get going against Malinga, who went on to avenge his controversial 1992 points defeat on a split decision.
He took two judges' verdicts comfortably, by 118-109 and 115-111, while it was difficult to imagine how the American Chuck Giampa could have scored against the 36-year-old South African by a margin of 112-114.
The plan was uncomplicated for Malinga, who looked physically bigger than Benn. He threw out the jab to order, and tossed in the right hand for good measure when the opportunity arose.
His accuracy was mirrored in Benn's face as a large swelling came up under his right eye in the fourth, and it was a battle for his corner from then on to keep it under control with an ice pack.
Benn, though, seemed to be turning the fight with a thumping right to Malinga's jaw which sent him crashing to the canvas in the fifth. But the challenger just picked himself up, brushed himself down and started all over again.
The 32-year-old champion, making his 10th defence, repeatedly tried to land the big punch without jabbing his way in and he became an increasingly easy target for Malinga's fists. Benn was then forced to take a debatable-looking count in the final round of his career.
Malinga said: "It was still the same Benn, he hadn't changed at all, nothing was new from last time. But Nigel is still good, I respect him, he was a great champion."
Malinga's trainer, Nick Durandt added: "The fight went exactly to plan, we went out to keep Benn on the outside. We didn't want to mix it with Nigel, because he's a real warrior."
"Nigel is not so good against a boxer, he's good against a fighter. Sugar Boy jabbed and threw the right hand occasionally, and the plan worked."
Malinga received a telegram from President Mandela on the fight eve, and will now go home a national hero after giving his country the hat-trick of the Rugby World Cup, the cricket defeat of England and a major boxing world title.
