Nigel Benn has bowed out of boxing after an exhibition bout in Leicester.
Promoter Scott Lansdowne brought 'The Dark Destroyer' to Liquid Envy nightclub for his final ring appearance in a career that included world titles at two weights and epic ring battles against Gerald McClellan, Chris Eubank and many more.
Lansdowne paired Benn with Barinder Singh at the city-centre venue – and a big crowd saw Benn show glimpses of the skills and power that made him arguably Britain's most exciting fighter of the post-war era.
Singh said afterwards: "It really hurt in there, but it was the best experience of my life."
Benn, who is emigrating to Australia, took the microphone to thank fans for their support throughout his career and introduced them to his 16-year-old son Conor. "He will be world champion," he predicted.
The EBF-sanctioned show, backed by Wigston Tyres and Ramada Encore, also featured Braunstone welterweight Lester Walsh in British-title action.
Walsh picked himself off the floor to outpoint heavy-handed beanpole Kieran Cumberbatch in March – and the rematch produced six rounds of give-and-take thrills.
The fight was decided by a dramatic last round. The referee docked Cumberbatch a point and the Manchester fighter was relieved to hear the final bell after Walsh buckled his knees with a big attack in the dying seconds.
That was enough to secure a 58-57 points win for the Walsh.
Loughborough heavyweight Lenny Buttling was also in action.
Buttling, making the first defence of the EBF Novice Midlands Area title he took from Scott King in September, stopped Craig Hyton in the fourth round.
Buttling soon got his jab working and forced a standing count in the opening round after he pinned Hyton in a neutral corner.
The referee waved off the fight in the dying seconds of the fourth with Hyton under heavy fire again.
There was big-fight heartbreak for Rowlatts Hill ticket-seller Robbie Everitt. He took the full count in the opening round of his clash against Jamie Wheeler for the vacant EBF Novice Midlands Area super-middleweight title.
Thurmaston light-heavyweight Shaun Warner hopes a title fight will be next after he dominated Johnny Zico and there were wins for Robert Scholten and Kevin Flannigan.
