World Oldest Boxer Returns To Ring At 55

Former world champion Nigel Benn likened himself to Benjamin Button as he confirmed he will come out of retirement at the age of 55.

Briton Benn, who last fought in 1996, said the bout with ex-world champion Sakio Bika in Birmingham on 23 November will give him “closure”.

“I feel the time is right now. It’s nothing to do with age,” Benn said.

But ex-world champion Richie Woodhall told BBC Sport: “I fear for him. I really hope it doesn’t come around.”

“When I was boxing, you don’t really realise but you seem to be tense, stiff, hard, and punches bounce off you. You become immune to punches.

The 51-year-old added: “I keep fit and work out on the bag twice a week, doing 10 rounds a session no problem at all.

“I can work at a high pace but I am so soft, I couldn’t take a punch off anyone.”

Asked if he could withstand the kind of punches now that he felt when winning the world super-middleweight title in 1998, Woodhall told the 5 Live Boxing Podcast: “Absolutely no way.

“That is what I worry about with Nigel more than anything. He may feel he can take the shots but when you get in the ring with 10oz gloves and you’re hit, it’s serious stuff.”

BBC Radio 5 Live boxing analyst Steve Bunce said a 23-year break after a career before returning to the sport made for “dreadful cocktail”.