British stars, indeed genuine household names, Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank engaged in a bad blood rivalry three decades ago, and with the two middleweights/super-middleweights going to war twice, in November of 1990 and in October of 1993, it could be argued that their rivalry was never really settled.

These two, as all British fans who watched the fights when they took place will recall, ended up at 1 win for Eubank, with the return being scored a draw, with most people feeling Benn deserved the win.

It was Eubank who scored first blood, with the seemingly eccentric, monocle-wearing challenger stopping Benn in the ninth round of a great fight. Eubank battled through Benn’s venomous power, his tongue later requiring a number of stitches, so badly had a Benn punch come close to severing it, and he was the new WBO champ at 160 pounds.

Benn, who insisted he had not underestimated his irritating rival, but had instead “overestimated him,” wanted a rematch. So did the entire British nation. It had to happen. Finally, after a whole lot of stuff – Eubank’s tragic return fight with Michael Watson and the post-fight ramifications that really shook up the boxing world, being the biggest story by far – the two men who appeared to genuinely hate each other met again.

The Eubank-Benn rematch, dubbed “Judgment Day,” took place before 43,000 fans at Old Trafford in Manchester. Benn, the reigning and defending WBC super-middleweight champion, went to war with Eubank, who held the WBO belt. It was a far different fight from the first battle the two had, with both men boxing, using patience, and being smart this time around. In fact, aside from a thrilling final round, this rematch could have been described as a pretty dull affair.

The hype was of course massive, as was the controversy surrounding the decision – it was a draw, with both men keeping hold of their respective titles but ultimately proving nothing as far as who was the better man, the better fighter.

And so it would remain. For three decades.

Benn and Eubank exited the ring as equals 30 years ago, and there was, for whatever crazy, never fully explained reason, no third fight. How we would have loved to have seen a trilogy unfold here, though. Who would have won the third fight had it happened in, say, 1994 or 1995?

James Slater is a senior boxing journalist at Boxing247.com (formerly East Side Boxing) and has covered the sport for more than two decades. Known for his deep expertise, he reports on breaking news, conducts fighter interviews, and delivers authoritative perspective on boxing’s past and present.