Benn Norman says he will remind fight fans of the ring wizard who bamboozled his father !
The 22 year old from Shepshed has followed in the footsteps of his father and elder brother by turning professional after a successful amateur career.
He’s made the switch with Carl Greaves and makes his debut on his show at the Britannia Hotel in Nottingham on Friday, July 26.
Norman will box at flyweight. Elder brother Louis won English honours at 8 stones and father Shaun fought for Midlands flyweight honours.
Shaun is possibly best remembered for losing to a teenage Prince Naseem Hamed – and Benn says that’s who he bases his boxing on.
He said: “I’m cocky, I like to drop my hands. I like to box like Prince Naseem. The amateur judges didn’t always like it, but I’m hoping the pro crowds will.
“Dad doesn’t mind me boxing like Naz. He ended up being a fan of his as well.
“I’m skilful like Louis – but I’ve got a nasty streak.
“Louis always says I’m a nasty little man. He doesn’t like sparring me.”
Norman is actually named after Nigel Benn, the explosive world champion at middleweight and super-middleweight, and has a tattoo of ‘The Dark Destroyer’ on his arm.
Benn won ABA honours before turning pro, while Norman fell short in last year’s final, losing to Connor Kelsall.
In total, Norman says he won 28 of 52 bouts –and he was ranked No 2 in England at one stage by trade paper ‘Boxing News.’
“I represented England once,” he said, “and they never gave me another chance. I had an assessment with the Great Britain squad and performed out of my skin, but still, they didn’t want to know and I think it’s time to turn professional.
“Carl is saying to me that within five or six fights I could be fighting for the Midlands title and he knows what he’s doing. He’s done a great job with Sam Bowen and he will know how to bring me along. Looking at the rankings, I know I can beat some of them now, but Carl knows how to build lads up and get them the right fights at the right time.”
