The prize ring is home to an unspoken fraternity – a secret brotherhood forged in the flames of battle that those of us who have never laced on the gloves can hope to understand. At the very pinnacle of professional boxing, athletes live and fight in a bubble whose irridescent surface is all but impenetrable to outsiders. Under the harsh glare of the studio spotlight and in the bitter diatribe of media hyperbole, rivalries are amplified beyond the nth degree. Ambition and pride become distorted into something much darker and it is not until the sound of the final bell that a sense of balance is restored.

This sense of balance was never more evident than in the intimate setting of the Springfields Exhibition Centre on the 27th of November 2010.

In attendance were Nigel Benn and his old rival Steve Collins, marshaled by former world cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson, whose expert questioning coaxed so much gold from the special guests.

Amidst the laughs and recollections there was so much mutual respect between the two legends that it was like a meeting of old friends, which of course they both are.

What was particularly heart warming were the kind words that Nigel Benn had for his old enemy Chris Eubank – demonstrating that boxing truly is a sport of gentleman. There was also a huge amount of admiration for the achievements of Joe Calzaghe and his place in boxing history.

What was perhaps the most enlightening aspect of the evening was Nigel’s admission that he has derived as much pleasure from his counseling as he has from winning any of his championship belts.

That might be incomprehensible to those of us who have watched him achieve so much in the squared circle, but the Dark Destroyer is truly a man of light and shade.

Click here to visit the official Nigel Benn website.