Top 10 British grudge matches

1. Chris Eubank vs Nigel Benn

The benchmark when it comes to domestic rivalries. The genuine disdain mixed with an electric first meeting made their rematch a colossal event.

2. Carl Froch vs George Groves

Like Eubank and Benn before them, these two warred in a bitter first meeting before settling their feud in an historic stadium event.

3. Mark Kaylor vs Errol Christie

Tensions rose before their 1985 meeting, with Christie accusing Kaylor of racism, prompting a couple of pre-fight brawls.

4. Tony Bellew vs Nathan Cleverly

The bad blood between these two still exists today with their rivalry standing at 1-1 after a terrific first fight followed by a dire rematch.

5. George Groves vs James DeGale

This London pair had history and it boiled over into a heated build-up followed by a very close affair. A rematch is still clamoured for.

6. David Haye vs Dereck Chisora

A press conference fight turned this rivalry into national news and the pair inevitably clashed in the ring – though the British Boxing Board of Control refused to sanction it.

7. Lennox Lewis vs Frank Bruno

Bruno said Lewis – who had won Olympic gold for Canada – was ‘not British’ while Lewis mocked Frank’s appearances in pantos before they met in 1993.

8. David Haye vs Audley Harrison

This mismatch generated an enormous amount of attention, mainly thanks to the staged public disputes the pair were involved in beforehand.

9. Joe Bugner vs Henry Cooper

This rivalry began at the end of their fight when Bugner was handed a controversial decision. Cooper retired and refused to speak to Joe for years.

10. Anthony Joshua vs Dillian Whyte

Joshua’s profile went through the roof after reigniting his venomous dispute with amateur rival Whyte.