Building Britain's Perfect Super Middleweight from the Past 30 Years

Great Britain has gained a reputation in the last 30 years for producing world-class super middleweights.

Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn formed a rivalry that saw boxing cross over into the mainstream conscience in the 1990s, with the TV audience peaking at 16.3 million for their grudge match in 1993.

Then, Welshman Joe Calzaghe came along to dominate at 168 pounds.

In more recent times, Carl Froch bowed out as a champion after defeating compatriot George Groves in front of a sellout crowd at Wembley.

James DeGale has since claimed the IBF title that Froch vacated, which means the Brits still boast a world champion at the weight.

Frank Buglioni will hope to claim the WBA version when he meets Fedor Chudinov at the end of September, while Martin Murray is waiting for his shot at a belt after making the move up from middleweight.

Bleacher Report thought it would be interesting to play boxing's version of Frankenstein, pulling together all the skills and traits from Britain's best from the past three decades to build a super-middleweight monster.

Remember, this slideshow only considers boxers from England, Scotland and Wales. Therefore, sadly, Irishman Steve Collins does not qualify.

A great amateur career doesn't always make a world-class pro, but it can lay the foundations for future success.

The shorter format—with bouts made up of three three-minute rounds—and the scoring system dictate a fighter must be aggressive.

James "Chunky" DeGale's fast hands and southpaw stance gave him the perfect combination to succeed in the amateur game.

Chunky secured a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics, defeating Cuban Emilio Correa in the middleweight final in Beijing after his opponent was docked two points in the opening round for biting.

DeGale has since gone on to make history, becoming the first Olympic champion from Britain to also claim a world title as a professional.

If we can pick the best amateur background for our super fighter, we have to take the one that struck gold.

Making the 168-pound limit was not always easy for some of Britain's best at the weight, but Carl Froch kept himself in excellent condition throughout his career.

The Nottingham fighter detailed his rigorous training plan to Men's Health in 2013.

The Cobra needed to be in excellent shape when he fought Jermain Taylor in 2009. He was heading for a defeat on the scorecards until he summoned up the energy to stop the American in the final round.

Froch told the Nottingham Post (h/t Scott Gilfoid of Boxing News 24): "I am a very consummate professional and strict with my diet. I eat well. I have the Eastern European gene, my grandparents are Polish. So that helps with the weight-lifting, genetically I gifted in that area."

Even now in retirement he still looks to be keeping himself in good shape.

Joe Calzaghe finished his career with an unblemished 46-0 record.

The Welshman recorded 32 knockouts, though that wasn't necessarily due to his heavy hands. Instead, he wore down opponents with his blistering hand speed and the sheer volume of punches he threw.

Recalling Calzaghe's career following his retirement from the ring, Kevin Mitchell of the Guardian wrote:

What the father [Enzo Calzaghe] imbued in the son was the simple truth of the ring: speed is all.

Joe consistently threw more punches a round than anyone since Henry Armstrong, the extraordinary force of nature who once ruled at three weights.

Not all Calzaghe's blows landed; sometimes maybe a fifth hit their target flush. But so quick and muscled were they that they drained the spirit from his opponents almost without their knowing it.

Per BoxRec, Calzaghe threw 948 punches in his lopsided points win over American Jeff Lacy in 2006.

Remember now, speed kills. Therefore, Calzaghe's fast hands make sense in this category.

The jab is the foundation that can build to bigger and better things. Establish the lead punch early, and every other shot can work off the back of it.

Few in British boxing world right now have a better jab than George Groves.

Saint George has, of course, failed three times to win a world title, the last of them coming against Badou Jack in Las Vegas. 

He lost on points to the American-based Swede, though Jack was impressed with his opponent's jab. The champion said, per Bryan Armen Graham of the Guardian, "George Groves is a hell of a fighter with a very good jab and a lot of heart."

Groves may not be a world champion yet, but he's a winner here when it comes to his probing jab.

Nigel Benn started out as a big-punching middleweight before moving up to the 168-pound division.

The Dark Destroyer, who finished his career with a 73 percent knockout ratio, told Patrick Skene of the Guardian that "boxing is therapy for rage."

While crude in his methods at times, the former soldier entertained the crowd with his desire to dismantle any opponent who stood in front of him.

Steve Collins may have beaten Benn twice in 1996, but he told Ring Magazine: "Nigel caught me flush in the first fight and I thought he had broken all of my teeth and this horrible taste filled my mouth. I actually felt sick to my stomach and nobody had ever hit me like that before."

Just imagine Benn's heavy hooks, with his feet firmly planted into the canvas to increase the force, being thrown off the back of the sharp, probing jab that George Groves can deliver.

You would pity the poor fighter who had to deal with that devastating combination.

To become a world champion, you have to be able to take a shot or two.

However, some fighters have the ability to withstand heavy punishment, appearing to absorb blows with ease and shake off huge shots in an instant.

That was certainly the case with Chris Eubank, as Nigel Benn told Ring Magazine: "I could hit Chris’ chin with anything and it wouldn’t even move. It was like hitting a lump of granite but to be honest I enjoyed pummelling that chin."

Simply The Best was never stopped on his feet during his 52-fight career. The only loss he suffered inside the distance came when he was forced to retire due to an injury against Carl Thompson.

None of Benn, Steve Collins or Joe Calzaghe could put away Eubank, who despite all his pre-fight antics was a teak-tough warrior once the bell sounded.

It may seem a cop-out, but how can you choose one fighter above the rest for his defensive skills?

Let's face it—none of the biggest British names to have fought in the division were renowned for their abilities to hit and not get hit.

Joe Calzaghe did finish with an unblemished record, but it should be remembered he fought Chris Eubank when he was past his prime.

The same can also be said for his victories over Americans Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr. that closed out the Welshman's career.

To be honest, if our perfect fighter can hit with the power of Nigel Benn and has Chris Eubank's chin, who cares about having any sort of defence!

All the great British super middleweights showed heart—otherwise they wouldn't have risen to the top of the game.

So, considering the names who could have been selected, choosing Robin Reid for this category may seem a surprise.

However, The Grim Reaper was a world champion who was never afraid to enter a rival's backyard, as he did in 1996 to take the WBC belt from Vincenzo Nardiello in Italy.

He should have dethroned IBF and WBA champion Sven Ottke in Germany seven years later, only to controversially lose on points. He said of the decision, per the Manchester Evening News, "You don't expect any favours fighting in Germany but at least Dick Turpin wore a mask when he robbed people."

Reid—who also came close to ending Joe Calzaghe's perfect record—boxed for 19 years before finally calling it a day at the age of 41.

The brilliant thing about Chris Eubank was that you tuned in to watch him fight, no matter your opinion of the man.

His wardrobe choices, ring entrances and general demeanour meant some people loved to hate him.

Others, though, understood the arrogant strutting and varied vocabulary, along with the monocle, were all part of the act.

Eubank realised the only thing that mattered in his career was putting bums on seats or at least getting people to watch on television. Any publicity was good publicity when it came to his brand.

While boxing may have been the first love for many fighters, Eubank saw it as a way of making a better life for himself and his family.

Per Chris Maume of the Independent, Eubank said in 1992:

I'll fight anyone I can beat. I'm a businessman first and a boxer second. I'm looking for the readies.

The aim is to win at all costs. The reason why I'm such a successful pugilist is that no one knows my limitations better than me.

I am quite good, but I am not the best in the world. But I am one of the best and I'm quite content with that

Overspending led to financial issues, and Eubank boxed on longer than he might have intended to in an attempt to solve his money problems.

But, even when past his prime, he was still a major draw.

So, what do you make of Britain's perfect super middleweight? Have we overlooked someone in a category?

You can have your say by using the comments section, but do remember that this is all a matter of opinion.