FORMER WBC and WBO world middleweight champion Nigel Benn will be guest of honour when Lloyd Ellett tops the bill in Brighton tomorrow night.

Benn will be in the home city of his former arch rival Chris Eubank senior for the show at the Hilton Metropole Hotel on the seafront.

The ‘Dark Destroyer’ Benn and ‘Simply The Best’ Eubank had a bitter rivalry in the 1990s but now both men are overseeing the future of their sons’ ring careers.

Chris Eubank Jr last week signed with Matchroom Boxing, which is run by Eddie Hearn the son of his father’s former manager Barry.

Benn’s son Conor is now pursuing a boxing career and is being coached by Ricky Hatton.

Nigel and Conor will be in Brighton to lend their support to the show being co-promoted by Scott Welch and Crusaders Events.

Welch said: “Nigel is coming down the gym with Conor and then coming to the show.

“He’s based over in Australia but is back over at the moment and I know him quite well.

“His son is working with Hatton and is being tipped for good things.”

Unbeaten Ellett is also being groomed for bigger things and will bid to extend his record to 18-0 against former two-time Southern Area champion Ryan Toms, who has a 13-11-2 record.

The southpaw will provide a difficult opponent for Ellett, who trains at the iBox Gym in Bromley with Alan Smith as well as in Brighton, and has a promotional deal with Frank Warren.

Welch said: “Lloyd needs to show he is an improving fighter and moving forward with every fight.

“This is another little step up and after this one we shall hopefully have a date off Frank (Warren) when he will be out again. Hopefully it will be in November.”

Albion fan Ellett will be walked to the ring by Seagulls goalkeeper David Stockdale as he headlines in his own backyard for the fourth time.

Brighton’s Nicky Jenman and Marcus Eaton are also fighting and command loyal followings.

Ellett is looking forward to a red-hot atmosphere in the non-title but important stepping stone scrap.

He said: “Most of the boxers on the show know each other so the support will be massive.

“We’re expecting a sell-out event, I think the capacity in The Metropole is around 1500 fans.”

Jenman fights the experienced southpaw Danny Brown bidding to chalk up a sixth successive win.

For tickets go to crusaderevents.com.

Ben Jones has enjoyed top-class sparring this week with Belfast banger Ryan Burnett.

Crawley fighter Jones is preparing for a title fight at the Troxy on October 30.

Featherweight Jones was at the Purley gym run by Adam Booth, who is now co-training Chris Eubank Jr.

Jones said: “Ryan is a fantastic little boxer. I’ve sparred with the best and no doubt he’s going to be a world champion.

“It was a good ten rounds, which is just what I needed. Andy Lee (WBO world champion) walked in as well.”