You might not know her name straight off, but if you follow British boxing at all, you’ve seen her impact. She’s married to Nigel “The Dark Destroyer” Benn, and she’s the mum of Conor Benn, one of boxing’s rising stars. But here’s the thing. Her story’s far more interesting than just “boxer’s wife” or “boxer’s mum.”
I have been watching boxing since I was a kid, and the Benn family has been in and around that scene for decades now. What I find interesting about Caroline is that she’s managed to lie low while everybody else around her has been in the spotlight. That takes something special.
How They Actually Met
The story of how Caroline met Nigel is proper romantic, actually. It was at Stringfellow’s nightclub in London in the mid-90s. It was Caroline’s 21st birthday. And Nigel was a superstar already, the Dark Destroyer, world champion, all of that.
Here’s the brilliant bit, though. When Nigel wanted her to retrieve a pen so he could give her his phone number, she told him to fetch it himself. Just like that. The bloke was not used to getting no as an answer. She held her own from the very beginning, which probably explains why they’re still together nearly thirty years later.
Most people would’ve been starstruck. Caroline was not having it. That pretty much set the tone for their entire relationship, actually.
The Rough Early Years
Well, now, let’s be real about this. It wasn’t all roses and champagne the first few years. Nigel was in a pretty bad patch when they started up. His marriage to Sharon had collapsed, and he’d been involved in highly publicised affairs; mentally, he was a mess.
Caroline mentioned in interviews that Nigel cheated on her with a stripper. This was back when they were living in Jersey, trying to have kids through IVF. The treatment had failed, they were both gutted, and then he went and did that. He told her three months later, just before his fight against Sugar Boy Malinga.
She was 26 at the time. Can you imagine? Dealing with failed IVF, your bloke cheating, and then having to watch him fight on telly a few months later. Most people would’ve walked. She nearly did, actually.
The Proposal in the Ring
In March 1996, after losing to Thulani “Sugar Boy” Malinga, Nigel proposed to Caroline right there in the boxing ring. Proper dramatic, that. He was retiring from boxing (well, he thought he was, came back for two more fights against Chris Collins), and he wanted to make things right.
They got married on September 4th, 1996. Nearly thirty years ago now. The fact that they’re still together after everything they’ve been through says something.
Becoming a Mum
Conor Benn and his twin sister, India, were born in September 1996, the same year Caroline and Nigel got married. The twins came after those failed IVF attempts, which makes their arrival even more special.
From what I’ve read, Caroline was determined her kids wouldn’t be spoiled despite Nigel’s success. They lived in a massive mansion in Mallorca for twelve years. Eight bedrooms, pool, private beach views, the whole lot. But Conor’s talked about how his parents made him work. He was painting and decorating in Spain for €20 a day at one point, learning the value of money.
That’s Caroline’s influence right there. Making sure her kids understood that nothing comes easy, even when you’ve got a famous dad with money in the bank.
Also Read: Leola Foreman: The Quiet Daughter of a Boxing Legend
Caroline Jackson Ethnicity and Background
There’s been a bit of confusion about Caroline Jackson ethnicity and where she’s actually from. Some sources say she was born in the UK, others reckon Australia. What seems clear is she’s Australian, at least by nationality. The family lives in Australia now and has done so for years.
Is Caroline Jackson white? Yeah, she is. Nigel’s family is Barbadian, so their children are mixed-race. But Caroline herself is white Australian or British, depending on which bio bit you believe.
Honestly, she is so secretive about her life that it’s difficult to tell. That’s deliberate, I reckon. She’s never wanted to be famous in her own right.
Caroline Jackson Age Mystery
Right, so Caroline Jackson’s age is a bit of a mystery. One source figures she was born in 1946, which would put her at age 79. Which clearly is rubbish, given she was 26 in 1998, according to an article in a newspaper at that time. So let’s say she was probably born circa 1972, which would put her around 53 years old today.
The misinformation online about her is mental, really. But that is what you get when you try to lay low. People fill in the gaps with assumptions.
Life After Boxing
After Nigel retired properly in 1996, life got interesting. He attempted suicide in 1999. Sat in his car with a hosepipe trying to recycle exhaust fumes. The hosepipe kept disconnecting, which probably saved his life.
Caroline stuck by him through all of that. He’s talked about how that incident was a turning point. He found Christianity, committed to being faithful, and their marriage got stronger.
They had more kids. Six in total: Conor, India, Dominic, Sade, Rene, and Harley. Conor and India are Caroline’s biological children. The others are from Nigel’s previous relationships, but Caroline helped raise them all.
Supporting Conor’s Boxing Career
Conor went pro in 2016, in April, when he was 19 years old. Walking in his father’s footsteps, welterweight. He has an impressive record, now 23 victories, including 15 by knockout.
Caroline’s been there through it all. Not in the loud, shouty way some boxing mums are. She’s more of the quiet support in the background. Conor credited both his parents for teaching him to graft, for not handing him everything on a plate.
The doping scandal in 2022 must’ve been rough on the whole family. Conor failed two drug tests, got suspended, and the British Boxing Board of Control and UK Anti-Doping appealed when his suspension got lifted. That’s still ongoing as of now, the end of 2025.
Through all of that drama, Caroline’s kept her mouth shut publicly. Let Conor and Nigel handle the press. That’s her style.
Where Is She Now?
The Benn family lives in Australia these days. Sydney area, I believe. Nigel spends his time doing charity work there, working with at-risk youth via the New South Wales Police Citizens Youth Club. He has also become an ambassador for multiple children’s charities.
Caroline’s not on social media. No Caroline Jackson Instagram or anything like that. Nigel’s got an account, Conor’s got one with over 500k followers, but Caroline? Nothing. She’s properly old school about privacy.
I reckon she’s happy letting the men in her family have the spotlight whilst she gets on with normal life. Can’t blame her, really. Being in the public eye looks exhausting.
The Real Story
Look, here’s what I think about Caroline Jackson. She’s not a Caroline Jackson artist or anything glamorous like that. She’s just a woman who fell in love with a troubled boxer, stuck by him through some properly dark times, raised six kids, and managed to keep her own identity despite being surrounded by fame.
The stuff she went through in those early years with Nigel would’ve broken most relationships. The cheating, the mental health struggles, the suicide attempt. But she stayed. Whether that’s admirable or daft depends on your perspective, I suppose.
What’s clear is that Conor wouldn’t be where he is without her. Same with the other kids. Nigel credits her with saving his life, literally and figuratively.
She’s nearly 30 years into this marriage now. Living quietly in Australia, watching her son’s boxing career, dealing with whatever drama comes their way. Not giving interviews, not seeking attention, just being there.
In a world where everyone’s desperate to be famous, where boxers’ wives and girlfriends are on Instagram flogging protein shakes and teeth whitening kits, Caroline’s chosen a different path. Fair play to her, honestly. Sometimes the most interesting people are the ones who stay out of the spotlight.
