jamesmcdonnell wrote:I've watched it on video several times now, and I certainly think that the headbutt contributed to it quite heavily.
However, something really wasn't right about Gerald in that fight, and later Manny Stewart claimed that he was told that Gerald had been behaving very strangely in the run-up to the fight and was complaining about something or other.
However, you have to take what the afrodwarf says with a pinch of salt, he does talk an awful lot of bollocks the minute someone points a microphone or pad and pen at him.
Some people are of the opinion that most of the damage was done to Gerald during his two fights against the HUGE punching Julian Jackson. I've never seen those fights so I can't really comment.
I've also heard the opinion that Watson may have recieved some damage during his fight against Mike McCallum. I did see that fight and I seem to recall that Watson did take some heavy shots.
jamesmcdonnell wrote:I've watched it on video several times now, and I certainly think that the headbutt contributed to it quite heavily.
However, something really wasn't right about Gerald in that fight, and later Manny Stewart claimed that he was told that Gerald had been behaving very strangely in the run-up to the fight and was complaining about something or other.
However, you have to take what the afrodwarf says with a pinch of salt, he does talk an awful lot of bollocks the minute someone points a microphone or pad and pen at him.
Anyone remember Gerald's post-fight interview after the first time he beat Julian Jackson? Goes on about how his "head is killing me" if I remember correctly.
jamesmcdonnell wrote:I've watched it on video several times now, and I certainly think that the headbutt contributed to it quite heavily.
However, something really wasn't right about Gerald in that fight, and later Manny Stewart claimed that he was told that Gerald had been behaving very strangely in the run-up to the fight and was complaining about something or other.
However, you have to take what the afrodwarf says with a pinch of salt, he does talk an awful lot of bollocks the minute someone points a microphone or pad and pen at him.
Anyone remember Gerald's post-fight interview after the first time he beat Julian Jackson? Goes on about how his "head is killing me" if I remember correctly.
Interesting, I've never saw it, has anyone more info on this?
Their first fight in 93 was a bit of a mini-classic. Gerald won the first round, Jackson the second and said afterwards he thought he would take a couple more rounds to do McClellan. He was winning the third but a clash of heads cut Jackson and pissed him off.
Things blew up in the fifth. Jackson was coming on strong and hit Gerald low - he took a knee but declined the long rest allowed. Jackson went in for the finish...and McClellan sparked him.
In their second fight almost a year later, McClellan totally mullahed him. Knocked him down twice and finished it in 80 seconds.
It might have had something to do with the fact that Julian Jackson had the eyesight of a pissed Mr Magoo.
Can't see how either of these fights had any bearing whatsoever on what happened to G Mc a year later.
Last edited by dondada on 09 Jul 2004, 15:29, edited 1 time in total.
It is a night I'll never forget (Benn vs McCllellan). If you remember, it was all a bit hazy about McClellan's condition when the programme went of air. ITV had promised a late show (after the news etc) to broadcast the full verision of Dodson vs Honeyghun which was on the undercard. I think ITV Sport brought that forward and a very sombre Gary Newborn was now inside the hospital and gave us the news the G man was unconscious and recieving scans. Jim Rosenthal was still in the arena.
ITV did show the Dodson fight, although I think due to the time constraints only showed highlights. It really demonstrated to me just how much the ITV guys at the time cared about the sport. Could you imagine the BBC cutting the schedules to bring a report - not even a dedicated sports channel did that with Spencer Oliver.
I couldnt get to sleep after watching it, listening to Jim Watt saying "HE QUIT!" without knowing what had happened to Gerald was the most disturbing part .
Squatting Neville wrote:I couldnt get to sleep after watching it, listening to Jim Watt saying "HE QUIT!" without knowing what had happened to Gerald was the most disturbing part .
Yes...but it did look that way. Watt questioned his heart. Even more vocal was 'Fight Doctor' Ferdie Pacheco on the US commentary who said McClellan quit like a dog...and kept saying it.
I'm still a fight fan, but that fight was the last one I bet money on. I won by backing Benn on stoppage (also put the same on Mclennan), but felt guilty about spending the money. I've never bet since.
revporl wrote:I'm still a fight fan, but that fight was the last one I bet money on. I won by backing Benn on stoppage (also put the same on Mclennan), but felt guilty about spending the money. I've never bet since.
I have to admit, that fight amongst others Oliver & Watson etc has for me slightly increased the frequency I shout at the Ref during a fight "Stop the Feckin fight Ref!!!" such as Paul Ingles last fight amongst others.
I've got to confess to watching the Benn-McClellan and Eubank-Watson II fights from time and actually enjoying them as boxing spectacles.
Of course, I'm fully aware of the tragedies which befell both beaten men but I'd like to think that if I was Michael Watson that I would want boxing fans to watch that fight to see my career best performance in one of the most electrifying fights ever seen in a British ring or broadcast live on British television.
Notwithstanding what happened to Michael, he must be proud of fact that he was only a whisker from taking Eubank's world title.
Another vivid memory I have was during the 9th Reg Gutteridge saying words to the effect of "Somethings not right with McLellan, he's blinking repeatedly, this is what Michael Watson was doing in towards the end of the Eubank rematch".
The minute Reg reminded me of that I was screaming stop the fight.
One question I have had on a similar area, as we are unfotunately aware a number of boxing tradegies have taken place several hours after the fight has ended. Anybody know if a winner of a contest has suffered severe brain injury - if memory serves me, Carl Wright was very close to winning his final contest, but I cannot think of anyone who won, then suffered the injuries.
jamesmcdonnell wrote:What, worse than watching a man being bludgeoned into a coma live on national television? I don't know what channels you are watching, but I don't see anything approaching that for unpleasantness.
You are not allowed to deliberately broadcast such things. If the fight was a taped one, I guarantee the broadcast would have been pulled rather than show that.
I for one take no pleasure in watching that fight, for me, the ending mars the contest.
Agreed. I watched it only the once, Live.
I cant watch it again.
Same with Eubank Watson II
I'll be surprised if they show the whole fights and post fight interviews. Id be interested to watch this again. I havent seen the fight since the night it was broadcast and like most can remember the ferocity of both fighters. and sat there smug in the knowledge id witnessed something unlikely to be seen in a British ring again.
Only the next day when the papers were full of what had happened post fight and in the following months and years did I begin to question whether it was right that boxing fans, myself included, should gain so much pleasure and enjoyment watching such a spectacle, admiring both fighters for their ability to give and take the severe punishment dished out.
So I'll watch it again this time in the full knowledge of the outcome of the barbarity on show and the repurcussions and wonder. We all know the outcome but we still rate it as one of the greatest fights in a British ring ever despite the fact we know a man was almost bludgeoned to death. Personally I'll be interested in my own reactions to this. Will I still rate it as one of the best fights ive ever seen or will i be repulsed?
Ultimately as boxing fans we enjoy the spectacle of two highly trained and exceptionally fit young men throwing potentially life damaging and certainly health imparing blows at each other and admire their ability to do it well, and as long as everyone walks away safe and well at the time we seldom think twice about what we have really watched and ecnouraged. this for me is one of the contradictions of boxing. its something which cant be explained. why do people want to box and why do people want to watch them? I dont know the answer. But maybe watching this fight again may go someway to working it out at least for me personally.
