Gerald Mclellan in the Hall Of Fame

[Costa Rico]

Does Gerald deserve to be inducted???

Let's consider his past- He was, at one point, the biggest puncher in the world- bigger puncher than any fighter around, and he was a good, slick fighter with a superb jab

He was exciting (Benn-Mclellan), was very aggorgant, which really helped make fights (Benn-Mclellan)

He rebounded very well from 2 early career losses (Ralph Ward, Denis Milton) to KO John Mugabi in the 1st round, knocking him down 3 times

Mugabi was a shot fighter, but that shouldn't take away from the fact that

A few fights later, he destroyed big-punching Julian Jackson TWICE, in the 5th round, then the 3rd

Then, in the fight after Jackson, he was fatally KO'd by Benn in the most exciting (and tragic) fight I've ever seen

He and Nigel Benn waged war, until the KO, and when those horrific videos of Mclellan collapsing and being taken away on a stretcher, and the career of that great young warrior was prematurely ended....I think, today, to find out that he would be in the HoF would please him to no end- and Nigel Benn

[BoxBuzz]

Some have been disgusted with his personal life regarding his canine cruelty connnection. I prefer sports figures that we can look up to, and I know that's the hallmark of an older generation of which I am a part. I've been trying to be at peace with the word "Fame" when it comes to boxing and letting go my former insisting that Hall of Fame should mean Hall of Skill and good behavior. (I honestly felt this way and perhaps still secretly pine for this to be the benchmark). Fame is what it is and as long as that's what it's called I suppose the "skill" aspect will always be needed to become famous in the sport. Unless you are simply the world's most reknowned punching bag.

With that said I suppose he needs to wait his turn since there are others more deserving on skill alone. But perhaps his bad behavior should not bar him from consideration and eventual addmitance. His power was a force of nature. And they have let in one of my favorite all time fighters who's bad behavior likely surpasses Gerald's I suppose. (Yep I recognize my own hypocrisy somewhere along the line, and that's when I decided to be more narrow in my definition of just what "Hall of Fame" should mean.) Namely Carlos Monzon.

However I do wish I could bring them together in their hypothetical primes in order to have Carlos administer a world class beating on Gerald just to teach him the importance of being kind to animals. Yep it would be unfair due to their weight class differences, but once again....I think I can rationalize the unfair aspects of this event in order to simply enjoy the entertainment aspect of this hypothetical event.

[Seamus]

Definitely not. McClellan never beat a Hall of Famer or World Class fighter in there prime, or unified a title. There's a huge list of more deserving fighters ahead of McClellan. Even his contemporaries Michael Nunn and Sumbu Kalambay are more worthy.

[gb]

McClellan looked awesome in some of his fights, but his overall career is nothing special.
Jackson was the archetypal "chinny banger" and only a LMW and Mugabi was past it. Who else of note did he beat?

[hurlock]

how was he chinny he had a blood clot on his brain??

as a middle he was the immaculate conception,with murderous power :!: he boxed benn b'coz no one would get in there with him.

[dempseyfire]

No, of course he shouldn't be in the HOF. His one quality win is Julian Jackson and Jackson's prime was at 154. Mugabi was never a real threat at 160 and was way past his best.

Just b/c his career ended tragically shouldn't mean he should be given a spot in the Hall . . .give Greg Page a spot then too. And as to the comment that he would enjoy the fact, the man is so gone he wouldn't even fully understand what the Hall of Fame was, it's the sad truth.

[gb]

how was he chinny he had a blood clot on his brain??

as a middle he was the immaculate conception,with murderous power :!: he boxed benn b'coz no one would get in there with him.

Read the post again. I never said McClellan was chinny.
He may have had awesome power etc... but his actual accomplishments don't match that. They may have done had the Benn Tragedy not happened, but unfortunately we're talking about "might have beens."

[BoxBuzz]

Definitely not. McClellan never beat a Hall of Famer or World Class fighter in there prime, or unified a title. There's a huge list of more deserving fighters ahead of McClellan. Even his contemporaries Michael Nunn and Sumbu Kalambay are more worthy.

Yep, I appreciate brevity though I can not seem to master the skill. When I said he has to wait his turn, it will be a long long time for his name to be called....unless he is more famous for his loss to Benn and his cruelty to animals than I currently imagine.

[dr_devious]

[quote="dempseyfire"] Mugabi was never a real threat at 160 quote]

Trying telling Marvin Hagler that.

I agree Mugabi was shot by the time McClellan fought him.

McClellan was offensively a great fighter, but defensively poor. Had an awesome chin too as he proved against Jackson in the first fight and against Benn.

[bollox]

He shouldn't ever get in for several reasons. The main one being that his best wins were against burnt out 154 LBers. Everything in prespective

[BroughtonRulesRefuge]

He shouldn't ever get in for several reasons. The main one being that his best wins were against burnt out 154 LBers. Everything in prespective

- Yet Mr. Popkins gets in down to beating a pair of welters. Perspective can be very cruel.

[Ezzard]

McClellan does not have an ATG record but he was a formidable fighter. To beat him in a championship fight you had to have something special. Of course he was the king of the dehydration methods which gave him massive physical advantages but eventually made him less reliant on his skill and more on his size and power.

He was a great puncher with an iron jaw who didn't pay enough attention to defence. I still think he would be a real test for any MW.

[My2Sense]

No, he twice beat Julian Jackson and that's basically his claim to fame. The Benn fight badly exposed his limitations, even before the tragic result occurred.

[banjo]

No, despite his remarkable KO ratio the vast majority of his opposition wasn't exactly solid. One hell of an exciting fighter but not enough to get in the HOF.

[cnnrboy5]

How good was gereald Mcclennan at his prime, and how good could he have become?

[BoxBuzz]

How good was gereald Mcclennan at his prime, and how good could he have become?

he wuz purty gud.....and he cudda got bettr

[ts20743]

How good was gereald Mcclennan at his prime, and how good could he have become?

he wuz purty gud.....and he cudda got bettr

8)

[ts20743]

Mugabi was never a real threat at 160 quote]

Trying telling Marvin Hagler that.

I agree Mugabi was shot by the time McClellan fought him.

McClellan was offensively a great fighter, but defensively poor. Had an awesome chin too as he proved against Jackson in the first fight and against Benn.

We're discussing the man's ring career, and some want to discuss dogs ...if character away from the ring or any sport for that matter were factored in, most HOF would be empty...
Nobody lives perfectly... 8)

[Jaywheel]

And what's with the McLellan lovefest on the BOTP forum for the past week or so?

[ts20743]

All I know is...when Jones & Toney ruled MW & SMW--neither one mentioned McClelland's name, or tossed a disparaging remark his way...that alone says a lot by itself...8)
I have heard that Jones has helped G-Man with his medical bills...that's a class act...

McClelland was on the verge of superstardom...had he beat Benn in Benn's backyard on England...his star would have really taken off...I still have no idea how Benn survived that onslaught...

[ts20743]

And what's with the McLellan lovefest on the BOTP forum for the past week or so?

I just got in on it myself...
From what I'm reading, it appears to me that his naysayers didn't actually see him fight...had they, they probably wouldn't be doggin' him out like they are...

[Goodnight, Irene]

He wasn't that good. Still class him a half-notch below the best of his time, though he was ever-dangerous.

His biggest problem was that he graduated from the Riddick Bowe School Of Ring Defense. Fortunately, it was that pourous defense which brought him to the fate he earned with his actions beyond the ropes.

Boo-hoo, TS & company. Spare me the feigned outrage.

[Collins2000]

Most over-rated boxer in BOTP.

[My2Sense]

He was a ferocious puncher with a very solid chin, with some boxing ability, but he never fully developed his defense or versatility and that showed against Benn.

[BoxBuzz]

Most over-rated boxer in BOTP.

This is remarkably close to somewhat accurate. However power often has an irrational fan base.