The Fight Of Their Lives: ITV1 10:35pm 05/12/2011

[hitman_hatton1]

Was he insured in though? Do you need insurance to fight in this country with the NHS? It's probably a stupid question but I genuinely don't know.

think the promoters are obliged to provide insurance under the law.

might be wrong on that.

[Crease]

I felt sick and, to be honest, angry when McClennen's sister asked how Benn could sleep at night after what he did.
Bang outta cheese, that.

I was atounded and angry about that as well. She has the cheek to complain about that, I know life must be hard for her but there's very little point taking her frustration on Nigel Benn's name.


She forgets that her brother came to England with a reputation as being a fierce puncher and that he was laying a heavy beating on Bennion the first round.
What was Nigel supposed to do? Stand there and let himself get hit? or maybe take the fight back to McClellan.

[Crease]

Benn showed no remorse regarding the fight

Asolutely, I'm gald to hear it because it wasn't Nigel's fault. Gerald was punching him too, it's just one of those things.
Remember McClellan had EMMANUEL STEWARD in his corner, one of the business & he sacked him!!!

If anything I would blame McClellan's corner on the night for not communicating with their fighter.

[Finn]

I felt sick and, to be honest, angry when McClennen's sister asked how Benn could sleep at night after what he did.
Bang outta cheese, that.

I was atounded and angry about that as well. She has the cheek to complain about that, I know life must be hard for her but there's very little point taking her frustration on Nigel Benn's name.


She forgets that her brother came to England with a reputation as being a fierce puncher and that he was laying a heavy beating on Bennion the first round.
What was Nigel supposed to do? Stand there and let himself get hit? or maybe take the fight back to McClellan.

I thought she was saying she couldnt understand how he could sleep at night, before she met him.

She was always talking in past tense about her anger at Benn and said how shocked she was when she met him that he was nothing like she expected. She was always saying i used to, or i believed or i felt. Never did i hear her use present tense.

Lets be honest Benns comments before he knew what Gman was going to end up like were pretty poor. He certainly regrets some of the things he said deeply and they were bound to anger the McClellands family at the time. Especially "rather him than me".

People look for someone to blame Benn was Gmans familys scape goat.

Obviously Benn was never at any fault and thats a fact, i cant even say the ref was in anyway to blame, doctors at ringside should have known more, gman should have known it was going wrong, and his joke of a corner certainly should have.

[Crease]

I thought she was saying she couldnt understand how he could sleep at night, before she met him.

She was always talking in past tense about her anger at Benn and said how shocked she was when she met him that he was nothing like she expected.

Then what had she expected? A svage brute with a penchant for hurting people maybe? Because that description could also describe her brother during his boxing career.

Lets be honest Benns comments before he knew what Gman was going to end up like were pretty poor. He certainly regrets some of the things he said deeply and they were bound to anger the McClellands family at the time. Especially "rather him than me".

I don't blame him in the slightest, while in restrospect this might seem distasteful, Nigel was high on adrenaline and was well pumuped-up with his victory. It was just some of the old macho stuff that we come to expect from fighters. A lot of other fighters have said much worse things.

Obviously Benn was never at any fault and thats a fact, i cant even say the ref was in anyway to blame, doctors at ringside should have known more, gman should have known it was going wrong, and his joke of a corner certainly should have.

If anything I think his family should take responsibility if it's true that they decided to fly him home instead of operating rightaway with could've prevented any harm ful long-lasting damage.

[Finn]

I thought she was saying she couldnt understand how he could sleep at night, before she met him.

She was always talking in past tense about her anger at Benn and said how shocked she was when she met him that he was nothing like she expected.

Then what had she expected? A svage brute with a penchant for hurting people maybe? Because that description could also describe her brother during his boxing career.

Lets be honest Benns comments before he knew what Gman was going to end up like were pretty poor. He certainly regrets some of the things he said deeply and they were bound to anger the McClellands family at the time. Especially "rather him than me".

I don't blame him in the slightest, while in restrospect this might seem distasteful, Nigel was high on adrenaline and was well pumuped-up with his victory. It was just some of the old macho stuff that we come to expect from fighters. A lot of other fighters have said much worse things.

Obviously Benn was never at any fault and thats a fact, i cant even say the ref was in anyway to blame, doctors at ringside should have known more, gman should have known it was going wrong, and his joke of a corner certainly should have.

If anything I think his family should take responsibility if it's true that they decided to fly him home instead of operating rightaway with could've prevented any harm ful long-lasting damage.

Did you actually watch the documentary? the questions your asking where answered in it.

I didnt say i blamed Benn for his comments at the time im saying i can see why McClellans family were so upset by them and it is with retrospect we are talking.

I didnt see the part where they said McClellan family flew him home without surgery i may have missed that bit i was doing stuff at the time. I did see the part when the british doctor said they had operated so im not convinced that statement is entirely true

[Crease]

Did you actually watch the documentary? the questions your asking where answered in it.

Yes, I watched it earlier today as a matter of fact.

I didnt say i blamed Benn for his comments im saying i can see why McClellands family were so upset by them.

Well with respect to them, they really need to understand the situation at the time of Nigel saying that, he was just after being declared victrious after a tough battle and he was pumped up with adrenaline. I don't think anyone cna blame Nigel for saying them.
But Benn was good enough to apologise for those comments.

[Finn]

Did you actually watch the documentary? the questions your asking where answered in it.

Yes, I watched it earlier today as a matter of fact.

I didnt say i blamed Benn for his comments im saying i can see why McClellands family were so upset by them.

Well with respect to them, they really need to understand the situation at the time of Nigel saying that, he was just after being declared victrious after a tough battle and he was pumped up with adrenaline. I don't think anyone cna blame Nigel for saying them.
But Benn was good enough to apologise for those comments.

in fairness to them, they are american!

[Crease]

in fairness to them, they are american!

[Wrists]

McClellans corner man is one of the vilest people I think I've ever seen on the screen.

Benn has just went even further up in my estimations after that as a man.

Tragic ending which could and should have been avoided.

Alfred Asaro absolutely not to blame

[CiganoBoxer]

This fight was one of only 3 fights i have eva bought ringside(LOL near Ringside ) ticket for .
I lost a money with my dad that night as he said Benn would win ...hell of a fight but so tragic ,the sun the next day dubbed it "Un Holly war " and ask should we ban boxing etc etc
I think what went wrong was the minute McClellan sacked Manny Stuart and end up with a coner that apart from one man hardly knew ...not the best way to fight a guy like benn .

[Wrists]

Tragic watch that mind

Found that difficult to stomach

[the patriot]

A great programme

Most people I've spoken to today said they watched it and most of them aren't big boxing fans.

It's been a while since I've read it but WAR,BABY written by Kevin Mitchell gives a cracking insight into the events of that night. If I remember correctly, it states that McClellan came out of that fight with only £60,000. Even Manny Steward took his cut as he was still under contract with McClellan.

Who knows what to believe ????

[stujones]

I didn't see the documentary, but I have archived the full ITV coverage as it took place. The fight was so good that ITV did an extra programme to reshow the fight (this programme also showed the Honeyghun vs Dodson fight). Initial reports were that Gerald was doing okay - treated for exhaustion. It was tragic how ITV got people from the BBBoC, allegedly and a few others and spoke that without the amazing support we would have another Michael Watson scenario. Gary Newbon reported from the Hospital, even saying its a precautionary staying over night cause of exhaustion. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. The mood of the programme for 3/4 was upbeat - great fight, great result for Britain. Roy Jones on the horizon, both boxers while hurt, safe and well. They reported that Nigel had been in hospital but will be released and Gerald will be following suit.

Then right at the end of the programme, Jim Rosenthal gets the news - its obvious when he gets then news and he reports it to the audience. It was so professionally done by Jim, heartfelt, could tell he was a boxing fan but amazingly he held it together.

Its a sad, but amazing piece of tele. For me, that piece of programming will mean Jim Rosenthal equals the voice and face of boxing.

Was this reported in the documentary?

[mkirkhope]

The real sad thing for me was that there was almost an endless list of things that went wrong for McLellan before, during and after the fight. Incompetent trainer, no tactics, struggling badly to make weight, Benn being given a generous count in 1st round, 5 doctors ringside failing to spot distress signals, corner not pulling him out, family transferring him to America too early whilst injured, etc etc etc. You feel like if only one or two of those things were different then the outcome would have been different and he wouldn't be in the position he's in now.

In other words, if everyone involved in the fight did their job to the best of their ability there likely wouldn't have been such a terrible outcome that night. A warrior in the ring was badly let down by idiots around him.

[dbf]

Gabriel Clarke once again shows what a great producer and director he is. A very moving and well structured documentary.

[Scrap]

If I remember correct,McClellan was 4lb inside the weight, which I found strange at the Time. Plus a few weeks before He had been badly knocked out, in Sparring in Miami.

[matko]

If I remember correct,McClellan was 4lb inside the weight, which I found strange at the Time. Plus a few weeks before He had been badly knocked out, in Sparring in Miami.

He was only a Middleweight if you remember, he moved up to Super Middle to box Benn i think?

I was curious to know who he had been sparing to prepare for benn as he had such a poor corner team and was trying to cut costs i bet he never had any quality sparring like he would have had at the Kronk

[Finn]

If I remember correct,McClellan was 4lb inside the weight, which I found strange at the Time. Plus a few weeks before He had been badly knocked out, in Sparring in Miami.

From the fact he had his mouth piece hanging out early on he probably got in the ring with an existing problem that he didnt know about. Thats why they do regular brain scans now to stop underlying problems resulting in these type of things.

[Scrap]

It was Montel Griffin who He sparred with.

[Bricks]

yeah she oughta think about the stray dogs that cnt used to get hold of and use for his dog to rip apart in "training" for his dog's fights. karma is a bitch. Benn is a gent and a real man, not like that little faggot

big man....big man...real classy talk from the safety of your pc.
try and grow up and show some dignity.

gerald has suffered horrifically and isnt the same young man. and it was one dog not loads of dogs. he is a great father and family man and always was. try and think instead of being so cruel.

He was a big man when he was doing what he did wasn’t he? I aint no internet warrior, I am a man who despises people like him. Just cos he got injured doesn’t mean I need to feel sorry for the cock. Yep, what a classy family man he was, what a shining example of a father when he tapes a dogs mouth up and lets his pitbull rip it apart. So carry on defending people like him, but do you fcuking dare tell me to grow up and call me a keyboard warrior. I have served my time in different fightsports and still train so its not like I am a fat 50 year old drinking beer talking sh:t. Shove your words up your own fudge tunnel..

a real gentleman arent you? U called gerald a faggot? Homophobic too..yet u are the one talking with intimate knowledge of "fudge tunnels"?...i presume u mean asshole?....yet u dont call it asshole u prefer to call it "fudge tunnel"?.....presumably because u see a mans asshole as sweet like fudge?.......tut tut..i think someone may be a closet case....... :?? :?? . u do tho seem to derive some sadistic pleasure from geralds plight. If u cant feel sorry for gerald......well its not my place to ask u to seek help which u so desperatly need but all this big brave talk on the keyboard about a stricken maimed warrior like gman says a lot about u. U may be still training my friend and u should be grateful u are healthy for a 50 year old.....lets hope u stay that way........u should fear god my friend....if geralds could end up like that...so could you....so dont be so cocky and grow up......the 43 year old gerald wouldnt be happy at what the 19 year old gerald did....but dogs also rip apart other dogs, gerald is suffering so just show some dignity and stop acting like such a smart arse little nerd citing crimes others did and have paid for.......seems to me, your not content that gerald ended up blind, parylysed and 90% deaf......no....... u wanted more.....evidently.

[Finn]

Here is a pic of Benn with Leach and Tucker

were they his unlicensed fighting days?

[Finn]

yeah she oughta think about the stray dogs that cnt used to get hold of and use for his dog to rip apart in "training" for his dog's fights. karma is a bitch. Benn is a gent and a real man, not like that little faggot

big man....big man...real classy talk from the safety of your pc.
try and grow up and show some dignity.
gerald has suffered horrifically and isnt the same young man. and it was one dog not loads of dogs. he is a great father and family man and always was. try and think instead of being so cruel.

He was a big man when he was doing what he did wasn’t he? I aint no internet warrior, I am a man who despises people like him. Just cos he got injured doesn’t mean I need to feel sorry for the cock. Yep, what a classy family man he was, what a shining example of a father when he tapes a dogs mouth up and lets his pitbull rip it apart. So carry on defending people like him, but do you fcuking dare tell me to grow up and call me a keyboard warrior. I have served my time in different fightsports and still train so its not like I am a fat 50 year old drinking beer talking sh:t. Shove your words up your own fudge tunnel..

I hope you arent a mike tyson fan in that case.

Theres something very dislikable about you mamma jamma from all your posturing and squaring up on the internet i've got a feeling you're some fat virgin sat in his mums spare room posting through his fictional alter ego. I sure hope that isnt the case because that would be very embarrassing.

[bad mamma jamma]

big man....big man...real classy talk from the safety of your pc.
try and grow up and show some dignity.

gerald has suffered horrifically and isnt the same young man. and it was one dog not loads of dogs. he is a great father and family man and always was. try and think instead of being so cruel.

He was a big man when he was doing what he did wasn’t he? I aint no internet warrior, I am a man who despises people like him. Just cos he got injured doesn’t mean I need to feel sorry for the cock. Yep, what a classy family man he was, what a shining example of a father when he tapes a dogs mouth up and lets his pitbull rip it apart. So carry on defending people like him, but do you fcuking dare tell me to grow up and call me a keyboard warrior. I have served my time in different fightsports and still train so its not like I am a fat 50 year old drinking beer talking sh:t. Shove your words up your own fudge tunnel..

a real gentleman arent you? U called gerald a faggot? Homophobic too..yet u are the one talking with intimate knowledge of "fudge tunnels"?...i presume u mean asshole?....yet u dont call it asshole u prefer to call it "fudge tunnel"?.....presumably because u see a mans asshole as sweet like fudge?.......tut tut..i think someone may be a closet case....... :?? :?? . u do tho seem to derive some sadistic pleasure from geralds plight. If u cant feel sorry for gerald......well its not my place to ask u to seek help which u so desperatly need but all this big brave talk on the keyboard about a stricken maimed warrior like gman says a lot about u. U may be still training my friend and u should be grateful u are healthy for a 50 year old.....lets hope u stay that way........u should fear god my friend....if geralds could end up like that...so could you....so dont be so cocky and grow up......the 43 year old gerald wouldnt be happy at what the 19 year old gerald did....but dogs also rip apart other dogs, gerald is suffering so just show some dignity and stop acting like such a smart arse little nerd citing crimes others did and have paid for.......seems to me, your not content that gerald ended up blind, parylysed and 90% deaf......no....... u wanted more.....evidently.

Ok, here’s how it goes. I have a major issue with people who abuse those who are weaker than them – people or beings who put their trust in someone only for that trust to be turned on them. I speak my mind and say I have no sympathy whatsoever for Mclellan after what he did – I stand by that. Then you come on Mugabi and start being all personal with me. That is out of order son. Of course my natural reaction is to react to you with more vitriol aimed at you. Now here we have King Finn who jumps on the personal attack bandwagon. Sorry but I have strong feelings about abuse and abusers – and always will. I speak my mind and will not apologise for that. I could so easily come back at you two with more personal sh:t – but I wont. There is also no point in me telling you about who I am and what I do cos you will just come back with more bullsh:t comments. Maybe you guys should look at what you write on here and make sure you don’t get all personal with people whose posts you take umbrage with again. You are saying I am childish for saying Mclellan is a bitch but you two showed the same childish behaviour by calling me down! ANYONE WHO ABUSES KIDS, ANIMAL, WOMEN ARE fornicating PUSSYHOLES…and I for one will not show any remorse when any people of this ilk fall upon bad times..does that make me a bad person?

[Finn]

He was a big man when he was doing what he did wasn’t he? I aint no internet warrior, I am a man who despises people like him. Just cos he got injured doesn’t mean I need to feel sorry for the cock. Yep, what a classy family man he was, what a shining example of a father when he tapes a dogs mouth up and lets his pitbull rip it apart. So carry on defending people like him, but do you fcuking dare tell me to grow up and call me a keyboard warrior. I have served my time in different fightsports and still train so its not like I am a fat 50 year old drinking beer talking sh:t. Shove your words up your own fudge tunnel..

a real gentleman arent you? U called gerald a faggot? Homophobic too..yet u are the one talking with intimate knowledge of "fudge tunnels"?...i presume u mean asshole?....yet u dont call it asshole u prefer to call it "fudge tunnel"?.....presumably because u see a mans asshole as sweet like fudge?.......tut tut..i think someone may be a closet case....... :?? :?? . u do tho seem to derive some sadistic pleasure from geralds plight. If u cant feel sorry for gerald......well its not my place to ask u to seek help which u so desperatly need but all this big brave talk on the keyboard about a stricken maimed warrior like gman says a lot about u. U may be still training my friend and u should be grateful u are healthy for a 50 year old.....lets hope u stay that way........u should fear god my friend....if geralds could end up like that...so could you....so dont be so cocky and grow up......the 43 year old gerald wouldnt be happy at what the 19 year old gerald did....but dogs also rip apart other dogs, gerald is suffering so just show some dignity and stop acting like such a smart arse little nerd citing crimes others did and have paid for.......seems to me, your not content that gerald ended up blind, parylysed and 90% deaf......no....... u wanted more.....evidently.

Ok, here’s how it goes. I have a major issue with people who abuse those who are weaker than them – people or beings who put their trust in someone only for that trust to be turned on them. I speak my mind and say I have no sympathy whatsoever for Mclellan after what he did – I stand by that. Then you come on Mugabi and start being all personal with me. That is out of order son. Of course my natural reaction is to react to you with more vitriol aimed at you. Now here we have King Finn who jumps on the personal attack bandwagon. Sorry but I have strong feelings about abuse and abusers – and always will. I speak my mind and will not apologise for that. I could so easily come back at you two with more personal sh:t – but I wont. There is also no point in me telling you about who I am and what I do cos you will just come back with more bullsh:t comments. Maybe you guys should look at what you write on here and make sure you don’t get all personal with people whose posts you take umbrage with again. You are saying I am childish for saying Mclellan is a bitch but you two showed the same childish behaviour by calling me down! ANYONE WHO ABUSES KIDS, ANIMAL, WOMEN ARE effing PUSSYHOLES…and I for one will not show any remorse when any people of this ilk fall upon bad times..does that make me a bad person?

I have no problem with peoples personal opinions, and if thats your view then you are fully entitled to have it. What i dont like is people squaring up on an internet forum its pointless and 99% of the time its some keyboard warrior muppet on the other end of the net.