Was Gerald McClellan A Future All-Time Great?

[Goodnight, Irene]

?

[BoxBuzz]

Nah

[Giancarlo]

If the "sport" was dog fighting, he'd be a legend.

[Goodnight, Irene]

Hey like I said I don't care what anyone else says. I'm gonna stand by what I said in the other thread. You name me a MW-SMW since 1990 that can hurt him or take his punch then I got a bad bitch with no flaws for ya.

A lot more to Boxing than that, though.

Calzaghe is one guy who'd probably endure his punch and go on to win, though obviously without harming McClellan --- whose flaws were just as noticeable as his strengths, IMO.

[IKSRTFO]

Of course there is. McClellan was very good at keeping his distance from the long range. Was very educated in using his jab hand to paw at the face of his opponent to gauge distance, his turn over in his right hand is very Hearns esque (as is his left hook to the body). Boxed very well off his toes and sitting on his punches. His double left hooks were also awesome, very good arsenal of punches. Also was an absolute monster when an opponent's back was close to the ropes. His "dark" personality and lack of care or remorse definitely played into his strengths as a fighter.

IMO I can't see Calzaghe surviving a storm from McClellan. This is Calzaghe we're talking about not Aaron Pryor. Visualize McClellan landing a straight right on Calzaghe or unloading an assault against the ropes and there's no Asaro there to randomly get in the way of Gerald getting back on the attack or allow excessive clinching. I, for one, cannot see Calzaghe surviving anything of that nature. McClellan is a just lillllllll bit more dangerous and versatile than Jeff Lacy.

I agree because of styles McClellan has a chance agaisnt Calzaghe. Calzaghe had recovery abilities similar to JMM but he also could be stunned and dropped like JMM. Being dropped from a Jones or Hopkins right is different from being dropped from a McClelland right and Calzaghe was an adjuster type fighter. Once Joe adjusted to Bhop and Jones, he was a beast but it took him being reckless the first two round and being hit to get him to that point. McClellan is the wrong guy to risk that against being that was when he was most dangerous.

[Ezzard]

I’ll go against the board and say he probably could have been. He was a big drainer and so I think his power, strength, durability and size would, to some extent, always be counter-balanced by stamina issues.

He would always be beatable but, at the same time, he could beat enough great fighters to be considered a great. He had a very good career.

G-Man could surprise anyone but he’s unlikely to have beaten Calzaghe, Hopkins or Toney. Jones would be a possibility.

[dempseyfire]

Gerald would have a puncher's chance vs anybody but I'd favor a master boxer like Calzaghe to beat him on points more times than not. Would also favor a peak Eubank over Gerald, and Toney. It's a shame Jones Jr and Gerald never had the chance to fight each other . . that fight would've been the definite indicator whether Gerald was a great fighter or just an over-rated puncher.

[greynotsoold]

I guess he could've been a great middle-weight, if mws fought at 185. I never saw him fight a cruiserweight, though that is what he usually weighed when he defended his mw title.

[Crease]

For me, it's a yes.

McClellan was a bit of a monster once upon a time. Granted, he was (as I have read) an arrogant, cocky and unpleasant person to be around. But there's no denying that he would have been a formidable opponent for anybody of that time period.

I look at the Middleweight Champions between the period of 1995-2001 and McClellan could have really made a name for himself in that weight division:

Qunicy Taylor
Keith Holmes
Bernard Hopkins
William Joppy
Julio Cesar Green
Felix Trinidad
Lonnie Bradley
Otis Grant
Bert Schenk
Jason Matthews
Armand Krajnc
Harry Simon
Robert Allen

Looking at that list I would probably only bet on Bernard Hopkins and Tito Trinidad beating G-Man at that weight... Though Joppy could probably give him some problems.

If we are rating him as a Super Middleweight, then I'd have to say NO... As I don't think he would haver achieved as much as that weight class.

[NazNaci1]

I would tend to say yes, purely on ability. Bully mentality and intimidation can take you only so far, though. Calzaghe, Benn, Toney, Eubank, McCallum etc are not the type of guys who get intimidated and this is where he would struggle, in my opinion. Not saying he would lose to all these guys but I would not have him down as a banker to win, either.

[Controversial]

I don't think people should get carried away too much about McClellan. Yes his punch was pure dynamite but his record was built up on a lot of stiffs, lots of fighters with losing or bad records. He was capable of knocking fighters flat but whether he could have ended up as an ATG is another matter.

[tommo100]

looking at his record,98% were stiffs,of the others,an eye troubled,fag end of career julian jackson and john the beast mugabe who was so shot he could barely stand up
a pure boxer in mccallum or calzaghe would have beaten him easily,jones jnr would have tortured him and i think toney would have beaten him as well
you can say he`s got a punchers chance but you have to get near the other guy first,i don`t think gerald had the mindset or the patience to do a long tactical fight,he was all about destruction,take the benn fight,he was a violent human being

[Goodnight, Irene]

I cant see McClellan ever beating Toney.

[dr_devious]

Hey like I said I don't care what anyone else says. I'm gonna stand by what I said in the other thread. You name me a MW-SMW since 1990 that can hurt him or take his punch then I got a bad bitch with no flaws for ya.

Nigel Benn

[Goodnight, Irene]

I cant see McClellan ever beating Toney.

Toney is the one guy that came up in my mind that would give Gerald the most problems. I remember after a fight of Gerald's him and Emanuel were discussing the possibility of facing Toney and right away I thought that Toney would be the guy to really give Gerald problems.

I look at Gerald like a MW/SMW version of Liston/Foreman with more versatility in punch arsenal. I think people aren't seeing the whole picture with Gerald. He was more than just a reckless brawler. He learned a lot from Emanuel, Hearns & the Kronk gym. He was almost like a more durable Terry Norris in ways.

Calzaghe I can never see beating the G-Man because with a competent referee there's no way Joe can survive that early assault.

Eubank (one of my personal faves) would stand a somewhat good chance, but, I would still favor Gerald.

I just see it like this :

Dude was 6'0 1/2"
Had a reach of 77"
Probably weighed around 180-182 when in the ring
Had a full punch arsenal
Had a chin on par with Chuvalo & McCall
Had power in both hands that's probably the best that 160-168 has seen in the past 20 years
Had the warrior spirit on par with Evander Holyfield

Yes, he wasn't the most defensively savvy fighter, but, no fighter is perfect and I would say all of his strengths would be too much for most opponents and I believe he would have went on to become an all-time great.

A bit pointless since we'll never know and can only speculate, but, I've never been so sure of it.

I don't see him being the type like Tyson where you'd worry about him losing focus in training. Gerald stated that knocking someone out was like an orgasm for him. He was a very violent man and I'm sure he got much pleasure out of training, sparring and knowing he was going to be prepared to take someone's head off.

You dont think Tyson felt the same way at one point?

[Diamond WEAPON]

Hey like I said I don't care what anyone else says. I'm gonna stand by what I said in the other thread. You name me a MW-SMW since 1990 that can hurt him or take his punch then I got a bad bitch with no flaws for ya.

Nigel Benn

With any other ref Benn would've been unconscious, the official in that fight was practically holding Gerald's arms behind his back.

[King Carlos]

McClellan was a physical monster. Humongous at the weight, super-powered with either hand (straight right and left hook to the body, before he started neglecting it, anyway), and a true granite chin. That's where it ended, though. Technically he was a novice. There aren't many top notch technicians that are losing to him, although he'd definitely fare well against the pressure fighters and fellow bombers, provided he got them early, anyway.

Roy would have dominated him.

[Goodnight, Irene]

Never questioned his heart --- but hardened guys who wouldnt be KO'd (true greats like Hopkins and Toney, a cut above McClellan by anyones measure) and who were great at taking advantage of Riddick Bowe-esque defense would beat him every time out.

For you to compare him to Norris in any way other than sadism or punching power is criminal, IMO. McClellan couldnt box like Norris in his dreams.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

For me, it's a yes.

McClellan was a bit of a monster once upon a time. Granted, he was (as I have read) an arrogant, cocky and unpleasant person to be around. But there's no denying that he would have been a formidable opponent for anybody of that time period.

I look at the Middleweight Champions between the period of 1995-2001 and McClellan could have really made a name for himself in that weight division:

Qunicy Taylor
Keith Holmes
Bernard Hopkins
William Joppy
Julio Cesar Green
Felix Trinidad
Lonnie Bradley
Otis Grant
Bert Schenk
Jason Matthews
Armand Krajnc
Harry Simon
Robert Allen

Looking at that list I would probably only bet on Bernard Hopkins and Tito Trinidad beating G-Man at that weight... Though Joppy could probably give him some problems.

If we are rating him as a Super Middleweight, then I'd have to say NO... As I don't think he would haver achieved as much as that weight class.

He moved up to Super Middle in his last fight, surely he wouldn't be fighting Middleweights many years later.

[keithmoonhangover]

If Nigel Benn found a way to win, then plenty of other fighters would. He would not be in the IBHO - not a chance.

[Bricks]

This is an absolutely fantastic thread credit to the TS. It really is off the wall, and one that generates rich food for thought.

I have huge admiration for Nigel Benn not just as a puncher, but a guy with underrated bobbing and weaving defence, speed, boxing brain and a ferocity that seems to be lacking in todays game. At the same time I think imo the Nigel Benn fight was an anomaly, its my view Mclellan was terminally damaged by round 4-5 and wasnt able to fight at his level best thereafter so I kind of hold the outcome in dispute.

Im going to think about this one.

I read Jones jnr and McClellan were good friends so would that have stopped them fighting? If thats the case than who else would McClellan have had to fight to test himself circa 1995-1999. It would surely be Eubanks, Collins, and Calzaghe and perhaps Toney and Michaelzewski.Or perhaps Hopkins?

Ironically I find myself finding it easier to think up superfights if he had stayed at 160 during 1995-1999 (yeah i know he was too big for 160 but in fantasy land i imagine he got a good nutritionist! instead of the KFC diet he loved!!) I imagine him fighting the likes of Joppy, Holmes and Trinidad and Terry Norris in superfights)
Id love to have seen the Trinidad of 2000-2001 and the Norris of 1995-97 v Mclellan at 160!!!

[keithmoonhangover]

This is an absolutely fantastic thread credit to the TS. It really is off the wall, and one that generates rich food for thought.

I have huge admiration for Nigel Benn not just as a puncher, but a guy with underrated bobbing and weaving defence, speed, boxing brain and a ferocity that seems to be lacking in todays game. At the same time I think imo the Nigel Benn fight was an anomaly, its my view Mclellan was terminally damaged by round 4-5 and wasnt able to fight at his level best thereafter so I kind of hold the outcome in dispute.

Im going to think about this one.

I read Jones jnr and McClellan were good friends so would that have stopped them fighting? If thats the case than who else would McClellan have had to fight to test himself circa 1995-1999. It would surely be Eubanks, Collins, and Calzaghe and perhaps Toney and Michaelzewski.Or perhaps Hopkins?

Ironically I find myself finding it easier to think up superfights if he had stayed at 160 during 1995-1999 (yeah i know he was too big for 160 but in fantasy land i imagine he got a good nutritionist! instead of the KFC diet he loved!!) I imagine him fighting the likes of Joppy, Holmes and Trinidad and Terry Norris in superfights)
Id love to have seen the Trinidad of 2000-2001 and the Norris of 1995-97 v Mclellan at 160!!!

I'd bet my life on Michaelzewski to beat McClellan.

[keithmoonhangover]

Dariusz Michalczewski would beat G-Man and Benn FAIRLY beat the G-Man

Fixed for you.

[keithmoonhangover]

Dariusz Michalczewski would beat G-Man and Benn FAIRLY beat the G-Man

Fixed for you.

And for your information.

Benn was NOT helped back in the ring.

He was back in the ring after 8 seconds.

Check your facts smart arse.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMr24cH- ... re=related 19:33

[keithmoonhangover]

And for your information.

Benn was NOT helped back in the ring.

He was back in the ring after 8 seconds.

Check your facts smart arse.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMr24cH- ... re=related 19:33

It's typical. When someone is presented with facts, not opinions, they stop posting in the thread.