The G-Man ...still fighting on

Loftgroov · Post by **Loftgroov** » 27 Nov 2003, 17:31

I've just been having another look through Gerald McClellen's website. I first saw it some months back now from a Kronk Gym link through,and it does get updated.

For those of you that haven't been before, it's located at;

http://www.geraldmcclellan.com/

I remember being a huge HUGE fan of the G-Man. A fighter with a big heart whose one punch power was phenomenal! After a glittering amateur career that saw him gain a win over one Roy Jones Jnr, the G-Man could have achieved so much in a hugely promising career.

Sadly, as most of you will know, Gerald's 1995 fight with Nigel Benn left him close to death. Now wheel-chair bound, blind, and nearly deaf, Gerald also now faces huge medical bills with his family having to rely heavily on donations.

Definitely puts our lives firmly into perspective eh....

Gerald McClellan Trust
C/O Fifth Third Bank
PO Box 120
Freeport, IL 61032

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 27 Nov 2003, 17:43

I went off McClellan after reading the almost unbelievable article in The Observer on his dubious out of the ring activities:

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/osm/stor ... 41,00.html

Loftgroov · Post by **Loftgroov** » 27 Nov 2003, 17:53

In all honesty Bennie, I didn't no about this article.

That said, has the man had a chance to defend such accusations? The guy telling the story doesn't sound all there quite frankly.

REAL_DEAL · Post by **REAL_DEAL** » 27 Nov 2003, 17:59

that article was sick.

Loftgroov · Post by **Loftgroov** » 27 Nov 2003, 18:02

True, very sick.

I'm just wondering though if McClellen's trainer had something against him.

Note at the end the trainer claims he never heard Benn say sorry to McClellen in the hospital. Benn claims he did.... *shrug*

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 27 Nov 2003, 18:15

I read something else on that subject too, nobody expected McClellan to be a bloody cheerleader did they? He sounds like a pretty disturbed man to me.

An interesting thing to note.....

In 1 version told by Benn, he claims he kissed McClellan on the forehead and said sorry, in another version he claims he kissed him on the hand.

sounds like someone bullshitting to me, you wouldn't forget something like that....

Loftgroov · Post by **Loftgroov** » 27 Nov 2003, 18:28

Perhaps he did both.

Lenny · Post by **Lenny** » 28 Nov 2003, 09:41

There's a book called "War Baby" which is all about Benn McClellan and their lives before the fight, says the same thing and some more, not a bad book if anyone is keen.
Although I love boxing, can think of more deserving people to give my money to.

Lugh · Post by **Lugh** » 28 Nov 2003, 09:50

Lenny Albert wrote:There's a book called "War Baby" which is all about Benn McClellan and their lives before the fight, says the same thing and some more, not a bad book if anyone is keen.
Although I love boxing, can think of more deserving people to give my money to.

Yeah, the book is by kevin Mitchell and all the article bennie linked to is lifted straight out of the book.

I didn't read the whole link, but in the book McClellan, also shoots a dog of HIS that lost a fight - he was a fairly screwed up guy it's fair to say.

Isn't it Ironic that when someone dies they gbecome "such a wonderful person".

I enjoyed (I think it was) Jake Lamotta's epithet relating (I think) to Sugar Ray Rob - "he was a sonofabitch when he lived and I'm glad he's dead" -

In fact I am certain it wasn't SRR but anyway - I appreciate that type of honesty.

Wouldn't it be refreshing to hear people shouting "good riddance" and so on at funerals- I have been to few where yhe Eulogy has made me think "I'm at the wrong crematorium here"!!!

Kilburn · Post by **Kilburn** » 28 Nov 2003, 09:56

Yeah that book is a bit of an eye opener. You have to wonder what level of sympathy the McClellans would've had for Nigel Benn had the roles been reversed.

Benn doesn't owe them jack shit and I'm glad he feels that way.

Goz · Post by **Goz** » 28 Nov 2003, 11:18

Kilburn wrote:Yeah that book is a bit of an eye opener. You have to wonder what level of sympathy the McClellans would've had for Nigel Benn had the roles been reversed.

Benn doesn't owe them jack shit and I'm glad he feels that way.

True, true...

Twinkle Toes · Post by **Twinkle Toes** » 28 Nov 2003, 13:44

The Guardian link was a good read.

I'm split as to what to think about McClellan. I wouldn't wish those injuries on anyone who enters the ring, but some of that stuff he got upto (providing it is true) is well odd, and it makes me wonder where he would have ended up if it hadn't have been for the injuries.

I had a look at his website, and there is certainly a lot of emphasis on how he was knocking everybody out. He was a fighting machine, thats for sure.

What do they mean though, when they say Benn used questionable tactics? I have the fight on tape somewhere, and the only thing I can remember was something about Nigel thumbing Gerald.

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 28 Nov 2003, 13:51

Twinkle Toes wrote:The Guardian link was a good read.

I'm split as to what to think about McClellan. I wouldn't wish those injuries on anyone who enters the ring, but some of that stuff he got upto (providing it is true) is well odd, and it makes me wonder where he would have ended up if it hadn't have been for the injuries.

I had a look at his website, and there is certainly a lot of emphasis on how he was knocking everybody out. He was a fighting machine, thats for sure.

What do they mean though, when they say Benn used questionable tactics? I have the fight on tape somewhere, and the only thing I can remember was something about Nigel thumbing Gerald.

Think they're refering to Benn delivering a few to the back of McClellan's head - the French ref was pretty questionable if you ask me..

I don't care what the G-Man got up to with his dogs really - he was a fantastic fighter in the ring and what he got upto outside is not really anyone's business but his own.

Terrible what happened to him in the name of entertainment.

I think Roy Jones breeds fighting dogs doesn't he? And cocks for that matter - it's a brutal sport no doubt - one way they find out if a cock has fighting blood is they cut off both legs, set him on fire, then see if he keeps fighting another able bodied bird till he dies - if he does then his blood is "good" - so his offspring are then reared as prime fighting birds.

Makes boxing seem quite civilised really.