Nigel Benn vs Gerald McClellan: 20 Years Later

[elmersalsa]

Twenty years ago, on February 25, 1995, one of boxing's most dramatic and brutal fights that I have ever seen in my lifetime, made history. American Gerald McClellan, the former WBC World Middleweight Champion, took on England's Nigel Benn, the WBC World Super Middleweight King. The fight was at New London Arena in London, England.

McCllelan, 27 at the time, was one of boxing's most brutal knock out artists. He could really punch. He at the time had 14 fights in a row won by KO, ten of them, in the first round. His last 3 fights only lasted no more than 3 minutes. It looked like his fourth fight in a row was going to be ended the same fashion, but, the French referee, Alfred Asaro, let the champion Benn, 31, to recover from the earlier storm. He was almost out of the ring in round one and went also down in round eight. It looked like McClellan, after round 5, was not the same puncher. His punches were not making an effect on the champ. Was the champ really determined?

After that, Benn showed the greatest heart and resiliency of his career. He was not going to be denied in front of his countrymen. Not at all. He was going to kick this American's ass whatever the cost. And he finally did, stopping the G-Men in ten brutal rounds.

It was a brutal affair of two great warriors, unfortunately, one had to lose. But the savagery that they gave us that night will never be forgotten. I have not seen that fight ever since that night on Showtime TV.

McClellan, NEVER AGAIN FOUGHT ANOTHER BOXING MATCH. He became blind forever. This is somehow a sport like boxing, which could be a beautiful sport in a way, remind us that is a brutal and savage sport.

[GL14]

A shame. Gerald was a great fighter

[Woller]

A shame. Gerald was a great fighter

Yes, but as a person he was pure shit - I am glad we got rid of him.

[Rexob]

A shame. Gerald was a great fighter

Yes, but as a person he was pure poo - I am glad we got rid of him.

Bit harsh that pal! A great fight, one of the best with a terrible ending!

[palooka]

A shame. Gerald was a great fighter

Yes, but as a person he was pure poo - I am glad we got rid of him.

That's an awful thing to say Woller, Gerald has had a very hard time of it the last 20 years.

[tiny_acres]

A shame. Gerald was a great fighter

Yes, but as a person he was pure poo - I am glad we got rid of him.

No one will argue and call the man a saint.
But to be GLAD that we got rid of him the way it happened is pathetic.
No person should have to live like he has had to.

[evrenb]

I understand what Soren is saying I'm sure he didn't mean that he is glad Gerald has suffered. Mcclellan had a bad reputation for dog fighting and many people viewed him badly for it. My missus said the same thing.... Terrible I know. Some people care for dogs more than people so in their eyes punishment fits the crime. I would like to add that I do not feel this way.

[GL14]

Then I would hope that the people who view things that way are against hunting and are vegan

[stevedoc]

A shame. Gerald was a great fighter

Yes, but as a person he was pure poo - I am glad we got rid of him.

What a nasty piece of shit you are ,let's hope you end up a vegetable

[Othro]

A shame. Gerald was a great fighter

Yes, but as a person he was pure poo - I am glad we got rid of him.

Not attacking your opinion but just curious on your reasoning .

Was it the dog fighting thing that makes you say this?

[palooka]

Wasn't Jones Jnr also into dog fighting? (Cock fighting as well).

[evrenb]

Interesting article

http://observer.theguardian.com/osm/sto ... 41,00.html

[evrenb]

I remember watching the fight and build up a few weeks back and Gerald said he wanted to Kill Nigel. I know that a lot of boxers say sh1t in a build up but I tend to think he meant it and revelled in being a bad guy.
Reminds me of when Oliver McCall stated that he wanted to turn Bruno into a vegetable in retaliation for Gerald losing to Benn.

Classy

[orbtastic]

Interesting article

http://observer.theguardian.com/osm/sto ... 41,00.html

The author of that article wrote a book about the fight.

[palooka]

Interesting article

http://observer.theguardian.com/osm/sto ... 41,00.html

The author of that article wrote a book about the fight.

Is 'War Baby' a good read, Orb?

[orbtastic]

Definitely.

[palooka]

Thanks

[milpool]

Definitely.

Seconded.

[palooka]

Got it on kindle and started it last night

[dempseyfire]

Then I would hope that the people who view things that way are against hunting and are vegan

You're equating hunting with dog fighting? There's so much wrong with that I don't even know where to begin . . .

[palooka]

I think he was on about fox hunting, not deer hunting.

[dempseyfire]

I understand what Soren is saying I'm sure he didn't mean that he is glad Gerald has suffered. Mcclellan had a bad reputation for dog fighting and many people viewed him badly for it. My missus said the same thing.... Terrible I know. Some people care for dogs more than people so in their eyes punishment fits the crime. I would like to add that I do not feel this way.

Its pretty clear the guy was a sociopath; he would've likely ended up beating women (if he already hadn't) or worse. I'm not going to say he deserved what he got, but I'm not going to shed any tears either.

[palooka]

It's a strange thing, to enjoy hitting someone to the extent that you train and learn to be more effective does betray a certain callousness and it's not impossible that the callousness extends into other areas of life.

(There may be a certain amount of callousness in people who enjoy watching violence).