Sambu Kalambay vs. Gerald McClellan

G-man would have a puncher's chance early, but in all likelyhood I think Kalambay would school him to a UD win.

 

That's pretty much it.

 

Speed is similar here but GMAN has the rangyness, aggressiveness alongside excellent technical punching technique which would see him land his shots. No way Kalambay takes GMANs shots, anyone who gets ko'd by Nunn won't be able to take it. I don't know why anyone things McClellan is getting schooled, that never happened and he even beat Roy Jones in the amateurs

 

i think this is a good fight and i am leaning toward McClellan by ko around the 4th but i could also see kalambay frustrating GMAN and wiining a ud

dont think the amatuers really come into this after all pryor beat hearns in the AM'S.

 

I was using the ams as an example of GMANs boxing skills more than anything, despite his relative lack of achievement the man is a head to head beast

 

"The Magician" Dennis Milton

Ralph Ward

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQFI3PhltlI[/ame]

 

No one ever schooled him perhaps, but Benn, not exactly a master boxer, won nearly all rounds except the ones he got knocked down in. Jackson was also doing pretty well before he got butted in the 4th.

Other than that, who has McClellan faced? Two complete unknown boxers took a decision from him also. Okay, he was young at that time, but you're also stating his win over Roy Jones in the amatures. P.s. who went to the '88 Olympics and won that with one hand tied behind his back?

McClellan's KO record is impressive for sure, but i don't see why he'd necessarily do so well. He did KO Jackson twice, but Jackson was over the hill, and then lost to Benn, who himself was past his best too. His defence was pretty poor and his jab was very ineffective against Nigel. I'd pick Kalambay to win a decision.

 

That isnt true McClellan was up on all the cards bar 1 which was level going into the 10th. He won the 1st, 3rd, 6th (close), 7th 8th and maybe the 9th on my card and allot of the rounds he lost were close 1s. Benn bobbed and weaved and backed McClellan up with big shots to have his success, he had to take some big shots on his chin too. That fight ruined Benn aswell McClellan from the punnishment with a shadow on the brain, multiple broken jab and other internal injuries. Kalambay wouldnt be strong enough to take the same punches and wouldnt be able to back McClellan up with his own shots. Benn was clearly a great fighter in his own right and had a hellacious attack, very fast and a great bob and weave. As for Benn being past prime, based on what? Most consider it his very best performance

1 thing I'd say with some confidence, both men would dominate the Super 6 fighters around today

 

Well it's been a year since i saw that fight, but i thought Benn won most rounds he didn't get knocked down in. Anyway, that hardly matters since he won by TKO.

Bottomline is that McClellan isn't all that proven - Kalambay's wins over a prime McCallum, Graham, Collins and Barkley are much better than two wins over an over the hill Jackson.

 

Wel he won the 7th pretty big, the British commentators who usually favour the Brit had him 2 up going into the final round.

And no Barkley/Collins arent better than Jackson on 7 year unbeaten run who also blasted out Graham. Collins and Barkley were both pretty unskilled, especially Collins.

That aside simply 'who you fought' doesn't tell us everything about a fighter, Kalambay has got a better wins resume, it doesnt mean he wins

 

Good post.

[McClellan was up (leading) in the fight late.]




McClellan was in his first fight at SMW and was just 27 years of age.

McClellan in good health could have and surely would have gone on to RULE SMW - I think he would have destroyed the belt holders of the late 90s and 00s.

 

Not quite asure about that, he'd have to beat the likes of Roy Jones and Calzaghe, but given Calzaghes openness to right hands I think he takes Joe, Jones-McClellan would have been a super-fight, Jones should win but that fast right hand could do him in, although in his prime I'd wager Jones would have got up and maybe even managed to out fight GMAN with his speed

I think the reason that McClellan got brain damaged the way he did is despite having a good chin he carried his chin very high while being open to flush shots, which gives you allot more damage than anything. That and all the gym wars, Benns rabbit punches/headbutts didnt help.

 

It also should be noted McClellan is said to have bossed the Kronk fighters, including beating up Tony Tucker in sparring

 

What is this (ESB) insistence that McClellan wasn't the goods? There are many that suggest he wasn't a great talent and formidable.

He gave RJJ and Frankie Liles tough battles in multiple amateur bouts.

RJJ ended up being one of the greatest ever.

Liles ended up being the SMW champ for five years and defended the WBA 7 times.

RJJ and Liles were great boxers.

McClellan was the WBC middleweight champ. He had the balls to move up to SMW and fight Nigel Benn straight off for the title. No warm up fights, no bull****.

How many SMW champs clinged on to their titles trying to fight every bum available under incredibly advantageous conditions from the late 90s through the 00s and rarely fought anybody in their prime?

There is no doubt in the world that Gerald McClellan was a great fighter. PERIOD.