There seems to be a lot of mixed feelings about his power, but I personally think it was legit. He fought a lot of bums but all the top opponents he faced claimed he was the hardest puncher they’ve been in with. He also passes the eye test. What are your thoughts on his power?
I think it's possible to be both a devastating and overrated puncher, and that he falls into both categories. It's all about whom you fight, as it always is. When you fight those he did, it's easy to look devastating.
Here is his defense vs Gilbert Baptiste. McClellan is how many weight classes larger? This content is protected I don't think that weighing 180 or more while being a "middleweight" can be discounted.
True. Also Baptiste had almost as many losses as wins in the prime of his career. Not very impressive when the entire scenario is explored. Yes his power was very much overrated...
As terrible as Baptist looked in that fight, he had gone the distance with Bernard Hopkins just one year earlier.
He seemed to have devastating power. A rock solid chin, too. Hell, I feel like the biggest argument there’s been on McClellan revolved on just how damn big he was.
Baptiste was one of the those Freddie Pendleton types better than his record. He had never been stopped. Fought a lot of really good fighters including Terry Norris twice and Bernard Hopkins. It is true though that he was a natural 154. But going the distance with Hopkins at 160 shortly before getting murdered by McClellan and having never been stopped only solidifies the argument that McClellan could really punch. He had weaknesses but power wasn't one of them.