Do people rate McClellan higher than Benn all time P4P on here?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Blofeld, Dec 16, 2022.


I rate McClellan higher than Benn all time P4P ?

  1. Yes

    6 vote(s)
    20.7%

  2. No

    23 vote(s)
    79.3%
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  1. Blofeld

    Blofeld Active Member Full Member

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    I recently rewatched the McClellan vs Benn fight. From doing some follow up reading on here some posters seem to rate McClellan very highly and view his loss to Benn as an aberration, due to Gerald already suffering from neurological damage, not have Manny in his corner and a poor game plan. Overall some seem to see McClellan as an overall better fighter than Benn despite the loss.

    I am assuming P4P rating are based on if the best possible version of a fighter fights another and what the result would be and this may overrule an actual loss? For example I would have Hearns higher on my P4P ranking than Iran Barkley despite Tommy's two loses to Iran. I was interested to know what other posters thought?

    I personally would have McClellan below Benn, however I think there is a big IF depending on how damaged McClellan was going into the fight and also if Benn's rabbit punches had a significant effect on the result.

    Watching this fight and McClellan fight with Jackson I felt he was a frightening puncher with great leverage, however he seemed easy to hit, although that may have been something to do with his kill or be killed approach to both fights. He seemed to run out of ideas against Benn and have no plan B, but again not sure if this was down to other factors than his overall quality as a fighter.
     
    Blofeld, Dec 16, 2022
    Blofeld, Dec 16, 2022
    #1
  2. Dynamicpuncher

    Dynamicpuncher Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    McClellan complained of headaches after the Jackson fight, so he was an accident waiting to happen. Also i heard his sparring sessions were brutal which probably didn't help his cause either.

    Looking at McClellan regarding eye test he does seem to possess some better attributes than Benn, his body punching was out of this world. But again it's hard to say because McClellan got injured early in the Benn fight, remember he was blinking very early and had his mouthpiece hanging out.

    Also lets not forget the referee was very kind to Benn in the 1st round, and also allowed Benn to get away with so many rabbit punches.
     
    Dynamicpuncher, Dec 16, 2022
    Dynamicpuncher, Dec 16, 2022
    #2
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  3. White Bomber

    White Bomber Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Based on the eye test, I favor the G-Man.
     
    White Bomber, Dec 16, 2022
    White Bomber, Dec 16, 2022
    #3
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  4. greynotsoold

    greynotsoold Boxing Addict

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    How do you rate McClellan? He was a 190 pound middleweight. Look at the size difference when he fought Jackson and Baptiste.
    Emmanuel Steward's greatest strength as a trainer was in being way ahead of the curve when it came to weight manipulation.
     
    greynotsoold, Dec 16, 2022
    greynotsoold, Dec 16, 2022
    #4
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  5. robert ungurean

    robert ungurean Богдан Philadelphia Full Member

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    Benn for me
     
    robert ungurean, Dec 16, 2022
    robert ungurean, Dec 16, 2022
    #5
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  6. choklab

    choklab cocoon of horror Full Member

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    We are talking of two guys who were never regarded the best in their division when they fought.

    To make an “all time” great ranking they have to first establish “own time” greatness.

    Neither one qualifies.

    look at the annual Ring ratings. Gerald was briefly regarded the best middleweight before moving up. But that’s it. I don’t think it was for long enough to make ATG consideration.
     
    choklab, Dec 16, 2022
    choklab, Dec 16, 2022
    #6
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  7. Jel

    Jel Obsessive list maker Full Member

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    Who do I regard more highly? Benn.

    In all-time p4p lists, neither fighter would place as @choklab says.
     
    Last edited: Dec 23, 2022
    Jel, Dec 16, 2022
    Jel, Dec 16, 2022
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  8. Jel

    Jel Obsessive list maker Full Member

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    I thought Ben passed the eye test well in his actual fight with McClellan.
     
    Jel, Dec 16, 2022
    Jel, Dec 16, 2022
    #8
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  9. choklab

    choklab cocoon of horror Full Member

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    I think world middleweight and SMW champions from Europe are wrongly disregarded once Toney and Jones left those divisions. But those champions like Eubank Benn Collins woodhall Beyer Ottke Calzaghe and Reid were the best around once those two were gone. McClellan and Lacy were overrated and disadvantaged through lack of opposition by comparison. People think the torch was passed to Gerlald and Lacy from Toney and Jones but They had not paid their dues.
     
    Last edited: Dec 17, 2022
    choklab, Dec 16, 2022
    choklab, Dec 16, 2022
    #9
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  10. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    McClellan looked very good, but has a thin resume. Only an ageing Jackson really. Benn's is not leaps ahead by any means, but I think their fight is the decider. Could well have turned out differently at another occasion, but it is what we have.
     
    Bokaj, Dec 17, 2022
    Bokaj, Dec 17, 2022
    #10
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  11. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Who has called them ATGs?
     
    Bokaj, Dec 17, 2022
    Bokaj, Dec 17, 2022
    #11
  12. White Bomber

    White Bomber Boxing Addict Full Member

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    The G-Man had neurological issues before even going into that fight, that was pretty obvious.
     
    White Bomber, Dec 17, 2022
    White Bomber, Dec 17, 2022
    #12
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  13. Blofeld

    Blofeld Active Member Full Member

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    I am still intrigued by how highly Emanuel Steward rated McClellan. Didn't he view him as his most talented prospect ever? Based on my viewing of McClellan's fights I feel he is a long way from possessing Hearn's boxing skills, let alone contemporary rivals like Jones or Toney. On the other hand it looks like McClellan finished his fights too early to really judge. Physically he seemed to have limitless potential, but the Benn fight does seem to suggest to me his lack of rounds and strategic thinking cost him against a more experienced fighters. Not to diminish McClellan in anyway, just interested.

    Also Benn does some very clever fighting, he has clearly grown from the brawler we saw against Barkley and Eubank. His mature performance against Eubank in their second fight carries over into this fight. He paces himself well, ducks and slips like a wily old time fighter and does some effective feinting, half throwing a shot and then using the other hand. It is one of the few "wars" where there is still some technique as well as slugging, however most of it is from Benn. On the other hand maybe I am being over harsh on McClellan as he was such a force of nature some of his talent is maybe taken for granted as natural ability, but I am sure he worked long and hard on his body punching.
     
    Blofeld, Dec 17, 2022
    Blofeld, Dec 17, 2022
    #13
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  14. Blofeld

    Blofeld Active Member Full Member

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    The Jackson fight is interesting to me as Julian seems to be really coming on until the unintentional head butt and cut he suffers. This totally seems to take the wind out of his sails and allows GM to take control. I think Gerald would have won without the head butt happening but it may have ended up a longer fight. If he had had to take JJ's bombs for another 4 rounds it is possible his neurological damage would have been discovered earlier and his career ended before Benn with less tragic results. It is also ironic Gerald suffered that nasty head butt against Benn.

    The punch GM finishes the Jackson fight with is a thing of beauty. Incidentally I rate Benn a notch above Jackson pound for pound, although Jackson's win against Norris makes it close. That would have been an awesome fight!
     
    Blofeld, Dec 17, 2022
    Blofeld, Dec 17, 2022
    #14
  15. Dynamicpuncher

    Dynamicpuncher Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Agreed McClellan was blinking very early in the fight with Benn, and his mouthpiece was hanging out. Clearly McClellan was in distress from his brain trauma, which was an accident waiting to happen after he fought Julian Jackson.

    I don't necessarily believe that Benn is better than McClellan just because he beat him its not that simple. Because a big part of it was McClellan's brain trauma which happened very early in the fight, remember McClellan allowed himself to get counted out because of his brain trauma. Not because he was quitting again Benn per se, if that makes sense i know it sounds silly.

    And as i said Benn was very lucky the referee gave him some help in 1st round, and was also allowed to freely rabbit punch McClellan all night. On a side note i also felt Benn was lucky not to get DQed vs Barkley aswell.

    Overall i'm not trying to diss Benn he did show great courage vs McClellan, but if McClellan was totally fit and healthy and didn't have neurological issues coming into fight. I don't believe Benn would of won but thats just my opinion.
     
    Last edited: Dec 17, 2022
    Dynamicpuncher, Dec 17, 2022
    Dynamicpuncher, Dec 17, 2022
    #15
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