Gerald McClelan: What happened

He always cut a lot of weight. Probably the biggest MW ever. He made 168 with room to spare, but I'm sure still cut quite a bit to even make 168.

He was said to have been suffering from frequent headaches after the first Jackson fight. That could just mean nothing (lots of people get headaches), maybe he was already suffering from damage going in? Brain bleed or blood clots?

I'm sure the rabbit punches and clashes of heads hurt him, in addition to the numerous legal punches he took to the head. I think there's a lot of questions about that fight. Did that clash of heads in round 8 do a lot of damage? How badly damaged, if at all, was he going into the fight? Did something just happen in the last couple rounds? It's a little disturbing to watch that last round, with all that blinking, knowing what we know now about the fight.

 

Sparring wars, Jackson I, and weight draining throughout his career. Not a good recipe. Gman had way more boxing miles on him going in to the Benn fight than his pro resume would lead one to believe.

 

It must have been the slowest bleed on the brain ever for it to have happened before the fight.

 

The "classy" Don King can be heard post fight stating: "McClellan quit like a dog".

 

Technically he would be correct but with hindsight that was a horrible thing to say.

 

concur ^^.

 

it is a very sad situation. Who knows why to be honest. Someone can be hit a certain way and get a brain bleed and not be hit that way and get nothing with 30 punches. It is hard to know why sometimes there are injuries. It is a very very tough sport. I respect anyone who fights.

 

The Benn fight was just weird. It was one of those things that happened where the underdog completely defied the odds, it was beautiful work form Benn, how he got back into that fight is beyond belief. Some say it shouldnt have been allowed as he was knocked out of the ring beyond the count etc but at the end of the day he did what he had to or was allowed to, with every ounce of his being he got back into it, Benn seemed willing to die himself. That was one amazing fight but the events obviously leave a sour taste to the whole thing and I can see why there is bad feeling around it.

Its strange to see such a fearsome fighter reduced to what he is now, very tough watching the clips. He was obviously a harsh character, the way he treated dogs is repugnant and leaves me personally not feeling much for the guy as a big dog lover. But those clips of a blind deaf man reduced to the mental age of a five year old, its hard not to sympathies as a human being.

 

I also recall Manny Steward stating he would spar Tommy Hearns with no head gear and walk through his best shots.

 

Not only should he have been counted out after being knocked out of the ring... He "got back into the fight" by using illegal rabbit punches and headbutts. I'd hardly call that deserving of much praise.

 

I did a good bit of research on Kronk fighters and gym wars. From what I read Manny wouldnt let Tommy Gerald or Moorer spar with each other. But who knows

 

I can understand the sentiment but he was in there with a man that was meant to kill him, Benn did anything he could to stay in there out of desparation, other fighters have done similar but nothing is remembered because the circumstances were not the same. Benn got away with it so he did it. if you don't think coming back from that was incredible I dont know what to tell you, in my eyes you have to admire a fighter willing to die in a fight.

 

I admire it when it's done the right way. If I'm in a fist fight, and I'm getting the crap kicked out of me, and I grab a knife and stab the guy... Should I be admired for "staying in the fight and not giving up"? That is essentially what you're saying here. Just because he got away with it, doesn't make it anymore right or something he should be given credit for. He cheated, and dangerously cheated at that, which is something that should be looked down upon not encouraged as some form of bravery. Every fighter who steps in the ring is brave and has courage to do so. Resorting to illegal tactics to get you back into a fight, isn't something I'm going to tell me kids about.