He didn't have the talent or skill set of Hearns. Sure he had huge power but Hearns was a lot more then just a huge puncher he had one of the best jabs you'll see plus he was accurate, great timing and he could box on the back foot well. Gerald would have done well but still would have been off Hearns level.
I think we saw enough his ability, and certainly his fighting heart. Im not so sure he was "very" flawed either.
He was flawed; that much should be apparent. Benn hit him at will and won most of the rounds that he didn't get knocked down in. The type of boxer-puncher that some people label him as would never have taken that much unnecessary leather. And a better finisher would have taken Benn out in much clearer and decisive fashion.
We saw enough of his ability, yes. The abilities didn't show much potential as far as his boxing intuitiveness went, though. Post-Steward he deteriorated into a blood-thirsty power puncher, who was indeed very flawed. With Steward he at least had the makings of a quality boxer-puncher, but who knows how far that would've went? He just didn't have the intelligence to put it all together.
I don't think Gerald was that much better than a flawed massive puncher like Don Lee, who nobody ever goes on about.His durability put him a notch or two above guys like that but not too much.
What about the leather he threw!? He was gassed out after throwing that many power shots. A better finisher? He was one of the best finishers, youve got to be kidding? It was more Nigels Benn's incredible will to continue more than anything, and most fighters wouldnt have made it through that barrage, or had the type of time to continue that Benn had.
He was a good finisher because of his power, against lesser opponents who simply were unable to deal with it. Against stronger willed and stronger skilled fighters I doubt simply winging out power bombs would finish the deed, as Benn proved. The man was very flawed technically. He backed away completely wide open time and again against Benn, only to be tagged at damn near every opportunity. Benn's hands may as well have been surgically plastered to his face. His defense was very poor, that much is obvious for anyone who actually analyzes his fights. He overextended his missed punches (particularly that right hand) so much that it further exacerbated this flaw by putting him in a perfect position to be countered. He was a bomber post-Steward, albeit a very tough one. He was no boxer.
Wow, did you watch the first Jackson fight? Your using the Benn fight as a baromoter? The mans brain was frying before our eyes. Kind of hard to use that as an example. He had two unmotivated back to back losses, but other than that, he was moving up the ladder quite well as champion. The Benn fight was one of the strangest fights Ive ever seen, and I dont think you can come to any conclusions based off of that fight, where he started blinking repeatedly and something was clearly wrong shortly after he completely shot his load in the opening round. Like I said, the ref could have easily stepped in and stopped it after Benn went flying through the ropes, and then things could have been different.
I believe he could of been one of the greats he reminded me of a young Tommy Hearns not as great of course but they had similarties.
The Benn fight is the only fight we CAN use as a barometer, if anything. Jackson was always susceptible to fellow punchers even in his prime, which was years gone by by the time McClellan came along; he was also up on two scorecards in the first fight if I remember rightly. Other than the shadow of John Mugabi, who had already been bombed out by Norris, and Sanderline Williams, his record is empty. And his brain was frying owing to the fact that he was practically a cruiserweight who had no business fighting at the weight he was at. It would have done nothing to prove anything if the fight had been stopped when Benn went through the ropes, other than that McClellan had a big punch. Which everybody knows and acknowledges. It's his technical skills, level of opposition and short shelf-life that come under question, and rightfully so. And wasn't Benn allowed the correct amount of time to re-enter the ring when such an incident occurs. Something like 20 seconds?
bigger no. better to some extent yes. better than hopkins for sure. and a fight with roy he deserved.
Yes, and nothing he did in that fight goes against what I said. He bombed Jackson out in the mid rounds. Jackson actually did quite well during the rounds leading up to the KO as well, mainly because of McClellan's lack of defense and plan B. His superior size, strength, and durability are what won him out against a faded Jackson.
Jones, Hopkins and Toney would have ****ing schooled him. I also think Eubank would've had enough to take him, as would Watson, provided McClellan didn't land a hail mary. I'd even take the old McCallum over him.