How good would Gerald McClellan be

Maybe take another look. Faded Jackson, nah, he was still pretty solid. Mclellan was just a puppy in this fight, and showed some decent ring generalship. Forgot Mclellan beat Jones Jr in the Golden gloves as well.
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyfXe3Nxkvo[/ame]

 

Keep in mind guys, Mclellan was only 25 26 at the time, he didnt have a lot of huge fights, but he was performing quite well in the ones he did. Beating a guy like Jackson and almost wiping the floor with Benn, was a pretty good start into the top echelon of the division. Its just as ridiculous to say he wouldnt have gone anywhere if he kept fighting, as it is to say he would have been successful had he not gotten disabled by Benn.

 

Amateur means nothing when it comes to judging a pro fighter, otherwise Larry Holmes and David Tua would be regarded as chinny.

 

Yes but he beat Roy Jones. In any universe and under any circumstances that pretty impressive. Has nothing to do with chins

 

In general, the few slips and jabs GMAn implemented to stay at midrange really aren't that much of an indication to his supposed untapped talent for anything other than slugging.

 

Well, I suppose we'll never really know will we? But I do think it's more logical to assume that he would have gone downhill. Whatever skills he did have underwent a gradual regression from the time he left Steward, leaving him as one-dimensional bomber around the time of the Benn fight. Had he emerged unscathed, I suspect that the loss would have permanently taken something from him anyway; beatings like that usually do. As people have already said, that kind of weight cutting was going to spell trouble sooner or later.

I suppose he could have jumped up in weight and picked up a better trainer to sharpen up his skills. But moving up in weight or fighting beyond Benn would have meant him coming across the likes of Jones, Hill, Michalszewksi, Calzaghe or Griffin, none of whom he would have beaten IMO.

Either way, you're entitled to your opinion mate; agree to disagree and all that.

 

Henry Tillman beat Tyson in the amateurs. We all know what happened in the pro's.

 

Yes, a prime Jackson was a monster. A faded Jackson was, as you said, "pretty solid". He was also smaller and less durable than McClellan, which puts pretty much all the odds in favor of McClellan in a punch-out.

And if beating a teenage Roy Jones Jr. in the Golden Gloves is worthy of being mentioned among his biggest achievements, I'd say it's clear why many find him overrated.

There was nothing particularly impressive about the clip you posted, either. He was moving a bit (Jackson was never the best ring general himself, in fact it would've been one of his biggest weaknesses) and keeping the fight at his own pace, but his offensive output consisted of pawing out a jab followed by a lunging right hand, and then clinching.

 

I agree with you about the effects of a beating like that, but what if the fight with Benn was stopped in the first round and it could have been? Its kind of hard to make that statement about him becoming a one dimensional banger, when he went on to have all first round knockouts after the Jackson fight. Gerald liked to start fast and test his opponents chin and it worked.
You really think Griffen could stand up to Mclellans power? I dont think Hill would have made it past four. I dont know how proven Michalzewski and Calzahge were at the time either, especially Calzahge. I think he would be a live dog in all those fights. Jones and Toney would have given him hell. He would have never faced Hopkins, because he stayed at middle.

 

Hill gets a bit of a bum rap for losing to Hearns and getting KO'd by one of the best body shots this side of Palomino-Stracey. He was a good fighter. And I'm talking about McClellan getting Calzaghe or DM around '98 or so. Griffin outboxed Jones for 8 rounds, was an effective stylist with a good defense and had a true master in his corner, who would've known exactly how to deal with McClellan. His toughness and power make him a live body though.

I still feel comfy calling him a one-dimensional banger. By the standards of some of his contemporaries, he was a caveman. And not just in the ring.

 

All this what if Morales/McClellan boxed instead of brawling is a bit romaticised. Neither had particularly good defenses and McClellan wasnt that good on the inside as Benn showed up, although Benn was a monster of an inside fighter

 

No SMW in history was taking Benn out that night

 

Those men may have outboxed him, but not easily, for 1 hes faster than Toney/Hopkins with a better jab. Eubank post-Watson may lose a decision he isnt bringing the same power or pressure as Benn.

I'd put money on McClellan KTFO out of Calzaghe though, Calzaghe was always open to right hands and the GMAN has the best 168lb right hand of all time

 

Griffen was bombed out in one in the return by a Roy Jones trying to do a Gerald Mclellan.:hey Griffens chin would have been his downfall early as would Hills who I also highly rate as a good boxer.
Cant really agree on Calzahge and DM though. DM especially who would have been right there to tee off on.

 

agreed, on that night Nigel Benn would of given any supermiddleweight in history (excluded Roy Jones) hell