Anyone see the fights he lost against Dennis Milton and Ralph Ward? Kind of surprising he lost to two guys like that, but I don't know the circumstances.
I have not seen them but I don't think it is that surprising. In the past great fighters would lose the odd fight on the way up, often to inferior opponents that they learned from. It is only with the recent obsession with the "0" that everyone panics when we see a fighter we admire losing to a journeyman. Read the book War, Baby by Kevin Mitchell as it gives a good account of Gerald's early career. The book implies The G-man was just out boxed due to the weak level of competition up to that point. He had just bowled everyone over and when he didn't blow these two out he didn't have a plan B. Needless to say he learned from his mistakes and became an excellent champ. I think more young fighters could do with a few losses early, get it out of the way, and it shows you fought someone who tested you on your way up.
TBH though McClellan's opposition was very weak overall apart from beating a faded Julian Jackson who had detached retina.
