A Fallen Warrior - Gerald McClellan

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/m.../McClellan.jpg

The world middleweight championship fight between Nigel Benn of England and Gerald McClellan of the United States occurred on February 25, 1995. Almost 14 years since that day. A day that not only changed the lives of both men but of thousands of boxing fans, among them I include myself. The brutal sport of boxing has so many darksides. This particular fight illuminates just how brutal and dangerous boxing can be. I see this event as being one that created a smorgasbord of emotions on many levels and in many arenas. There were the fans of each fighter often divided by the Britain vs United States theme. There were the special interest groups against the violence of boxing that came forward after the fight in numbers to protest. There were the two fighters, one left completely blind and 80% deaf and the other left emotionally scarred and living each day with an internal struggle of why, how and what if. Often I post YouTube videos in threads just for those that might be interested in viewing the material first hand. For this particular story I encourage all that view this compelling human spirit story to view the videos to enhance your interest and understanding of a day that rocked not only boxing but many that loved these two great fighters.

The story of Gerald McClellan appealed to me on many levels. He defeated Roy Jones, Jr. as an amatuer and once he fell under the tutelage of the Kronk gym in Detroit and legendary trainer Emanuel Steward his career soared to new and unprecedented heights. He ended his career 31-3, as a two time world champion and more astonishingly had 20 1st round knockouts that served as evidence of his ferocious knockout power. Today he struggles to gain back what most of us take for granted in his daily life. He cannot see, can barely hear and is permanently brain damaged. His loving sister Lisa McClellan takes care of him mostly with contributions from others. It is odd that no boxers have visited McClellan since this tragedy and only Roy Jones, Jr. has contributed money and asked about him. Today Gerald's world is alone and lost. A fragment of the man that formerly destroyed opponents in the ring.

What is often left out of the conversation when people look back to this fight is Nigel Benn. Benn was a warrior of epic proportions in the ring. He fought all comers and was reknown for wanting to fight the best of his era. He wanted to fight Roy Jones, Jr. so bad during his tenure as champion that he offered to fight the fight for free to make it happen. Benn was a hook specialist. His boxing style was a low to the ground approach that consisted of vicious hooks both inside the clinch and outside it. After the war with McClellan, Benn fought 5 more times losing 3 of them. He claims to have lost his fighting spirit and zest for life in general. He struggled for many years after the fight that changed time for McClellan and himself. He now lives in Spain and is an ordained minister that uses his faith to heal the wounds of this tragedy.

The lesson that can be derived from a tragedy of this nature is for all of us to be compassionate. To somehow understand that anything can happen on any given day that will change our lives forever. This fight has often inspired me to not take anything for granted in my daily life and to appreciate my blessings no matter how small they may appear. Gerald McClellan it would appear has no idea what happened to him. Nigel Benn knows what happened to him and cannot live it down. Life on life's terms can be brutal sometimes. Learn to appreciate the little things.

To contribute to the Gerald McClellan Trust: http://www.geraldmcclellan.com/trust.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGz-unNi1dU

A video of a piece done by Teddy Blackburn, a photographer for SI. It is mostly footage of G-Man today. Not a good thing to see but very realistic in terms of the way boxing can leave some guys. :(

Shame how he turned out but i find it hard to feel sorry for him due to his cruelty to dogs. Sickening really but hey that's Karma i suppose. Great fighter but not a very nice man i'm afraid. Would have loved to see him in with James Toney or Roy Jones.

The dog thing is twisted to put it mildly. In my mind though, what he would've deserved from that was a prison stint - not a life sentence as a brain dead, blind almost deaf vegetable.

What he is experiencing I cannot help but feel "sorry" for. Human nature takes over when the shit hits the fan.

I think a year or two ago, Nigel Benn actually organized a charity event to raise money for McClellan, and it was considered a big success. The dog thing is a more complicated issue than its made out to be. It obviously ain't right, but its also to do with where you grow up, as I know that it goes on round my area. What happened to McClellan was in no way deserved regardless, I don't agree with how animal rights groups continue to send him hate-mail, that to my mind is just disgusting, the guy is in an unimaginable situation

Good stuff.Another case of we'll never know how good or how long he would have exelled save for the tragedy.He had all the makings,freakish frame,tenacity unmatched and was an explosive offensive dynamo.He took alot of heat for his outside of the ring affairs with dogs.I didnt 'know' him as a civilian,that can be a slippery slop with any fighter really.Just as An awesome fighter cut short between the ropes and left to struggle day to day doing things that many take for granted.

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Originally Posted by andykopgod

Shame how he turned out but i find it hard to feel sorry for him due to his cruelty to dogs. Sickening really but hey that's Karma i suppose. Great fighter but not a very nice man i'm afraid. Would have loved to see him in with James Toney or Roy Jones.

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what did he do to dogs may i ask

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what did he do to dogs may i ask

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He was the Micheal Vick of his day - reportedly.

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Originally Posted by DMan37

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what did he do to dogs may i ask

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He was the Micheal Vick of his day - reportedly.

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still not no. who the hell micheal vick. did the g man torture them or like screwing them of something ????

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Originally Posted by paddy448

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Originally Posted by DMan37

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what did he do to dogs may i ask

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He was the Micheal Vick of his day - reportedly.

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still not no. who the hell micheal vick. did the g man torture them or like screwing them of something ????

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He shot dogs, deprived them of the only defence they have (by taping their mouths shut) all in the name of dog fighting. I also read in a thread he went crazy in a car park running flamingos over I think.

I agree with JazMerkin though, you don't just start doing stuff like that. Kids are never born evil, they see what they see and as they say, monkey see monkey do.

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Originally Posted by Kel

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Originally Posted by paddy448

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Originally Posted by DMan37

He was the Micheal Vick of his day - reportedly.

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still not no. who the hell micheal vick. did the g man torture them or like screwing them of something ????

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He shot dogs, deprived them of the only defence they have (by taping their mouths shut) all in the name of dog fighting. I also read in a thread he went crazy in a car park running flamingos over I think.

I agree with JazMerkin though, you don't just start doing stuff like that. Kids are never born evil, they see what they see and as they say, monkey see monkey do.

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dammit man thats screwed up,i dont no where to stand on the whole feelin sorry for gerald shit after that. to me dogs are like humans there family. it hurts to here that shit. maybe karma does exist.

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Originally Posted by Kel

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Originally Posted by paddy448

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Originally Posted by DMan37

He was the Micheal Vick of his day - reportedly.

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still not no. who the hell micheal vick. did the g man torture them or like screwing them of something ????

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He shot dogs, deprived them of the only defence they have (by taping their mouths shut) all in the name of dog fighting. I also read in a thread he went crazy in a car park running flamingos over I think.

I agree with JazMerkin though, you don't just start doing stuff like that. Kids are never born evil, they see what they see and as they say, monkey see monkey do.

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i do agree tho kids are not born evil they see what they see and they do. but shit man thats hard to hear

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Originally Posted by paddy448

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Originally Posted by Kel

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Originally Posted by paddy448

still not no. who the hell micheal vick. did the g man torture them or like screwing them of something ????

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He shot dogs, deprived them of the only defence they have (by taping their mouths shut) all in the name of dog fighting. I also read in a thread he went crazy in a car park running flamingos over I think.

I agree with JazMerkin though, you don't just start doing stuff like that. Kids are never born evil, they see what they see and as they say, monkey see monkey do.

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i do agree tho kids are not born evil they see what they see and they do. but shit man thats hard to hear

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no one is born evil, but you don't have to have some traumatic experience to turn you into a sick fuck like McClellan, hell just cause something is big where you grow up doesn't mean you can't tell right from wrong, hell cock fighting here is LEGAL, and it's part of our culture here in PR, do i agree with it, no, i think it's wrong, and shouldn't be done, but hell to each there own

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Originally Posted by ElTerribleMorales

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Originally Posted by paddy448

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Originally Posted by Kel

He shot dogs, deprived them of the only defence they have (by taping their mouths shut) all in the name of dog fighting. I also read in a thread he went crazy in a car park running flamingos over I think.

I agree with JazMerkin though, you don't just start doing stuff like that. Kids are never born evil, they see what they see and as they say, monkey see monkey do.

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i do agree tho kids are not born evil they see what they see and they do. but shit man thats hard to hear

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no one is born evil, but you don't have to have some traumatic experience to turn you into a sick fuck like McClellan, hell just cause something is big where you grow up doesn't mean you can't tell right from wrong, hell cock fighting here is LEGAL, and it's part of our culture here in PR, do i agree with it, no, i think it's wrong, and shouldn't be done, but hell to each there own

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full stop. what he did is fucked up by any standards.i seen some very messed up shit as a younster but i still no right from wrong . aint karma a mother fuker

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Originally Posted by paddy448

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Originally Posted by ElTerribleMorales

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Originally Posted by paddy448

i do agree tho kids are not born evil they see what they see and they do. but shit man thats hard to hear

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no one is born evil, but you don't have to have some traumatic experience to turn you into a sick fuck like McClellan, hell just cause something is big where you grow up doesn't mean you can't tell right from wrong, hell cock fighting here is LEGAL, and it's part of our culture here in PR, do i agree with it, no, i think it's wrong, and shouldn't be done, but hell to each there own

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full stop. what he did is fucked up by any standards.i seen some very messed up shit as a younster but i still no right from wrong . aint karma a mother fuker

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that's exactly what i'm saying, there's no excuse for what he has done

Gerald is a piece of shit.

All of you in here are ridiculous for talking shit on thsi guy for something you have no idea about.

First of all, what's terrible to you isn't terrible to others. I think a lot of this stuff is so overblown. First of all, pit bulls fight that is what pitbulls do it is their nature and if it wasn't primal to them.

I don't even know if I believe the stories of him feeding his dogs other dogs. That is something animal rights activist put out there a lot and a lot of times it's just not true. People speaking without an understanding for the sport. If that's true then that's a shame because it's well documented that that has nothing to do with making a better dog and it is probably detrimental to the dog. The best dog in a dog fight isn't the dog that kills the other one fastest because they aren't fights to the death. They are fights until one decides it doesn't want to fight anymore.

How the hell can you blame an athlete for getting into dogfighting and call him a piece of shit? McClellan literally fought to the death almost or right to the brink of it. How hard is it to see what he got out of dogfighting? He was a living dogfighter, how can you say he's a piece of shit for dogfighting? That's unbelievable how some of you have the gall to be so judgementa.

For the record: None of the dog fighting stories involving McClellan have ever been confirmed. In other words, no one has stepped forward and given their account of how it went down with Gerald involved. And although I do believe McClellan was involved in pit fighting and I do not condone that activity. As a human being I cannot find it in my heart to somehow relate that activity with his tragic fall from grace via permanent injury.

To those of you that believe Karma is involved here: Be careful what you wish. Anyone who seeks wrong in a situation can find it. In this situation, once Gerald became a vegetable it became a moot point. NO ONE DESERVES to suffer in the way he is for any act committed by human hands in my opinion.

If in fact he did commit a heinous act(s) with dogs then he deserved to be dealt with in a court of law. To hope or believe he is paying via karma is sick and twisted in my opinion. When I posted this pieice I did so knowledgeable of McClellan's involvement with dogs. I purposely left it out because frankly it has nothing to do with him today.

Do I think the man should be honored as a human being for his accomplishments? No.
Do I think the man should be still criticized now 14 years after he fought nearly to death? No.

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Originally Posted by amat

All of you in here are ridiculous for talking shit on thsi guy for something you have no idea about.

First of all, what's terrible to you isn't terrible to others. I think a lot of this stuff is so overblown. First of all, pit bulls fight that is what pitbulls do it is their nature and if it wasn't primal to them.

I don't even know if I believe the stories of him feeding his dogs other dogs. That is something animal rights activist put out there a lot and a lot of times it's just not true. People speaking without an understanding for the sport. If that's true then that's a shame because it's well documented that that has nothing to do with making a better dog and it is probably detrimental to the dog. The best dog in a dog fight isn't the dog that kills the other one fastest because they aren't fights to the death. They are fights until one decides it doesn't want to fight anymore.

How the hell can you blame an athlete for getting into dogfighting and call him a piece of shit? McClellan literally fought to the death almost or right to the brink of it. How hard is it to see what he got out of dogfighting? He was a living dogfighter, how can you say he's a piece of shit for dogfighting? That's unbelievable how some of you have the gall to be so judgementa.

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No they dont
Pit Bulls used to be the symbol of this country,my Pit bulls nature is to hog half the bed and be afraid of my cats,oh yeah and to be a serviceable pillow
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j1.../HPIM02912.jpg

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Originally Posted by DMan37

For the record: None of the dog fighting stories involving McClellan have ever been confirmed. In other words, no one has stepped forward and given their account of how it went down with Gerald involved.

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Those stories come from McClellan's former coach Stan Johnson and his cousin Donnie Penelton ;)

Okay, so he wasn't a very nice man ...... most professional athletes (especially those from very poor backgrounds) are not. That's partially what makes them such tough competitors.

I was there at the Benn/McClellan fight. A hell of a war.

There is fair degree of revionism going on though, people have since said that benn only won by cheating, by fouling or by having the referee in his pocket. Bullshit.

McClellan was a decent fighter, who could bang a bit in the early rounds. He was not going to be the second coming of Marvin Hagler .... he lost his knockout power after the fifth round generally, his defense wasn't great and he always was open to being hit himself. Exciting, yes ..... great, no.

look its a trajedy what happened to him. but if the stories of the dogs are true then i lose respect for any human being no matter what fucking state there in.i aint gonna turned a blind eye coz they a fucking vegtable

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Originally Posted by X

Okay, so he wasn't a very nice man ...... most professional athletes (especially those from very poor backgrounds) are not. That's partially what makes them such tough competitors.

I was there at the Benn/McClellan fight. A hell of a war.

There is fair degree of revionism going on though, people have since said that benn only won by cheating, by fouling or by having the referee in his pocket. Bullshit.

McClellan was a decent fighter, who could bang a bit in the early rounds. He was not going to be the second coming of Marvin Hagler .... he lost his knockout power after the fifth round generally, his defense wasn't great and he always was open to being hit himself. Exciting, yes ..... great, no.

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31 Wins
29 Knockouts
20 - 1st Round knockouts

Just the above alone proved he was a great knockout artist. He had it all in the ring. I think the only thing that did not occur was for him to have a chance to fight more guys. Ask Julian Jackson if he can fight?

As far as the comparison to Hagler. He was more of a Hearns than a Hagler.

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Originally Posted by paddy448

look its a trajedy what happened to him. but if the stories of the dogs are true then i lose respect for any human being no matter what fucking state there in.i aint gonna turned a blind eye coz they a fucking vegtable

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Nor am I "turning a blind eye." It boils down to human compassion.

I have it. Some don't.

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Originally Posted by Fenster

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Originally Posted by DMan37

For the record: None of the dog fighting stories involving McClellan have ever been confirmed. In other words, no one has stepped forward and given their account of how it went down with Gerald involved.

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Those stories come from McClellan's former coach Stan Johnson and his cousin Donnie Penelton ;)

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Dog fighting was then and is now a crime in the USA. In 1860 most states in the US made it illegal and in 1976 it became outlawed in the United States. No one ever came forward and made an official statement to have him charged with the crime. Many people make allegations through the media everyday that are not true.

I'm not defending Gerald. Just stating the fact that if he committed a crime perhaps someone should have charged him with it.

Donnie Penelton -- ugh!

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Originally Posted by X

Okay, so he wasn't a very nice man ...... most professional athletes (especially those from very poor backgrounds) are not. That's partially what makes them such tough competitors.

I was there at the Benn/McClellan fight. A hell of a war.

There is fair degree of revionism going on though, people have since said that benn only won by cheating, by fouling or by having the referee in his pocket. Bullshit.

McClellan was a decent fighter, who could bang a bit in the early rounds. He was not going to be the second coming of Marvin Hagler .... he lost his knockout power after the fifth round generally, his defense wasn't great and he always was open to being hit himself. Exciting, yes ..... great, no.

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Good call with 'cheating' and revisionist stuff.That shite boggles my mind.He was back in within the extended count in the first round.Alot was made of rabbit punching but we're not sipping tea in there.McClellan was leaning in quite a bit to contribute.

McClellan was hittable,it was just weathering his explosive offence to get there.I dont think we'll ever know how great he may or may not have been.I think alot is made about fighters outside of the ring,when your in the public eye,you subject yourself to it.I see it as a slippery slope.I'd venture to say that if you dug long and deep enough,we could find very unsavory and questionable happenings with many past & present.

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Originally Posted by amat

All of you in here are ridiculous for talking shit on thsi guy for something you have no idea about.

First of all, what's terrible to you isn't terrible to others. I think a lot of this stuff is so overblown. First of all, pit bulls fight that is what pitbulls do it is their nature and if it wasn't primal to them.

I don't even know if I believe the stories of him feeding his dogs other dogs. That is something animal rights activist put out there a lot and a lot of times it's just not true. People speaking without an understanding for the sport. If that's true then that's a shame because it's well documented that that has nothing to do with making a better dog and it is probably detrimental to the dog. The best dog in a dog fight isn't the dog that kills the other one fastest because they aren't fights to the death. They are fights until one decides it doesn't want to fight anymore.

How the hell can you blame an athlete for getting into dogfighting and call him a piece of shit? McClellan literally fought to the death almost or right to the brink of it. How hard is it to see what he got out of dogfighting? He was a living dogfighter, how can you say he's a piece of shit for dogfighting? That's unbelievable how some of you have the gall to be so judgementa.

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dogs are like people in the fact that, they come out they way you raise them, if you treat the dog like shit, and train it to kill then that's why it'll do it, why? to please you, it's master, dogfighting is not a natural or positive thing you sick shit, they're animals, they fight not because they like it, but more out of feeling threatened, territory, or fear, it's fucked up and his sick ass just like Vick deserve everything that happens to them, people back in Mayan civilization all the way to today in indian tribes in the amazon practice sacrifices so hell why does murder count as a crime?

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Originally Posted by ElTerribleMorales

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Originally Posted by amat

All of you in here are ridiculous for talking shit on thsi guy for something you have no idea about.

First of all, what's terrible to you isn't terrible to others. I think a lot of this stuff is so overblown. First of all, pit bulls fight that is what pitbulls do it is their nature and if it wasn't primal to them.

I don't even know if I believe the stories of him feeding his dogs other dogs. That is something animal rights activist put out there a lot and a lot of times it's just not true. People speaking without an understanding for the sport. If that's true then that's a shame because it's well documented that that has nothing to do with making a better dog and it is probably detrimental to the dog. The best dog in a dog fight isn't the dog that kills the other one fastest because they aren't fights to the death. They are fights until one decides it doesn't want to fight anymore.

How the hell can you blame an athlete for getting into dogfighting and call him a piece of shit? McClellan literally fought to the death almost or right to the brink of it. How hard is it to see what he got out of dogfighting? He was a living dogfighter, how can you say he's a piece of shit for dogfighting? That's unbelievable how some of you have the gall to be so judgementa.

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dogs are like people in the fact that, they come out they way you raise them, if you treat the dog like shit, and train it to kill then that's why it'll do it, why? to please you, it's master, dogfighting is not a natural or positive thing you sick shit, they're animals, they fight not because they like it, but more out of feeling threatened, territory, or fear, it's fucked up and his sick ass just like Vick deserve everything that happens to them, people back in Mayan civilization all the way to today in indian tribes in the amazon practice sacrifices so hell why does murder count as a crime?

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I relate, understand and am just generally with any thinking that denounces dog fighting and all that it represents. However, I think "dog fighting" and "unfortunate human" stories are separate and must remain that.

I am of the opinion that Gerald McClellan is not a vegetable because of karma. He is a fallen warrior that paid the ultimate price for his willingness to expose himself to danger in the ring.