Fight of Their Lives : Benn v McClellan - ITV1 5th December

[Memphis]

I remember reading about Gerald's interest in dog fighting a while back. To hear that he taped up a labradors mouth and set his pitbull on it is fucking unforgivable. Although you're heart goes out to him it kind of makes you think 'what goes around comes around'.

His sister is an AMAZING person though and didn't deserve to be thrust into the role of a 24/7 carer. I thought her story should have been dug into a little deeper.

Great doc though. ITV docs are usually crap but this one was a cut above

I have to say I completely agree. My sympathy for McClellan disappeared when I heard about the dog fighting (and I heard about it years ago)

Didnt know about the dog incident, being a dog owner, Karma is a wonderful thing

It is sad what happened to Gerrard, but he was not a nice person outside of the ring prior to injury.

[Master]

Benn was at his peak, he had grown into the super middleweight, had a good defence in his head movement (which bemused Eubanks the second time they fought), was more relaxed and experienced in the ring and could box when required. He was a soldier and had the discipline to train hard (and not use drugs) and come back from knock downs in the 1st and 8th rounds.

Did not realise Lennox was in the crowd but Bruno certainly became a friend afterwards.

I think a factor that he was with Don King and was not making enough money resulted in him leaving Manny Steward. As vicious as McClellan was he had no plan B, inexperienced team around him that he had to tie his own hands. Stan Johnson knows deep down that he could have stopped the fight and that he was the most responsible person for allowing it to continue to the extent that he had to see a psychiatrist.

I do not think the injury could have been prevented at the time only with hindsight could people says things could have been done differently to minimise the effects. Signs of mouth guard dangling out of his mouth, excessive blinking, complaints of headaches and being knocked out by Montell are clear signs that Gerald was in distress but I do not think it was enough to stop the fight at anytime because there would be more out roar if it was. Think Gerald was winning the fight at the time.

The impact of that fight affected Benn as well and did not realise he tried to commit suicide. The 2007 fundraising event was a great thing arranged by Kevin Luishing and it allowed Benn to meet Gerald for the first time. That was really moving, Gerald could not look at Benn but instead talked to hi sister and said “does he look sad”, Benn was in tears at the time. His sister also said she found a sense of peace at that moment because she realised it had affected Benn and that what he said immediately after the fight was adrenalin and bravado talking.

[Howlin Mad Missy]

Menphis same as now nothing changed that much Scans were in then.

Cheers mate. So he would have had an MRI scan?

Off topic but how did the Barrera Lloyd fight go ahead if he had a plate in his bonce and went through an MRI? No one apprently knew about it until much later is the story.

I assume he would have gone through his major checks abroad and got the once over by a UK board doctor pre-fight

[Scrap]

Memphis, Suppose they let Him through on the American Tests, Funny old Game

[Memphis]

Memphis, Suppose they let Him through on the American Tests, Funny old Game

Cheers mate, Ive sent you a PM on this so Im clear about it without rattling on in public

[ICB]

I heard Gerald McClellan's sparring session's used to be brutal, and getting hit in the head by someone like Julian Jackson doesn't help either. I remember him hitting Gerald McClellan right on the button with a right hand, that made a loud thumping noise pretty scary.

[Master]

I heard Gerald McClellan's sparring session's used to be brutal, and getting hit in the head by someone like Julian Jackson doesn't help either. I remember him hitting Gerald McClellan right on the button with a right hand, that made a loud thumping noise pretty scary.

Yes Jackson was cracking his head for 3 rounds and was winning until the headbutt.

[Howlin Mad Missy]

Memphis, Suppose they let Him through on the American Tests, Funny old Game

Cheers mate, Ive sent you a PM on this so Im clear about it without rattling on in public

where are you going with this?

[smashup]

Memphis, Suppose they let Him through on the American Tests, Funny old Game

Cheers mate, Ive sent you a PM on this so Im clear about it without rattling on in public

where are you going with this?

It's all hindsight and yes im an expert on this matter

Benn battered him into submission end of..

[Master]

ITV4 9pm Monday extended version.

[Beanz]

Great Documentary. Had to laugh at Big Frank ringside in his shite suit, and his comment that he was so into the fight he wouldn't have noticed if Mickey Mouse and Batman had been sat either side of him. If you put Frank Warren and particularly Don King in a comic most people would think you were exaggerating a bit. Compelling fight and great piece of film making. The choice of Referee was a joke, and his interpretation of the being knocked out of the ring, 20 second count, seemed to be a crucial factor in allowing Benn long enough to get through the ropes. As for Mcellan's so called trainer Stan Dickwad or whatever he was called, he was completely wrong, it is not only the reff's job to end a fight. You as a trainer should know your fighter better than anyone and the opportunity to throw in the towel and pull your man out is provided for in the rules. A true fighter ain't gonna quit, so it becomes the trainers job to prevent him putting himself of the way of irreparable damage. Mcellan took a knee because he was massively damaged, albeit internally and the trainer wussed out on his responsibility. Benn's courage was also remarkable ,not a naturally gifted boxer he more than made up for any technical deficit with tons of heart.