Quote Originally Posted by Memphis View Post
I understand that its a cultural thing and being around it your more likely to participate than if not in that environment. Still doesnt make it acceptable though, he either choose to torture dogs or he isnt capable of distinguishing between sport and cruelty.

I also dont think anyone wakes up one morning and decides that they are going to become a kiddie fiddler.

Can I be the one who moves this debate away from paedophiles Bad e.g

Box on
Yeah, we can leave the strange uns out of this one

I realise the distaste his actions inspire.

My point is that McClellan was only replicating practice amongst the circles he grew up in.

If you go to a primary school, you'll find kids that swear like sailors.
Parents of the more mannerly may find this unacceptable, but is it the childrens fault that they try to replicate what they think is normal or ok?

My only quarrel is that people say they don't pity him.
How can a boxing fan look at a fallen warrior (good or bad), see his condition and not be saddened?

Quote Originally Posted by Fenster View Post
McClellan wasn't just into dog fighting he was sadistic.

His own relations described him as - frightening and extremely violent.

He would buy dogs from the pet shop, tape their mouths shut and let his pitbull rip them to bits. He shot his dog for losing a fight.

His former coach described the pleasure McClellan got from running over and killing a Flamingo bird at a shopping mall... so much so that he continued to circle the place killing loads of them.

I don't think any of this means he deserved to end up brain damaged. But he was a sicko.
I know it sounds terrible, but thats really common Fenster.
I haven't ever seen it myself, but I've heard of it on several occassions.
I hate to draw the comparison, but its like sparring, you learn and practise the moves without having to fear retribution.

Also his dog; Deuce. In the book "War Baby," it explains that dog was hot becuase of the injuries it sustained in a losing effort.

I heard the Flamingo story and I heard some of his associates claims. They puzzle me as Emmanuel Steward and later Brendan Ingle had good relationships with the man (however brief Brendans was.)
I suppose at home where he was comfortable and less around the business he may have been more true to his own violent ways.

He's certainly violent, Teddy Blackburn depicted his fits of anger, even in his disabilitated state.


I pity him in general, a great athlete felled. A troubled man that was never saved.