Originally Posted by
WWatt
(copied and pasted from another forum)
RJJ: "Yeah, McClellan would be interesting. He hits harder than anyone else."
Q: "You think he'll beat Nigel Benn in London?"
RJJ: "Yeah, I think McClellan beats Benn. But, maybe, just maybe, its gonna be tighter than some people expect. Nigel's a real warrior, he can still bang abit-and I think McClellans jaw is kind of suspect when he gets tagged..."
Q: "But can Benns own chin absorb too many McClellan punches?"
RJJ: "No, probably not. Eventualy, Benn will go..."
Q: "Which will leave McClellan calling even louder for you..."
RJJ: "Sure, he knows that I'm the guy who'll earn him some real money."
Q: "What do you think of him outside the ring ?"
RJJ: "I like Gerald McClellan - he's an okay sort of guy. He's quieter than Toney. He also likes big dogs. We've known each other for a long time..."
Q: "What happened when you fought - back in the amateurs, when he beat you?"
RJJ: "Well, i dont worry about that. It was just before the Olympics.I was already set for a spot on the team and the selection committee were determined that the other place was gonna go to Ray McElroy. So in the National Golden Gloves i fought Gerald in the semis and they gave him a 3-2 decision. Then they gifted the decision to McElroy in the final. That's amateur politics. So I just said to Gerald after we fought, 'Okay, good fight, we'll do it again one day'...
Q: "Did he have alot of power-even then?"
RJJ: "Oh yeah-he's always had alot of power. He hits real hard. But Id fight him just the same as I fought Toney. I wont just be standing there waiting to be hit. i'll move, I'll give him all kinds of cute angles, i'll give him a sample of my own strength. He cant soak up the kind of punches I throw. I think he'd go four, maybe five rounds and then he'd be knocked out."
Q: "But McClellan seems to believe that he's the best guy out there..."
RJJ: "Yes, its interesting. I reckon he really does think he can beat me. But then so did James Toney. Those guys have their self-belief-thats what makes them the best guys to fight against. But, I dont see no problem with Gerald McClellan-hes just another fighter Ill beat. Sure, Gerald McClellans a good boxer. Sure, Gerald McClellan can knock anybody out. But, after four rounds, Roy Jones kills Gerald McClellan. The guy I might have a problem with is Eubank, Chris is scarier to me, he admits id be a handful for him and i dont like that attitude, i prefer the over-confident type. Eubanks aint as arrogant as its percieved..."
Q: "People say your unorthodox, but Eubank probably has the most unorthodox style out there doesn't he?"
RJJ: "I know before the fight how to beat Gerald McClellan, but i wont know how to beat Chris Eubank until during the fight! Ive already worked out how to beat McClellan, but with Chris Eubank i think id have to work it out during the fight. He says id bring the best out of him and thats a scarey thought, because he usually fights about 50% of what he can do, he holds back so much because as long as his pay cheques keep coming in thats all he cares for really. What's even scarier though is he'd bring the best out of me, like Gerald McClellan would. Eubank's the big pay day but also the guy i might have a problem with, he does hate the game but the thing is the guys got alot of pride. i still dont know if he'd take the fight because he wants to retire undefeated and get one up on boxing. If he fought me, he knows he wont be retiring with his wealth and health intact, cos even if he remained undefeated his health wouldn't be intact."
James Toney....
JT: "Nigel was knocked out in the first round. Gerald whipped his a** but the ref gave him so much time to recover. If that didnt happen, Gerald wouldnt be in the position hes in today. Gerald and me would've had a superfight."
Q: "Were you a friend of Gerald?"
JT: "No, never. Me and Gerald never got along. Im sad what happened to him. I feel for the man. But I gotta say that i never liked Gerald. He used to say he beat my a** in the gym at Kronk. That aint true! I was the one who was staying close to him and firing back more, he didnt like it up close and personal. Ive got the video tapes to prove it. When we get home i'll dig them out and i'll show you how I mastered Gerald McClellan!"
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