Gerald McClellan

Statistics
Real name	Gerald McClellan
Nickname(s)	The G-Man
Rated at	Middleweight
Nationality
Birth date	October 23, 1967 (1967-10-23) (age 42)
Birth place	Freeport, Illinois
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	34
Wins	31
Wins by KO	29
Losses	3
Draws	0
No contests	0

Gerald McClellan (born October 23, 1967 in Freeport, Illinois) is a former boxer from the United States of America, who was world middleweight champion. McClellan's record as a professional boxer was 31 wins and 3 losses with 29 wins by knockout. He has been rated as #27 on Ring Magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time.

Contents 1 Boxing career 2 Bout with Benn 2.1 Aftermath 2.2 Book 3 Personal 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Boxing career

McClellan became a professional boxer in 1988. Trained by hall of fame trainer Emanuel Steward, he captured the WBO world middleweight championship knocking out John Mugabi in one round in 1991, and the WBC's version by knocking out Julian Jackson in five rounds in 1993. He defended the WBC title three times.

[edit] Bout with Benn

After his middleweight reign, McClellan went up in weight to challenge world Super-Middleweight champion Nigel Benn in London on February 25, 1995. The fight, which is the subject of the forthcoming documentary film directed by Bobby Razak called "Fallen Soldier," ^[1]was watched by an estimated 17 million people on television and 10,300 paying spectators.^[2]

McClellan dropped Benn, who went out of the ring in round one. They continued battling, but the fight had a devastating ending. McClellan, after dropping Benn again in round eight, slumped to one knee in round ten. He took the mandatory eight count, resumed boxing, but almost immediately dropped to his knee for a second time, obviously as a result of some form of unfamiliar and extreme discomfort. He was counted out. He returned to his corner, where he lost consciousness within a short time. McClellan briefly regained consciousness in the ambulance and ripped off his oxygen mask.

[edit] Aftermath

McClellan had emergency surgery to remove a blood clot from his brain. He spent eleven days in a coma and after which, he was found to have suffered extensive brain damage. He lost his eyesight, the ability to walk unassisted and became 80 percent deaf. Sports Illustrated ran an article about the fight and its outcome one week after the fight. McClellan's family flew to be by his side, and later he was flown back to his home country. He has recently recovered some ability to walk, being helped by a cane, but he has not recovered his eyesight. In addition to being blind and almost deaf, his short-term memory was also profoundly affected. His three sisters, particularly Lisa McClellan, are responsible for his care. He has been the honoree at numerous banquets and award ceremonies, and fellow boxing world champion Roy Jones Jr., often pointed as a possible rival during the 1990s,(indeed, McClellan actually beat Jones as an amateur) set up a foundation to help McClellan. Nigel Benn himself has also helped to raise funds for McClellan's treatment, and the two men would meet again for the first time since their bout at a fundraiser held in London on February 24th, 2007. Several items were auctioned off at the event and a total of $175,000 was raised. ^[3]

[edit] Book

The bout was the subject of a book in 2001, written by boxing author Kevin Mitchell titled War, Baby: The Glamour of Violence. In Mitchells words the book is

"the story of what brought these two men together on the night of 25 February 1995 and how that night changed them for ever. It's a story too about those associated with the promotion of public fist-fighting, who bend morality to suit their needs. It's a story that attempts to unravel the glamour of violence".

The book was a finalist in the William Hill Sports Book of the Year category.

[edit] Personal

According to an article in the Observer, McClellan had at one time participated in dog fights.^[4][5]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Professional boxing record for Gerald McClellan from Boxrec
• The Gerald McClellan Trust

Preceded by Chris Eubank Vacated	WBO Middleweight Champion November 20, 1991– 1992	Succeeded by Vacancy filled by Chris Pyatt
Preceded by Julian Jackson	WBC Middleweight Champion May 8, 1993– May 7, 1994	Succeeded by Vacancy filled by Julian Jackson