Gerald McClellan
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Gerald McClellan (born October 23, 1967 in Freeport, Illinois) is a former boxer from the United States, who was world Middleweight champion. 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.
Ominous signs for his later career were present after the Jackson fight, when he reported subsequently that he suffered significant headache & dizziness. This at the time was dismissed as a consequence of being hit by arguably the hardest puncher in the division at the time. However, significant head injury may already have occurred at that time.
McClellan, nicknamed The G-Man, was considered to be one of the hardest hitters in Middle-weight history. However, tragically, he never realised his initially awesome potential due to a tragedy which struck when McClellan went up in weight to challenge world Super-Middleweight champion Nigel Benn in London on February 25 of 1995.
The weights & tactics for this fight were significant. Benn weighed on the limit of 168, whilst McClellan came in at a surprisingly light 165. When lower weight champions move up a weight to challenge a respected champion without fufilling the available weight category limit, it is usually expected that they will use their likely speed advantage to initially outbox their heavier opponent & perhaps gain a points decision or opportunistic late knockout. McCllelan surprisingly decided to pursue a very aggressive fight from the onset whilst being a significantly smaller man on the scales.
The bold policy almost worked with McClellan dropping Benn out of the ring in round one, but helped back into it by the seated journalists. The time from Benn being knocked down to regaining his feet was 13 seconds, but WBC rule states that a fallen boxer is allowed 20 seconds, rather than the usual 10, if he lands outside the ring.
Televised to the United States by Showtime, the fight had a devastating ending, as McClellan, after dropping Benn again in round eight, took a knee in round ten after being knocked down by a barrage of punches moments earlier by the ferocious Benn. He was counted out, collapsing in his corner and losing consciousness. Referee Alfred Azaro was harshly criticized as inept for the way he handled the fight.
Following the fight McClellan had emergency surgery to remove a bloodclot from his brain. He spent weeks in a coma and once regaining consciousness he had suffered extensive brain damage. He lost his eyesight, ability to walk 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 on, 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, more particularly Lisa McClellan, are responsible for his care nowadays. 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 1980s, set up a foundation to help McClellan.
McClellan's record as a professional boxer was 31 wins and 3 losses with 29 wins by knockout. McClellan's opponents rarely got past the third round.
Less savoury are the allegations of participation in animal cruelty notably dog fighting. As owner and trainer of pitbull dog Deuce, whose likeness is tatooed on his right arm, McClellan is reported to have euthanised the dog after failing to win a fight.
| 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 |
