Gerald McClellan

Infobox_Boxer|name=Gerald McClellan


realname=Gerald McClellan
nickname= The G-Man
weight=Middleweight
nationality=flagicon|USA
birth_date=Birth date and age|1967|10|23|mf=y
death_date=-
birth_place=Freeport, Illinois
home=
style=Orthodox
total=34
wins=31
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.

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.

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," [http://www.prnewsnow.com/Public_Release/Art_And_Entertainment/207343.html] was watched by an estimated 17 million people on television and 10,300 paying spectators. [ [http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/sport/boxing/tm_headline=benn-bids-to-boost-gerald&method=full&objectid=18639999&siteid=62484-name_page.html Benn Bids to Boost Gerald] ]

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 was counted out and collapsed in his corner.

Aftermath

McClellan had emergency surgery to remove a bloodclot from his brain. He spent weeks in a coma and once regaining consciousness 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, 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. [ [http://www.geraldmcclellan.co.uk/ http://www.geraldmcclellan.co.uk/ ] ]

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.

References

External links

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* [http://www.geraldmcclellan.com/contact.html The Gerald McClellan Trust]