Dark Destroyer vs the G man rematch

[likeamulekick]

I know its a terrible tragedy but the fight was epic and Benn still deserved the win but if there were a rematch with both men healthy and in Mccellans hometown, would Benn not do so well?

[Weebler I]

There was no question of either fighter being healthy after that bout. Benn's career survived, but he was only half the fighter.

Benn travelled pretty well, see the Doug DeWitt and Iran Barkley bouts although it should be acknowledged the ref's conduct was questionable in the first round of the McClellan fight (albeit GM should have did what he was asked).

[Sugarj]

I know its a terrible tragedy but the fight was epic and Benn still deserved the win but if there were a rematch with both men healthy and in Mccellans hometown, would Benn not do so well?

If you take the two controversies of the fight away;

Namely 1) The fussy ref in round one, and 2) The rumour that McClellan's brain injuries were started in the Julian Jackson bouts,

then any unbiased viewer can see the major flaw in McClellan's game, which was that his defence was very weak. His ability to slip or block punches was non existent!

Benn had a very good round 2; it was surprising how many of his hooks were catching McClellan flush.

McClellan, seemed to show first signs of a brain injury around round 6. his erratic blinking and strange gumshield mannerisms should have sent warning signs.....but even then he nearly stopped Benn in round 8. That said, even with the knockdowns the points were close at the time of stoppage.....and correctly so, I think Benn would have taken a close decision if there was no injury.

Injuries aside, McClellan could have become one of the finest pound for pound boxers in the world at that time; but I don't think that he'd have beaten the likes of Toney or Jones Jnr without a better defensive game.

[U_TALKING_2_ME?]

Out of all of the great fights I have seen in my over 35 years of watching boxing I have only watched that Terrific and horrifying fight once.

It was a magnificent showing of heart, skill and savagery, but I can not get the sight of The G Man trying to adjust his nose with a puzzled look after the fight out of my mind.

You could tell he knew something was terribly wrong, and seeing that bothers me greatly.

Maybe I'm soft or call me what you will but I can't even think about that fight without feeling some form of sadness.

And Benn and The G Man were two of my favorites.

[Cardinal Buck]

McClellan, seemed to show first signs of a brain injury around round 6. his erratic blinking and strange gumshield mannerisms should have sent warning signs.....but even then he nearly stopped Benn in round 8. That said, even with the knockdowns the points were close at the time of stoppage.....and correctly so, I think Benn would have taken a close decision if there was no injury.

Injuries aside, McClellan could have become one of the finest pound for pound boxers in the world at that time; but I don't think that he'd have beaten the likes of Toney or Jones Jnr without a better defensive game.

If you've seen their sparring footage, it shows that James pretty much had gerald's number.

[Sugarj]

If you've seen their sparring footage, it shows that James pretty much had gerald's number.

No surprise there. James had the chin to take heavyweight wallops too......

There was so much to like about McClellan though:

1) His sheer power, particularly in his straight punches
2) Aggression
3) Terrific chin
4) Fighting heart
5) Nice combination puncher

It really was only his defence that was the issue; but he'd have had other superb fights in the 90s if he hadn't been so badly injured against Benn.

[ShoulderRoll]

English refs anger me to this day because of that fight. How are you going to give Nigel Benn a long count and allow him to continue and then stop the Malik Scott-Chisora fight without giving a proper 10 count?

Horribly inconsistent and unprofessional.

[likeamulekick]

English refs anger me to this day because of that fight. How are you going to give Nigel Benn a long count and allow him to continue and then stop the Malik Scott-Chisora fight without giving a proper 10 count?

Horribly inconsistent and unprofessional.

he wasn't English I think, not sure if he could even speak it, except maybe "touch gloves" nothing wrong with English refs, what about joe cortez, hes made loads of bad errors

[ShoulderRoll]

"English ref" meaning the refs that are assigned to major fights in England. My beef isn't because of their nationality but because of the dodgy behavior they display at times.

[Cardinal Buck]

English refs anger me to this day because of that fight. How are you going to give Nigel Benn a long count and allow him to continue and then stop the Malik Scott-Chisora fight without giving a proper 10 count?

Horribly inconsistent and unprofessional.

He gave a 20 count bc benn fell out of the ring.