Gerald McClellan

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Gerald Allen McClellan (born October 23, 1967) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1988 to 1995. He is a two-time middleweight world champion, having held the WBO title from 1991 to 1992, and the WBC title from 1993 to 1995. McClellan was forced to retire from boxing after a severe brain injury suffered during his final fight in 1995, a loss to WBC super middleweight champion Nigel Benn.

Known for his formidable punching power and one of the highest 1st-round-knockout ratios in the history of boxing, McClellan was dubbed "a miniature Mike Tyson" by his promoter, Don King (Tyson himself, while incarcerated, reportedly called McClellan "the best fighter in the world").[1] The Ring magazine rated McClellan No. 27 on their list of the "100 Greatest Punchers Of All Time".[2] In 2007, McClellan was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in California, not to be confused with the more widely recognized International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota.

Amateur career

As an amateur, McClellan was a four-time Wisconsin Golden Gloves champion, 1984–1987, competing mostly in the junior middleweight division.[3]

Highlights

National Golden Gloves (147 lbs), Little Rock, Arkansas, March 1985:

  • 1/4: Lost to Roy Richie DQ 3

U.S. Olympic Festival (156 lbs), Houston, Texas, July 1986:

Template:Gold1 U.S. National Championships (156 lbs), Buffalo, New York, March–April 1987:

  • 1/4: Defeated Keith Graves by unanimous decision, 5–0
  • 1/2: Defeated Kevin Grantham by unanimous decision, 5–0
  • Finals: Defeated Tim Littles by unanimous decision, 5–0

U.S. Olympic Festival (156 lbs), Raleigh, North Carolina, July 1987:

  • 1/2: Lost to Ray McElroy by split decision, 2–3

| class="col-break col-break-2" | Pan Am Box-offs (156 lbs), International Center of the Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, Colorado, July 1987:

U.S. National Championships (156 lbs), Olympic Sports Center, Colorado Springs, Colorado, March 1988:

  • 1/8: Defeated Scott Felde RSC 2 (2:03)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • 1/4: Lost to Johnny Tapia DQ 2

National Golden Gloves (156 lbs), Omaha, Nebraska, May 1988:

  • 1/4: Defeated David Gamble KO 2
  • 1/2: Defeated Roy Jones Jr. by split decision, 3–2
  • Finals: Lost to Ray McElroy by split decision, 2–3

He trained with Kronk Gym being trained by Emanuel Steward.[1] After turning pro, he also fought out of a Palmer Park gym run by Sugar Ray Leonard.[4]

Professional career

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"He seems like dynamo."

—Mike Tyson speaks on McClellan.[5]

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McClellan turned professional in 1988. Trained by hall of fame trainer Emanuel Steward, his early career was notable for a propensity for quick victories by knockout: only two of his first 29 fights went beyond the third round, although he lost both of those on the scorecard (in 6 rounds against Dennis Milton, 8 against Ralph Ward, in successive fights.) However, these proved only a momentary check on his career.

In 1991 he captured the vacant WBO middleweight title by knocking out John Mugabi in one round. A planned defence against Tyrone Trice set for July 23, 1992 didn't happen and he spend the year in non title bouts at super middleweight before vacating the belt to get his shot at the WBC middleweight title[6]

Middleweight champion

Template:Main article On May 8, 1993 McClellan became middleweight champion by knocking out Julian Jackson after five rounds. McClellan had survived some brutally hard punches from Jackson in the second and third rounds.

McClellan defended the WBC title three times, all first round stoppages, including a rematch with Jackson.

In the fall of 1994, McClellan separated from his long-term trainer Emanuel Steward.

Benn vs McClellan

Template:Main article McClellan moved up in weight to challenge WBC super middleweight champion Nigel Benn in London on February 25, 1995. The fight was watched by an estimated 17 million people on television and 10,300 paying spectators.[7]

In a savage bout, McClellan knocked Benn out of the ring in round one and scored another knockdown in round eight, but each time Benn was able to work his way back into the fight. Throughout the fight Gerald received several punches to the back of the head, known to be especially dangerous, without referee interference. Referee Alfred Azaro was also roundly criticized for his officiating mistakes, which included impeding the challenger's progress when McClellan was trying to finish off Benn in round 1. McClellan was noticeably blinking repeatedly early in round ten, during which, after receiving a single hard blow from Benn who seemed to throw his shoulder into McClellan's eye, he voluntarily went down, taking a knee again.[8] McClellan took the mandatory eight count and the fight was resumed, but he did not throw another punch, and moments later he dropped to his knee for a second time and allowed Azaro to count him out. After the fight was over, McClellan immediately stood up and walked to his corner under his own power. He then sat down on the canvas and leaned against the ring apron, but while being attended to by ring physicians he slumped onto his back and lost consciousness. McClellan was subsequently strapped to a stretcher and rushed to the hospital.

Aftermath

McClellan had emergency surgery to remove a blood clot from his brain. He spent eleven days in a coma and was found to have suffered extensive brain damage. He lost his eyesight, the ability to walk unassisted, and was reported as being 80 percent deaf. Sports Illustrated ran an article about the fight and its outcome one week after the fight. McClellan's family flew to London to be by his side, and he was later flown back to his home country. He has recently recovered some ability to walk with the assistance of a cane, but he has not recovered his eyesight. In addition to being blind, his short-term memory was also profoundly affected. His three sisters, particularly Lisa McClellan, are responsible for his care. In a 2011 documentary broadcast by ITV (which originally screened the fight live in the UK), Lisa stated that Gerald is in fact not deaf, but that he has trouble with comprehension when spoken to.

Tarick Salmaci, a Kronk Gym fighter, claimed later in an interview that he had sparred with McClellan over a year before the Benn fight, and that after McClellan was hit by a jab thrown by Salmaci, McClellan started to blink hard and the session had to be stopped. McClellan initially claimed that he was thumbed, but later admitted to Salmaci in the locker room that he was in fact seriously hurt. Salmaci said that he found it strange that a fighter with McClellan's chin wearing headgear was being hurt by a jab, and that when he noticed McClellan blinking during the Benn fight in the same way, Salmaci was immediately aware that McClellan was in serious trouble. Also notable in hindsight was McClellan complaining of getting regular headaches after his first fight with Julian Jackson in May 1993. In the fight, McClellan's chin resisted Jackson's formidable punching power before McClellan won the fight in round 5, but Jackson's punches may have done some damage to McClellan's brain, such as concussions, that were not noticed at the time.[9]

Fundraising

McClellan has been the honoree at numerous banquets and award ceremonies, and fellow boxing world champion Roy Jones Jr., often pointed out as a rival middleweight champion during 1993–94 (indeed, McClellan actually beat Jones as an amateur), set up a foundation to help McClellan.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

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 24, 2007. Several items were auctioned off at the event and a total of £200,000 was raised.[10]

In May 2012, the World Boxing Council publicly appealed for donations to a trust fund set up in McClellan's name in order to help his sister Lisa maintain his 24-hour care.[11] In July 2017, McClellan took a turn for the worse, and underwent surgery to repair a malfunctioning colon. McClellan now uses a colostomy bag, and incurs colostomy supply expenses of about 500 dollars a month.[12] Former world light middleweight champion Terry Norris, whose Final Fight Foundation acts to protect boxers, made an appeal for the Gerald McClellan Trust, noting, "McClellan's organs are starting to shut down because of his brain injury."[13] Ring 10, a nonprofit organization that helps impoverished former fighters, provides McClellan with monthly food credit and raises funds to assist with payment of other necessities.[14]

Dog fighting controversy

According to an article in The Observer, McClellan participated in dog fighting.[15][16] McClellan's trainer and family admitted that McClellan was involved with fighting pitbulls, and on one occasion had used tape to bind the jaws of a Labrador shut before allowing his pet pit bull "Deuce" to kill it.[15][17]

Professional boxing record

Template:BoxingRecordSummary

No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
34 Loss 31–3 Nigel Benn TKO 10 (12), 1:46Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Feb 25, 1995 London Arena, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". For WBC super middleweight titleScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
33 Win 31–2 Julian Jackson KO 1 (12), 1:23Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". May 7, 1994 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Retained WBC middleweight titleScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
32 Win 30–2 Gilbert Baptist TKO 1 (12), 1:37Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Mar 4, 1994 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Retained WBC middleweight titleScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
31 Win 29–2 Jay Bell KO 1 (12), 0:30Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Aug 6, 1993 Coliseo Rubén Rodríguez, Bayamón, Puerto RicoScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Retained WBC middleweight titleScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
30 Win 28–2 Julian Jackson TKO 5 (12), 2:09Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". May 8, 1993 Thomas & Mack Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Won WBC middleweight titleScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
29 Win 27–2 Tyrone Moore TKO 2 (10) Feb 20, 1993 Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, MexicoScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
28 Win 26–2 Steve Harvey TKO 1 (8), 1:51Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Nov 7, 1992 Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
27 Win 25–2 Carl Sullivan TKO 1 (10), 0:45Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". May 15, 1992 Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
26 Win 24–2 Lester Yarbrough TKO 1 (10), 2:02Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Feb 24, 1992 The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
25 Win 23–2 John Mugabi TKO 1 (12), 2:51Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Nov 20, 1991 Royal Albert Hall, London, EnglandScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Won vacant WBO middleweight titleScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
24 Win 22–2 Sammy Brooks TKO 1 (8), 2:07Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Aug 13, 1991 The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
23 Win 21–2 Ivory Teague TKO 3 (10) Jul 27, 1991 Scope, Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
22 Win 20–2 Ken Hulsey KO 1 (10) Mar 1, 1991 Pioneer Hall, Duluth, Minnesota, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
21 Win 19–2 Danny Mitchell KO 1 (10), 2:37Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Dec 15, 1990 Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
20 Win 18–2 José Carlos da Silva TKO 3 (8) Nov 14, 1990 Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
19 Win 17–2 Charles Hollis PTS 8 Sep 14, 1990 Beloit, Wisconsin, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
18 Win 16–2 Sanderline Williams UD 8 Aug 21, 1990 The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
17 Win 15–2 James Fernandez TKO 2 (8) Jun 12, 1990 Landmark Hotel, Metairie, Louisiana, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
16 Win 14–2 Brinatty Maquilon TKO 3 (8), 1:42Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Apr 26, 1990 Resorts International Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
15 Win 13–2 Ron Martin TKO 1 (8) Mar 10, 1990 Bristol, Tennessee, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
14 Win 12–2 James Williamson KO 1 (8), 1:55Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Jan 20, 1990 The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
13 Win 11–2 Rick Caldwell KO 1 (8) Dec 14, 1989 Civic Center, Saginaw, Michigan, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
12 Loss 10–2 Ralph Ward UD 8 Sep 21, 1989 Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
11 Loss 10–1 Dennis Milton PTS 6 Jun 24, 1989 Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
10 Win 10–0 Terrence Wright TKO 1 (8), 2:00Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Apr 14, 1989 Auditorium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
9 Win 9–0 Tyrone McKnight TKO 2 (8) Feb 19, 1989 High School Gym, Monessen, Pennsylvania, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
8 Win 8–0 Anthony Jackson KO 1 (6), 1:30Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Feb 10, 1989 Cedar Creek Ice & Expo Center, Wausau, Wisconsin, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
7 Win 7–0 Joe Goodman KO 2 (6) Feb 4, 1989 Hilton Hotel Grand Casino Room, Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
6 Win 6–0 Jerome Kelly TKO 1 (6), 1:52Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Dec 3, 1988 Brook Park, Ohio, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
5 Win 5–0 John Gordon TKO 2 (6), 1:45Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Nov 25, 1988 The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
4 Win 4–0 Roberto Abondo TKO 1 (4), 0:36Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Nov 22, 1988 Bally's Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
3 Win 3–0 Danny Lowry TKO 1 (6), 2:00Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Nov 3, 1988 Showboat Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
2 Win 2–0 Bill Davis TKO 1 (4) Sep 15, 1988 La Fontaine Bleue, Glen Burnie, Maryland, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1 Win 1–0 Roy Hundley KO 1 (4) Aug 12, 1988 The Eagles Club, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

References

Template:Reflist

Further reading

  • After the Bell: The Gerald McClellan Story, by Wayne Lettice Lennon

External links

Template:S-sportsTemplate:S-textTemplate:S-breakTemplate:S-vac
WBO middleweight champion
November 20, 1991 – April 2, 1993
Vacated Template:S-ttl/check

Template:S-vac

Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check WBC middleweight champion
May 8, 1993 – January 5, 1995
Vacated Template:S-ttl/check

Template:S-vac Template:S-ach Template:S-before

The Ring Knockout of the Year
TKO5 Julian Jackson
1993 Template:S-ttl/check

Template:S-after Template:S-end

Template:Authority control

  1. ↑ a b History - Kronk Gym
  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ Gerald McClellan Amateur Record at the BoxingRecords. Last updated : March 1, 2006.
  4. ↑ Night of boxing attracts only 311 paying customers by Chris Marti, The Baltimore Sun, September 18, 1988, p. 20.
  5. ↑ Mike Tyson's thoughts on Gerald McClellan CNN, Larry King Live.
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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