GERALD MCCLELLAN is the living embodiment and brutal reminder of the dangers of boxing – which are all too often forgotten about.
The American middleweight was at the peak of his powers in the early nineties and was, at the time, regarded by many to be one of the best fighters on the planet.
The two-time middleweight champion was a ferocious puncher, who won 29 of his 31 victories by knockout or technical knockout.
McClellan moved up in weight in February 1995 to challenge Nigel Benn for the WBC super-middleweight title in a bid to become a two-weight world champion.
His life, and those of his loved ones, would never be the same after what proved to be a fateful night in London.
McClellan’s bid to become 168lbs king started well as he knocked Benn through the ropes in the first round and asserted his dominance in the ensuing early stanzas.
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The firefight many expected between the two heavy hitters ensued, with momentum shifting Benn’s way in the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds.
And it was in those rounds that McClellan showed signs of having suffered a traumatic brain injury.
McClellan had difficulty keeping his gumshield in and would go through bouts of excessive blinking as he backed away from Benn.
Had referees, coaches and ringside officials known what we know now about brain trauma and CTE, the fight would have been stopped.
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Tragically, however, it continued – with McClellan rallying in the eighth and knocking down The Dark Destroyer.
But Benn dug deep to produce a tenth-round finish, after which McClellan collapsed in his corner and was rushed to the hospital.
Doctors at the nearby Royal London Hospital discovered that he had a blood clot and extensive damage to his brain and performed emergency surgery to save his life.
Save his life they did, although he would remain in a coma for 11 days before regaining consciousness.
McClellan’s traumatic brain injury saw him lose his eyesight, 80 per cent of his hearing and the ability to walk unaided.
His family flew to London to be by his bedside during his period of unconsciousness, with his sisters – in particular Lisa – looking after him ever since.
In the years since his fateful fight with Benn, McClellan has managed to regain some of the ability to walk – although his memory has never been the same.
He does, however, sometimes recall the fact he was once one of the best middleweights on the planet.
When he was recently visited by Boxing News in his home in Freeport, Illinois, McClellan said: “I’m Gerald Allen McClellan Senior!
“My position in boxing: middleweight champion of the world!”
Although he somewhat regained the ability to walk, McClellan is sadly now resound to spending most of his days in his armchair.
And the sharp and cerebral mind that he used to great effect in his fights is now, tragically, a sad and withered version of itself.
That night at the London Arena serves as a dark reminder of the dangers of the Sweet Science, so much so that Benn tries his best not to dwell on it.
He told Ring Magazine in 2020: “I rarely think about it, to be honest, and it’s only discussed when someone brings it up.
“It’s a part of my life that’s behind me and I don’t really dwell on it, or put in a specific category.”
Twelve years after their war, Benn and McClellan were reunited for a benefit event to raise funds for the American’s care.
Benn said: “We raised $250,000 (£198,000) for Gerald and that was such a joy.
“The benefit night was a complete sell-out in London.
“It was so difficult because I had to shout in Gerald’s ear so he could hear what I was saying but he told me it was an accident, that it wasn’t my fault.
“I was so happy to see him but my emotions were up, and down, up and down. I didn’t know whether to be happy, or cry, or be sick.
“I’ve never experienced so many emotions at one time in my life.
“I held Gerald’s hand and Lisa told me all the stories about his aftercare.
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“I always felt the American people should have looked after him better than they did.
“If he’d been British, his house would have been paid for and he’d be getting the best of care.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
