Gerald McClellan vs. Nigel Benn

Gerald McClellan vs Nigel Benn
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Posted: Nov 24, 2023 | Updated: 1 month ago

On 25th February 1995, one of the biggest tragedies in boxing unfolded. Gerald McClellan vs Nigel Benn took place at New London Arena, Millwall, London. Their titanic struggle inside the squared circle highlighted raw athleticism, unyielding determination, and unwavering courage.

The clash, between Gerald McClellan vs Nigel Benn, is often considered one of the most brutal matches in the history of boxing.

The Dark Destroyer Nigel Benn was a formidable fighter with many notable wins in his resume with recent victories over Henry Wharton and Juan Carlos Ferreyra. Gerald McClellan was more of an up-and-coming fighter and was being billed as a ‘Mini Mike Tyson.’ His previous 3 fights were all won by a devastating knockout. McClellan was heading into the fight with Benn as the bookies’ favourite.

Many however believed the best of Nigel Benn’s career had been and gone with his infamous battles with Chris Eubank taking their toll on the fighter.

The scene was set for Gerald McClellan vs Nigel Benn

Gerald McClellan vs Nigel Benn – The Fight

The WBC middleweight title fight began with a ferocious first round. McClellan was delivering some massive punches to Benn. Within 35 seconds Benn was knocked out of the ropes. Most people thought that was it. That the fight was over. However, Benn who was known to never give up climbed back into the ring and beat the count.

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The following rounds were a lot more competitive. Both Nigel Benn and Gerald McClellan traded shots. At some point during the second round, McClellan was struggling to breathe properly. The effects of his brain injury were starting to show. By the time of the sixth round Gerald McClellan allegedly told his trainer “I wanna quit, Stan.”

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Nigel Benn had fully gained control of the fight after his knockdown in the first round and was applying pressure on Gerald McClellan. In the ninth round of Gerald McClellan vs Nigel Benn, McClellan had a second wind and managed to catch Benn and knock him down once again. Benn beat the count and the fight continued. McClellan had at this point never been past the eighth round in his career.

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Gerald McClellan was displaying concerning body language more and more as the fight was commencing. Blinking lots, mouth guard hanging out of his mouth. However, he was still in the fight.

As the fight entered the tenth round of Gerald McClellan vs Nigel Benn, the Dark Destroyer connected with a right hand, causing the American to drop to one knee. Referee Alfred Asaro began his count until McClellan stood back up at seven. Commentator Ferdie Pacheco described it as “the strangest knockdown I’ve seen”.

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Shortly after this knockdown, Nigel Benn once again connected and once again McClellan fell to his knee. This time he did not beat the count.

To everyone’s surprise, Gerald McClellan vs Nigel Benn was over with the referee Alfred Asaro stopping the fight. Benn, the underdog had beaten the USA’s established young star to retain his WBC super-middleweight title.

The commentators were in shock at the bizarre ending of the fight with many assuming Gerald McClellan had quit.

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Aftermath and Tragedy

As the fight ended, the ring was swarmed, and Nigel Benn celebrated his shocking victory.

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Gerald McClellan however went to his corner and sank to the floor. McClellan told his trainers he felt like there was “water running inside his head”. He then collapsed.

An anaesthetist and paramedics were on hand to give immediate medical attention to him by placing him in a neck brace and giving him oxygen. McClellan was rushed to the hospital as was Nigel Benn who had also collapsed in his dressing room, due to exhaustion. Gerald McClellan underwent brain surgery by Dr John Sutcliffe, who removed a blood clot.

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Nigel Benn was released from the hospital the next morning however McClellan spent two weeks in a coma, and only left the hospital in August 1995. His career was over. As a result of the brain injury the fighter sustained in the Gerald McClellan vs Nigel Benn fight, McClellan is blind, hearing-impaired, suffers short-term memory loss and needs to use a wheelchair.

To this date, he still receives full-time care from his family. There was much controversy surrounding the shocking fight itself with many calling for boxing to be banned. Many tried placing blame but who was to blame? The referee? McClellan’s trainers?

While the battle of Nigel Benn vs. Gerald McClellan will go down as an epic battle, McClellan is today still battling like a warrior.

Benn was never the same after the fight and retired two years later. He later claimed McClellan was the best all-around fighter he had ever boxed, saying “he had an incredible knockout ratio, and he was a prolific puncher. There was a mile between him and anyone else.”

A documentary titled Benn vs McClellan The Fight of Their Lives was released in 2011.

The documentary features a reunion between the fighters with Nigel Benn breaking down following his interaction with McClellan, featuring the American’s sister Lisa McClellan who has been by his side all the way.

The documentary features interviews with Alfred Asaro and trainers who witnessed the fight. It was a night that changed boxing forever. A fight that those who witnessed it will never forget.

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4 thoughts on “Gerald McClellan vs. Nigel Benn”

  1. How come nobody ever held Benn accountable for all of the illegal
    blows to the back of McClellans head? Including the final one which was so clearly illegal it just blows my mind..

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