FLASHBACK: NIGEL BENN VS GERALD MCCLELLAN - FEBRUARY 25TH, 1995

[@devonsinclair6994]

I just finished the video. I'm only 22 so for me getting information like this is priceless. I do watch a lot of classic fights but not growing up in these era's I don't know the back stories. Thanks Hatman this was great. And i agree that having an iron jaw can be a curse. Look at Roy Jones Jr and James Toney for example. Roy has been knocked out many times but works for HBO and speaks very clearly whereas Toney has had over 90 fights and never been knocked out, but due to his iron chin and lack of traning/discipline he took a lot of damage in the second half of his career and now you can barely understand him.

[@rnathan14]

I've spoken to my uncle many times about this fight as he was ringside and I'll never tire of hearing about the atmosphere that he said was in the venue that night. It was the most intensive and electric atmosphere he experienced in 30 years of going to live boxing. After this fight he's never gone back to watch live boxing as he felt so guilty that he was shouting for Benn to finish Mcclenan and then he nearly died. It's truly a beautiful but brutal sport at times. They were both tremendous warriors.

[@cosanostra8285]

Hatman more of these nostalgic flashback uploads! 10/10

[@romanelanceford_]

How could anyone dislike this? Great video HatMan. More Flashback videos please!

[@73urban]

do more of these hatman, brought it all back to me and decent length video.

[@vanyeszczpanski5297]

Big Frank bruno going nuts ring side. One of the best fights of all time

[@faznyc1]

The greatest fight I ever saw that I don’t ever want to watch ever again because of what the tragedy

[@MelodiousThonk]

The match is beautiful actually. It's the meeting years after between the both fighters that really is heartbreaking

[@stephenkerr6565]

This is a wicked video concept Hatman no other boxing youtube channel do theses sort of flashback discussions keep this this your on thing now keep up the quality content bruva !!

[@Lolville00]

Please do these more, brilliant video!!!

[@thexonerunner1517]

Those were the days Hatman, thanks for the memories. Excellent narrative!

[@protectorategeneral]

McClellan’s problem was caused by too much gym wars in the kronk gym, like James toney, he was blinking alot in the Jackson fight after the fight he told Jackson he had headache for months, there’s a interview on boxing scene where a kronk gym sparring partner told a story of McClellan getting hurt in sparring by light punches then blink alot. Also McClellan just like James toney loved gym wars, with many big punchers even heavyweight,and sparring in kronk gym were like real fights .

[@sheriffbiggley-rh8tx]

Kudos to hatman.. Love the new look... Wicked vid... More Flashbacks please...

[@KB_Sahota]

more of these please hatman lad

[@RedCB77]

This was the best fight I ever saw!

[@llewbach77]

Great video Hatman! as it brought me back to my child hood and the great fight back in that era.

[@Slingsbys]

Great video. Extreme drama and could feel it through this video. I was surprised no one mentioned Mcclellen's gum shield from round 3.

[@tko1984]

Thanks I enjoyed that. It was the second fight I ever watched, got me into boxing. Brings back memories.

[@stevegreen9460]

recon mcclellan was suffering from the bleed from as earlie as the 3rd round when I studyed the fight closely. the earlie signs where there. the twitching of the eye, the glove going up to rub his temple.

[@ilovepoker1990]

You have to keep this up bro these videos are great

[@02buzz08]

Excellent video hope you do more of these

[@jonnybravo3055]

This fight is still one of the most exciting fights ive seen live on TV. The electricity you could feel watching from your sofa. God knows what it must have been like ringside. Benn along with cooper , bruno and hatton will always be the most loved british fighters.

[@jonnybravo3055]

When the British national anthem was played along with the atmosphere it sent shivers down your spine.

[@TheOvertrained]

Sick video idea. And well put together.

[@sholaebofin6090]

Gerald McClellan is still revered to this day in America as a boxing beast he was totally formidable..

[@angryjock3938]

thanks for the footage

[@necaacen]

great video. The benn, eubank era was when i grew up with boxing in my teens, used to watch it with my dad on the tele. Gonna have to go back and watch this fight again, been a looooong time, 22 years man, where did they all go? lol.

[@carltongraham7743]

Yes Hatman I remember real clear and well, I remember Ben saying, "they brought him over here to beat me up to destroy the dark destroyer." Very good hatman, taking us back to yesteryear.👍

[@LDN_KMT]

Loving the lil retro intro & flash back big up my bro

[@DrWuDoc]

The good old days when I TV used to show live fights. Good memories!

[@DrWuDoc]

Mr ADG Reg Gutteridge the voice of boxing. So gifted, hairs on the back of the neck stuff.

[@ismailhussain7679]

Keep doing this !!

[@Lews026]

I love Reg Gutteridge. I wish he was still with us, commentating.

[@hoskydreams4463]

Brilliant that thanks please do more flash backs very interesting loved it

[@grandmastarflash]

Apart from Italy 1990 world cup, that fight was my all time top sporting experience, was fucking awesome!!

[@HuxleyWasRight]

Excellent video, hatman, cheers. This is probably the most absorbing fight I've seen, if it hadn't had such a tragic ending it would be in my all time top 10.

[@heetwav7]

Hatman, This was fun! I hope you make this an addition to your channel. Like a series or something like that

[@dballs2611]

Had to RE listen to this video my favorite fight to watch of all time love to watch this fighter over and over. I also like to watch the fight of there lives bit sad tho

[@sholaebofin6090]

Great important video hatman showing why fight fans here in the U.K. are intelligent when it comes to boxing, a lot of us appreciate classic fight history!

[@lloydcrooks712]

That was the most intense fight I had ever seen all I remember is Bruno in his loud color suit banging the ring apron I thought Benn was finished in the first round could barely watch

[@Dogboon-]

Great video. Well put together. Very interesting. A dark turn of events. Thanks

[@robboref7312]

Excellent video as usual.

[@Muzzaa]

Please do these more often!

[@jonnybravo3055]

Still the most exciting fight ive seen of a Brit vs yank. Benn was always my favourite fighter.

[@EndOfTheDemocrats]

Jonny Bravo ggg vs prime McClellan who do u favor. I’m kinda new to boxing

[@junesports13]

Do more of these PLEASE

[@AngelBlackwellX]

please do more of these.

[@80skid83]

I also watched this fight live , with my parents. Best fight I ever saw live

[@sprogg11]

Great vid hatman. Your logical unbiased dissection of these topics is so refreshing amidst a sea of casual fans and fanboys. No youtuber is below praise and no youtuber is above criticism.

[@1982PRA]

Great vid again

[@ilovepoker1990]

Great video bro

[@mmanews5604]

they gave him 20 seconds to get back in the ring....you only get 20 seconds if you fall completely out the ring and on to the floor....Benn was kept up on the apron of the ring by pundits and others....the rules are you only get 10 seconds if you stay on the apron just like a regular knock down....it took Benn 11 seconds to get back in the ring...he should have been counted out and lost....then sods law happens and the other guy gets brain damage....ref should be banned forever.

[@phillipcarlroberts4640]

MMA NEWS a lot of people did blame the ref in this fight but there is also a timekeeper present ,but I personally place the blame on McClellan's corner man ,if you watch the "fight of their lives" documentary you will notice that McClellan's corner man did not understand his role correctly ,he thought that he was promoting a boxer but he is there to advise and protect his boxer really ,he has 1 min between every round to look into his fighters eyes and see if he is okay ,this is one part of the job he completely neglected though and he never asked McClellan how he was feeling ,another is on the advice front ,he had no advice for McClellan ,McClellan's corner man had previously been Manny Steward and many believe that if Manny was there instead of that fool the tragedy would never have happened.

[@johnjones4572]

I've watched that fight about 10x... people need to watch fallen soldier, it's brilliant.. McLennan was a serious fighter aswell, he was a beast

[@cmmc7126]

Great video hatman really enjoyed this one

[@DrWuDoc]

Great video Hatman! Apparently Benn's corner told him Mcllenan was knackered and on his way out. This was after the 1st round!

[@sweetbwoy5905]

I dont comment normally on your videos but watch them all. I too watched the fight in my bedroom and punching the wardrobe door when Benn was winning. So so tragic, Ive never watched the fight again and don't think I will ever watch it. It brings back painful memories. I was thinking of switching off this video, but glad i didn't. Good video Hatman.

[@themotochannelu.k5098]

Nice video hatman, you should do more stuff like this...Not just vids on fights either, but i think alot of us will enjoy content like this from you...Your growing as a channel and you gotta keep us all happy bro !!! Shit hatman ive been here from early bro, wayyy back. Your one of the biggest out of the u.k boys now, you know the wingo's and the beatz, i hope you keep getting bigger hatman coz this is a great boxing channel mate...#LONGLIVEHATMAN

[@liamwalsh1534]

I watched this with my dad at 5 years old i remember it clearly and will never forget it but it took me a good 15 years later to realise the aftermath of mclellan

[@jeffreymorningstar9915]

Wonderful hatman takes me back . Felt guilty after watching this fight win really brutal

[@nathanlaryea3370]

Love this. I take in a lot of boxing content but Harman is up there. More of the flashback series please, would love to hear your take on hamed vs kelly

[@RIAZZIG]

Nas v Kevin Kelly? That was a great fight

[@TheHands346]

Thanks for scaring the piss out of me with that THX like sound effect.

[@GrinderDevil]

Bro, hatman was so energetic back in the day. These days he sounds like a forgetful grandpa compared.

[@cjns5253]

Ano his voice was quite high about 5/6 years ago it’s really deep now crazy

[@ljgately7]

He sounds like dc fly young when he qas younger

[@DirtyJamesUK]

He's singing nowadays on videos. I think dementia has set in

[@TFB97]

Very class guys smh 🤦. Hatman is fine.

[@aidjon]

Brilliant presentation.

[@JoeStunner]

In almost forty years of watching boxing, this is the best fight I've ever seen, and Benn's victory - especially in light of the near-disasterous first round - is the greatest win by a British fighter on home shores. People either forget or don't understand how terrifyingly intimidating McClellan was. He was a THUNDEROUS banger with truly paralysing power, a steel jaw, and underrated skills. I was a massive Benn fan but picked McClellan to win in the first round. Benn was the smaller man (despite McClellan being the one who was moving up in weight), wasn't really considered the better boxer, and certainly didn't have the same punch resistance; yet somehow he won. It was the best example I've ever seen of a fighter REFUSING to lose - of soaking up so much punishment to the point of saturation, where he suddenly became seemingly oblivious to pain. A brilliant, BRILLIANT fight, and a performance for the ages from the fearless Dark Destroyer.

[@EndOfTheDemocrats]

JoeStunner how do you think prime McClellan fares againist triple g

[@ZBOXINGTALK]

@@EndOfTheDemocrats prime Mcclellan would have beat any Middleweight/Super middleweight now he was a killer puncher

[@BLRayBanUK]

You're older than you sound Hatman. This fight was absolutely epic. The french ref really helped Benn out in the 1st round.

[@snozrick]

I was 18 when this fight remember watching it in mates living room while they up stairs smoking drugs :) Cemented my love of boxing, shocking ending though.

[@lloydcrooks712]

Also McLean beat Roy Jones as an amateur

[@devonsinclair6994]

This should be a good video 😮😮😮

[@michaelthompson3286]

Apparently McClellan was hit by a jab in sparring after his first Jackson fight and his sparring partner said he was doing the same blinking and had to stop the spar as even a jab had hurt him. The effects of having that iron chin were evident before this fight already.

[@mrt445]

Michael Thompson After he beat Jackson he was blinking in a similar fashion but it didnt lead to anything tragic. I believe Jackson caused the majority of the damage by weakening his iron chin, an iron chin rarely lasts until the end of a career.

[@antiduckable]

Nice one! I like this new format. For me Nigel Benn is my favourite boxer ever, what he lacked in ability he more than made up for in sheer determination. Would love to see highlights of Michael Watson and Chris Eubank, culminating in their second fight.

[@j-bmash5641]

Benn couldn't miss with those lead hooks especially the leaping lead left hook, I imagine if Manny was in the corner that night he would of drew Gerald's attention to it.

[@mrt445]

If these guys fought 20 times Gerard knocks out Benn 19 out of 20 within 6 rounds. It was just that 1 time that Benn wins in a weird circumstance that occurred in real life. Gerrard beats any top British super middleweight in history, this is a guy who apparently destroyed Roy Jones as an amateur boxer.

[@sugeknight6032]

mr t this was just a tragic accident. McClellan was superior to every British boxer at the time

[@margaretcronin5581]

mr t gerald threw his best at benn and he kept coming.ali v frazier 3 look like they were close to death and i think with this fight gerald got pushed and so did benn to such limits that it ended a tragedy

[@mrt445]

Suge Knight He would have beaten any Super middle today. Benn and Eubank weren't even the best in the UK even in their primes. Watson clearly was, and Watson is another fighter who beats Eubank 99% of the time, hell he did it the first time but was robbed. I believe Watson also beats Calzaghe who I put slightly above both Eubank and Benn in their primes, mind you I even bet money that Joe would easily beat a overhyped Jeff Lacey because both Eubank and Benn would have stopped him within 12. Benn and Eubank made life easier for Calzaghe, although I like Calzaghe he would have had to fight both Watson and McClellan if their last fights had not ended tragically. McClellan was as tall and rangy as Kessler and superior in every way, faster hands and a harder puncher with better stamina.

[@sugeknight6032]

mr t I think Gerald was also tougher than most super middleweights.. tougher than Nigel too, Nigel was mentally tough but the McClellan benn fight has always been suspicious to me when Benn didn't take a test

[@margaretcronin5581]

Suge Knight thats easy to say without any proof i dont think drugs had anything to do with it but i cud b wrong gerald cud of been juiced it was even worse back then for it than now.but wot went down went down its part of noxings tragic video

[@stevegreen9460]

if you fall out of the ring you are given more time to get up even if you are knocked thow the ropes. this is where people get confused on the count benn was given for getting up outside the ring. its 10 count in the ring. I think its 30 secounds or somthing if your outside the ropes

[@johndon7816]

Do I remember that fight I think was the most exciting fight I have ever watched and thank you for reminding me about a great fight the only shame was the end result But as usual a fantastic show

[@kitcachapp3094]

I'm convinced that benn was definitely on something that night1...the way he got back up from that beating he was definitely on something! .. didn't want to be tested afterward I'm sad to say he won because he was on drugs! He conveniently collapsed right at the end so he didn't have to take a test clever man

[@evoste]

Ah the good ol'days.. Benn was exciting to watch, McCellan was a beast, it was a tense fight with an electric atmosphere, when shit was still on normal tv. Both men were warriors for sure. Good work Hatman.

[@FPLWomble]

Nice video this, appreciated your insight to a fight I remember well. You asked for suggestions for future videos - how about the 2 great fights from way back between Colin Jones and Milt McCrory...?

[@evoste]

Bowe v Hollyfield trilogy......

[@DrWuDoc]

Also heard that Mcllenan's corner man, the dude dressed up like a sea captain. Ignored Mcllenan's plight. He supposedly was Manny's replacement. I think Mcllenan's corner let him down.

[@margaretcronin5581]

DrWuDoc apparently his corner man fucking captain birdseye was a bit shady but i cud be wrong

[@DrWuDoc]

Margaret Cronin heard the same.

[@shapes2000]

There was big hype before the fight about the hypnotist Paul McKenna working with Benn. To me, Benn acted totally like he was hypnotized, he was unconscious after hat battering in round one and still kept going. Amazing fight, sad outcome for the G-Man.

[@mikedaw1738]

Bring back Topical Tuesdays @Hatman

[@anuoluaiye7903]

Excellent vid! Can you do one on the Meldrick Taylor v Julio Cesar Chavez fight??

[@cosmicjack1215]

Chin like a Melon. Line of Jan 2020

[@msvaniekerk]

This Fight happened when I was back in school and have never and will never forget it. Thanks for making this video and who do u think would have won between roy jones and the G Man ?

[@allomentproof2573]

I watched that fight live, some things worth mentioning are that many people were surprised at Benns physique and he looked notably bigger, people suggested he might be on steroids also. After the fight and after he realised what had happened to mcclellan, Benn fainted and was taken out on a stretcher, this meant that he was conveniently unable to give a blood test to check for PED's. About Mcclellan though, he used to do illegal dog fights and used to buy defenseless dogs and put them in with his fighting dogs just for practice. They used to tear the poor dogs up limb from limb. I didn't lose any sleep over Mcclellans fate...

[@tunjilegba]

Behave yourself dog lover

[@protectorategeneral]

Julian Jackson certainly is hardest puncher in middleweight history probably p4p hardest puncher ever. How hard a fighter hits doesn’t only depends on amount of his one punch ko,but also depends on his opponent’s reaction after knocked out.and Julian Jackson put most of his opponents to completely unconscious.there is only one who can do that in entire boxing history

[@imrankhalid8399]

best British fight atmosphere ever

[@elijahforbes]

Great video man. Is it Adrian Stone, British welter ko'ed by mosley?

[@louiiliffe8160]

Im not gonna say I'm glad it happened or it was karma or nothing like that and I really feel for his family who have to care for him the rest of his life, did mcllenan have what happened to him coming? Maybe did he deserve to get paralysed? maybe not, but I could never feel sympathy for a man that abused animals the way he did dogs

[@crazymonky256]

You have fighters who literally abuse and beat children and women but you draw the line at people who abuse dogs? You people are sick putting dogs above humans smh

[@wolves1980]

​@@crazymonky256 well said mate the things that people do in this world and there not blind and deaf in a wheelchair .it was wrong to hurt dogs but he did not deserve that

[@JohnDoe-12]

@@wolves1980 amen.

[@TFB97]

Karma

[@ExecutionerHopkins]

​@@crazymonky256english people have this weird fascination with dogs. They take them out in prams and dress them up. They will step over 10 homeless human beings to save a stray dog. Never seen anything like it. They are wild animals ffs

[@gtruth130]

I have mixed feelings over this vid. Great analysis however I was there rooting for Benn even more so when McClellan stayed down, however I feel guilty because of McClellans current state.

[@keesbruno1470]

gman, number one hitman boxing has ever seen

[@darrenjoewatson]

I believe benn took uo boxing atv18 in the army and relied on pure agression early in his career but later in career tried to box more. But his strenth was his agression. I thought we would see this in this fight. And we saw his heart 🌋🌋🌋🌋

[@jonnybravo3055]

I disagreed with the referees decision about Benn getting a count the 2nd time he went down. He threw a punch , missed and went down with fatigue and momentum.

[@SpazmodicAndroid]

I remember the G Man's mouthpiece hanging out his mouth for a lot of the fight also.

[@RealitysVoice]

That was a habit in previous fights also.

[@robmcraken9779]

Hatman do Holyfield Vs Bowe Absolute Heavyweight classic

[@lordoftheboxingring2020]

Good vid hatman you should get back to doing these vids today’s fans needs to be educated in the sport all they kno now is the mayweather era we lost a lot of connoisseurs and created a slew of casual thinking brainwashed one foot in one foot out fans

[@jeremiahvictor6025]

Hey hatman can you do a video on one of the bowe vs Holyfield fights or the mike Tyson. S Holyfield first fight, would be a good one

[@stevebailey5591]

You're allowed 20 seconds to get back into the ring, rather than the 10 you're allowed for a knockdown.

[@lexorcism]

A libation, please, for Hatman. The one, true, boxing bard.

[@ade3628]

Dam I remember this fight, sad ending

[@jayvb8466]

Mcclellan the best middleweight ever, no doubt

[@FearedAudacity]

hell no

[@jayvb8466]

Trevor L would've knocked hagler out and RJJ

[@darrenjoewatson]

I won a fair bit on that fight and i never normally place a bet, the dark destroyer🌋🌋🌋