Gerald Allen McClellan was born on October 23,1967 and is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1988 to 1995.
23 Facts About Gerald McClellan
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Gerald McClellan is a two-time middleweight world champion, having held the WBO title from 1991 to 1992, and the WBC title from 1993 to 1995.
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In 2007, Gerald 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.
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Gerald McClellan trained with Kronk Gym being trained by Emanuel Steward.
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On May 8,1993 Gerald McClellan became middleweight champion by knocking out Julian Jackson after five rounds.
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Gerald McClellan had survived some brutally hard punches from Jackson in the second and third rounds.
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Gerald McClellan defended the WBC title three times, all first round stoppages, including a rematch with Jackson.
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Gerald McClellan moved up in weight to challenge WBC super middleweight champion Nigel Benn in London on February 25,1995.
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Referee Alfred Azaro was roundly criticized for his officiating mistakes, which included impeding the challenger's progress when Gerald McClellan was trying to finish off Benn in round 1.
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Gerald 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 Gerald McClellan's eye, he voluntarily went down, taking a knee again.
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Gerald 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.
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Gerald McClellan 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.
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Gerald McClellan was strapped to a stretcher and rushed to the hospital.
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Gerald McClellan had emergency surgery to remove a blood clot from his brain.
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Gerald McClellan spent eleven days in a coma and was found to have suffered extensive brain damage.
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Gerald McClellan lost his eyesight, the ability to walk unassisted, and was reported as being 80 percent deaf.
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Gerald McClellan's family flew to London to be by his side, and he was later flown back to his home country.
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Gerald McClellan has recently recovered some ability to walk with the assistance of a cane, but he has not recovered his eyesight.
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Gerald McClellan initially claimed that he was thumbed, but later admitted to Salmaci in the locker room that he was in fact seriously hurt.
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Also notable in hindsight was Gerald McClellan complaining of getting regular headaches after his first fight with Julian Jackson in May 1993.
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Gerald McClellan has been the honoree at numerous banquets and award ceremonies, and fellow boxing world champion Roy Jones Jr.
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In July 2017, Gerald McClellan took a turn for the worse, and underwent surgery to repair a malfunctioning colon.
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Gerald McClellan now uses a colostomy bag, and incurs colostomy supply expenses of about 500 dollars a month.