Gerald McClellan has almost crossed the threshold, which would have made him a superstar in the heavy-loaded legends era of boxing. But unfortunately, the champ suffered such a grievous injury that forced him to hang up his gloves.

Hailing out from the country of boxers, the Freeport native was nothing short of a legend. The explosive power in his right hand terrorized the middleweight division in the early years 90s.

His knockouts were sensational. The Boxing world dubbed him a miniature Mike Tyson. In his entire professional career, which did not last long, McClellan fought 34 fights and won 31 with 29 wins coming out by the way of knockout.

With such a promising resume, why McClellan stopped boxing? Let’s know more in detail.

What happened to Gerald McClellan?

McClellan was on the first-round knockout winning streak. He had already defended his WBC middleweight title thrice, so he decided to move up in weight class and take a bigger challenge. As a result, the 27-year-old got his fight booked against the British boxing legend Nigel Benn.

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The bout was highly anticipated, as both fighters were going to cement their legacy through this contest. The elite class champions in their heydays met in London. However, this made no difference. Benn was too confident of his power and skill. He started in the same fashion. The bell echoed and McClellan pressed with all guns blazing.

Within 40 seconds of the first round, McClellan scored the knockdown. He pushed Benn onto the canvas and unleashed a barrage of heavy shots. He again scored a knockdown in the eighth round. However, each time Benn showcased a lion’s heart and work his way into the fight and finally knocked out McClellan in the 10th round.

McClellan, who did respond to the judge’s count collapsed a few minutes later. He was in an unconscious state and was rushed to the hospital.

Is Gerald McClellan alive?

Yes, the former champ is still alive. But the injury robbed him of his natural abilities. Throughout the fight, he took several punches behind his head which began to show an impact on his body. Doctors found a blood clot in his head which was removed surgically and McClellan went into a coma for 11 days. After coming out of the hospital, McClellan was never the same again.

He was suffering from a brain injury that made him permanently disabled. This tragic incident had a deep impact on the sport.

What is McClellan doing in 2022?

Disabled McClellan is looked after by his sister Lisa McClellan. She could never forget the day that changed everything for her and her brother. She is giving her brother the care needed, along with her sister Sandra.

The family lives in Freeport and has been through several ups and downs. However, they overcome the difficult time and stayed strong. McClellan, who has lost his sight and hearing ability, remains in his chair or bed.

What do you think of injuries sustained in the sport? Let us know in the comment below.

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