Fight of their Lives - Benn VS McClellan Documentary

northbankbren · Post by **northbankbren** » Sun Dec 04, 2011 3:39 am

Thank for the heads up flash, new this was being made but didnt know when it was being aired. Thought I wouldnt waste a thread and change this (sorry quartz)

(LINK BELOW)

Its a very sad watch and brought back an awful lot of memories. Remember it like it was yesterday. Im sure most old enough will remember it well. What are your guys memories?

I remember watching as a 12 year old and jumping around the room going mad with joy when Benn won, to all of a sudden being really in shock as the events after unfolded. Even at that age I remember the feelings of joy so quickly being replaced by shock and worry. Such a tragic end so such an amazing fight.

Over the years, being a big boxing fan I've read quite a lot about the whole affair and there is an awful lot not actually covered in the doc. The major point being McClellan being flown back to the usa. The hospital he was in over here were adament that he was kept under thier care in order for his condition to stablise. The McClellan family insisted on him being flown back to the states totally against the wishes of the british doctors who said it would be very dangerous to put him on that journey on a plane in his condition. It is know his condition worsened during and after the trip. Now thats not to say he would have recovered if he hadnt made that trip, but its a big point that wasnt covered in the doc.

They really didnt cover the real heat that Benn got from the McClellan family over a number of years, they called him a murderer and wished death on him on numerous occasions in interviews. This after Gerald had openly said he didnt want to ko Benn he wanted to kill him. But it was good to finally see the footage of thier meet, very moving stuff. And it did seem that Gerald's sister seemed to accept Benn's olive branch. But it was even sadder that Benn had to make that "gesture". The guilt he must have had anyway....and then add the open blame that the McClellan family put on him and it really is no surprise he was driven to attempted suicide.

A very sad story. And I really hope that both parties have finally got some closure.

Post by **QuartzGooner** » Sun Dec 04, 2011 6:40 pm

A good scrap, and the best man won.

northbankbren · Post by **northbankbren** » Mon Dec 05, 2011 5:19 pm

was a very good scrap, really glad cotto got his revenge, and hopefully its the last we see of that cheat margarito.

Post by **flash gunner** » Mon Dec 05, 2011 10:41 pm

Check out fight of their lives on nowon ITV its about the Benn McClelland fight

northbankbren · Post by **northbankbren** » Wed Dec 07, 2011 11:59 pm

LINK
http://www.itv.com/itvplayer/video/?Filter=293512

Post by **flash gunner** » Thu Dec 08, 2011 2:33 pm

Saw the fight live at the time and it still rates as one of the most ferocious fights ive ever seen, every punch was a KO punch no jabs just trying to knock eachother heads off. im amazed Benn wasnt injured too...... The docum. was an eye opener loads i hadnt heard before. Loved Benn and if you ever get a chance to read his autobiography do its very entertaining one of the most enjoyable books ive ever read

Rosie_titters · Post by **Rosie_titters** » Thu Dec 08, 2011 7:44 pm

strange programme, that seem to blame everyone at some point

1, the French ref was to blame, for being inexperience and not speaking English

2) then McCllelan trainer was to blame,

3) McCllellan was blamed for getting rid of manny steward

4) Benn was blamed for being on anabolic steriods

5) the doctors didn't notice McClellan's constant blinking after round 9

did feel sorry for McCllelan until it was exposed that he part take in dog fighting, and then thought Karma is at work

Post by **flash gunner** » Thu Dec 08, 2011 8:00 pm

Rosie_titters wrote:strange programme, that seem to blame everyone at some point

1, the French ref was to blame, for being inexperience and not speaking English

2) then McCllelan trainer was to blame,

3) McCllellan was blamed for getting rid of manny steward

4) Benn was blamed for being on anabolic steriods

5) the doctors didn't notice McClellan's constant blinking after round 9

True mate hadnt thought of that

OneBardGooner · Post by **OneBardGooner** » Thu Dec 08, 2011 9:20 pm

F*CK!...Just watched that......

Viscious

Sad

and

Unbelievably SAD.

That american coach should never have been in his corner...and the ref!?...well to me it looks like a LOT went wrong thst night...and Don King..what a scuzzball.

Post by **QuartzGooner** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 1:00 am

Writing this as I watch a Shinny Bayar fight Chris Edwards in a decent scrap.
But I watched Benn vs McLellan on TV live, and was due to go out afterwards.

I did, but I could barely move. I was so drained of energy from the fight, it was amazingly intense.

I was exhausted the day after too.

The documentary was very good, with one omission. I really felt the should have had a bit about Michael Watson, about how Benn would have been aware of Watson's injuries from a fight four years earlier...and about how those injuries had made the medical regulations for injured fighters more amenable to recovery from a brain injury. By having anestheticaly trained doctors at title fights, and having ambulances ready, and having the nearest neurological unit made aware fight was taking place.

I spoke to Benn (through my old job) ten months after he fought McLellan, and asked him if he was going to fight Roy Jones Jr.
He told me no, that despite the money on offer, he knew it would be a war such as against McLellan, and did not want another war of that magnitude.

There is a very good book about the fight called "War, Baby" by Kevin Mitchell.