Nigel Benn has named Gerald McClellan as the best fighter he faced in his career. The former WBC super middleweight champion picked McClellan over his legendary rival Chris Eubank Sr. in a recent interview with The Ring Magazine.
Benn, known as "The Dark Destroyer," had two fierce battles with Eubank Sr. Their first encounter in 1990 saw Eubank claim the WBO middleweight title with a TKO in the 9th round. The rematch in 1993, a WBC and WBO super middleweight unification bout, ended in a draw with both fighters retaining their titles.
The rivalry between the Benn and Eubank families continues today, with Nigel's son Conor Benn and Chris Sr.'s son Chris Eubank Jr. taking up the mantle.
Despite the intensity of his rivalry with Eubank, Benn's toughest opponent was McClellan. He told The Ring Magazine:
"Gerald McClellan by far. He had an incredible knockout ratio and he was a prolific puncher. There was a mile between him and anyone else. I came out of that fight with a damaged nose, a damaged jaw and I was urinating blood. I was in bed for three days afterwards and I had a shadow on my brain. That shows you how powerful a champion that man was."
McClellan, a feared knockout artist, entered the fight as the betting favorite. The bout took place at the London Arena with Benn defending his WBC super middleweight title.
The fight started with a bang. McClellan knocked Benn clean out of the ring in the first round, but the champion managed to recover. What followed was a savage, high-paced war with momentum swings and heavy punishment on both sides.
Benn ultimately won via 10th-round stoppage when McClellan took a knee and was unable to continue.
The aftermath of the fight was tragic. McClellan suffered a severe brain injury and was left permanently disabled. The incident serves as a severe reminder of the dangers inherent in boxing.
Benn's acknowledgment of McClellan as his toughest opponent, despite the devastating outcome, shows the profound impact the fight had on him both physically and emotionally.
