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Nigel Benn- what a Lionheart. Incredible performance to recover from that first round. Great fight, it's just a crying shame that it resulted in tragedy for McClellan.

Got to love Frank Bruno throwing every puch with his countrymen what a legend 👏

When you dig deeper into the story of this fight & the events leading up it's incredibly angering. Gerald wasn't right before the fight, (he was getting KOd repeatedly in sparring) & he wasn't right during the fight & expressed it, but they kept throwing him back in there anyway because Don King was angling for a big money fight with Roy Jones. It's been reported that King was heard berating McClellan for ruining his payday to his face as they were loading him in the ambulance. GM's first sign of problems was after his first fight with Julian Jackson where he absorbed huge bombs before scoring the KO. Afterwards he complained of severe headaches & dizziness, but his team had him back in the ring 3 months later & he never stopped training. His handlers should all be ashamed. They failed him at every turn.

"Heart couldnt take it anymore" " eyes as clear as a bell" "nothing wrong with him" says the commentator 🤦‍♂️ u really can never speak to soon when it comes to this sport. Just like the chavez/taylor fight where taylor walked away with severe brain damage or when they called golota a quitter and the crown threw things at him when it turned out he suffered a broken cheek bone and a concusscion. Never question a fighters heart, if he takes a knee or leaves the ring its for a reason, and that reason is usually their brain telling them "if you dont get away from this youre gonna die"

The only thing louder than the crowd was Frank Bruno's orange suit

Aside from the awful consequences of this fight, I am always amazed how Benn managed to come out in the second round after such a mauling in the first

Surprised Frank Bruno didn’t sit in the corner between rounds for Vaseline and ice. He fought every second of it too.

one of the best fights I've ever seen and one of the hardest to watch on repeat after knowing what we now know.. way too many back of the head punches for me from Benn, i know mclellan was no angel in the ring either but yea very hard to watch.

This is a GREAT showing by the dark destroyer. I hate what happened to my fellow American Gerald, and I respect how he kept trying to fight . It must have been very scary in his head when he began feeling things werent right. He boxed wobbly and strange, but well for the last several rounds as he was clearly brain damaged. This is humbling to watch. Also. Frank Bruno going nuts at ringside in that red suit is epic entertainment.

The amount of hits to the back of the head is crazy.

Nice to see so many neuroscientists joining us in the comments section.

A tragic outcome, but, what a fight; one of the best in boxing history - up there with Hagler vs Hearns for me. Thanks for uploading.

McClellan vs Benn was one of the most savage and tragic events in boxing history and as the 25th anniversary approaches I decided to re-examine the original broadcasts to see if there were any tell tale signs that would indicate Gerald was injured. I believe there was. In fact, I think the evidence is clear but hindsight is always 20-20 especially when you can pause and rewind. I also think these tell tale signs would have been less clear and much more difficult to see during the heat of the battle in 1995 In Round 1 after Nigel collected himself he threw a hail Mary left that went BOOM at 3:21 and that may have started the bleed. He also threw some low blows at the end of the round but boys will boys and the referee wasn't just deaf dumb & biased. He was blind! In Round 2 Nigel threw another BOOM and at 5:31 Gerald shows the FIRST signs of spitting the bit. At 5:45 Nigel was banging the back of his head and Gerald was uncharacteristically backing up which shouldn't be happening because Nigel has hit him with NOTHING that even remotely compared to the BOOMs Julian Jackson put on McClellan in the 2nd round of their fight. And look at the BOMB Jackson dropped on him in Round 3 because in his dreams Nigel never hit him with anything like THAT and yet Gerald is uncharacteristically spitting the bit. So something ain't right and the only question is WHEN it went wrong. I would suggest Gerald was injured BEFORE his fight with Nigel and the damage may have been done by Julian Jackson who pound-for- pound was one of the hardest punchers in history! Nevertheless, in Round 3 you KNOW something wasn't right. Gerald's mouthpiece is literally hanging which is a clear sign of exhaustion but when the round ends he doesn't appear to be tired or even winded in the corner. In Round 4 NIGEL is taking him apart and at 14:30 look at the HUGE BULGE on the left side of GERALD's head behind the ear. I believe this is the FIRST sign of a hematoma that eventually went subdural and in Round 5 Gerald is gasping for air. Then Nigel nailed him with two solid rabbit punches to the back of the head after the bell and my heart is aching but the beat went on. So something was wrong and after reviewing every round there is no doubt. In retrospect, SOMEBODY should have been watching McClellan VERY closely because even if he wasn't injured SOMETHING was real WRONG and I can't help but wonder if Emmanuel was there if he would've stopped the fight. We'll never know. Steward and McClellan parted company 4 months before Benn but even if a sage like Steward was there I think it would've been extremely difficult to pick up on something that your eyes don't want to see

What a battle royale, benn was on rocket fuel when getting stunned and then miraculousl giving it back in Benn style . McClelland just didn't know how to uppercut Benn which was the only way to stop him. Rest is history

The first time Gerald had been hit by a super-middleweight. Also the last.

Will never understand how Benn survived the 8th. The heart of that guy was unreal.

This, at the time, was the UK Army against the US. As a British Army Sgt, in the crowd, we would follow Benn, whatever the cost. And that is what we did. McClellan was struggling at the end of the third, Benn was hitting him hard, his mouth guard was starting to appear, signalling no breathing through the nose. The referee was not qualified enough to deal with such a fight. Brilliant fight Nigel.

What a war! So sad what happened to MClellan. I remember watching highlights of this on a DVD called Best of British Boxing when I was about 12 yrs old it also had Bruno, Eubank, Naz and Calzaghe. Brings back so many memories.

I've watched this fight probably 20 times possibly more. I remember watching this as a 14 year old on the night as an amamture British boxer. And as much as im a great, 90s british boxing fan. Something changed in McClellen in round 2, Benn hit him at 4.49 and he was never the same, his reaction times changed, the jab slowed and the mouth guard came out.

Great to see Nigel Benn from the start of the second round, punishing McLellan and chasing him around the ring for three minutes. McLellan wasted his chances of stopping Benn in the first round, by throwing huge telegraphed punches, which Nigel was able to avoid with ease. The'dark destroyer' did us all proud that night - he had the heart of a lion.

I watched it live. Most vicsious to and fro i have ever seen in my life

I feel like the ref was on Bens side

Benn... one of the greatest boxers of all time ? I think so.

JRE brought me here

Nigel, What a warrior. One of our best fighters of all time. Should have been knighted by now. What do you think.

Back in '95, British Boxing was something only die-hard fans would appreciate in the United States. So Nigel Benn wasn't merely underrated, he was unknown to most Americans.

McClellan was in no way overhyped either, proper animal of a fighter, not many gave Benn a prayer for this fight.

Probably the best Boxing Matxh ive ever seen . Benn and the G-Man both never gave up . Best wishes to Gerald and his wonderful sister 👌🇬🇧✅

Its weird how nobody talks about how many times Benn hit him behind the head

Still one of the best fights I've seen ,it was like watching a Rocky movie at times. Both of them landing big shots . Such a sad ending though ,Benn was never the same after.

The heart of a lion

too many blows behind the head .. 36:39 straw that broke the camels bk

It's impossible to identify the exact moment when McLellan's head trauma became life-threatening, but his irregular non-stop blinking began after Benn butted him on the forehead at 33:10. Gerald also took countless rabbit punches to the back of his skull, b/c the incompetent referee did nothing to prevent Benn from using this illegal tactic.

I didn't realise McClellan was pushing his gumshield out from just the second round, later he would do that far more pronouncedly which some have said was an indication of something wrong in his head. Either way, a tragedy for both him and Nigel

I could see McClenan was suffering something unusual from round two onward. I have never seen, in several decades of watching boxing, a fighter who was almost spitting out his gum shield . No criticism of the ref as he had probably never seen this either. Nigel Benn was an awesome fighter who had some tremendous victories. I would love to see a Young Nigel against Canelo. What a fight!!

Hats off to Benn, he had some balls and started coming back at the end of the 1st. After the fight the American press said they knew McClellan was only a 3 round fighter, which they hadn't mentioned before

Jesus Christ, could these announcers be any more biased? Questioning his professionalism because he complained about a head butt? What about the end of the round where Benn not only hit after the bell, not once, but two or three times?

5:55 Piers Morgan in the bottom left. 6:07 Les Ferdinand on the right between the two middle ropes.

A big part of Benn dominating most rounds is his ability to close the gap between the 2 fighters, something that all of McClellan's previous opponents couldnt do. Benn's style is more aggressive than McClellan and it exposed his lack of defense.

Wowwww fantastic...

McClellan was already showing signs of something wrong as early as round 2, when he kept bring out his birth guard. The referee and McClellan's corner were, moronic. They should have stopped the fight by round 5 or 6. It was obvious he couldn't breath. McClellan had heart, courage, strength but no protection. His career could have gone further had they saved him. A loss today would have been glory tomorrow.

The referee showed some serious incompetence or favoritism that first round. Even Jim Watt mentioned it. Just brutal.

6:23 Frank Bruno committing a fashion crime with that suit

i really think the falling into head butt benn gave accidentally stumbling around half stunned is what caused the damage that was a huge blow and immediately affected McClellan and he took knee shortly after and was never same. and i think that was the blow that caused the perm damage. damn shame i love McClellan and have even donated to his fund his sister has.

You do get a slower count if you get knocked through the ropes,thats true. Plus with Mcclellan's first onslaught Benn wasn't hurt and only one power shot connected if you watch carefully.That was the one directly on top of Benns head when he was ducked down on the rope.He later described it felt like his neck muscles popped.So no Gerald shouldn't have been declared winner after that.

Bob and weaving and a heart from Ben... Viscious fight. I liked both fighters.

Gerald needed more defense. Got hit too many times by BENN.😢

What i did not notice until i watched it again, McClellan lead with his head in the clinches and Benn was head butted a lot, so with all due respect he was doing himself no favours with this practice!

We shall endeavour to persevere. Result. =triumph.

the 2nd round from Benn was the greatest round I've ever seen ...what a warrior

I was watching G-man's fight with Julian Jackson and someone keenly pointed out that he was blinking in the end of that fight like he was blinking in this one. #CATO

This was an epic brawl. Both fighters were exceptional. Tragic ending for Gerald.

It's so funny that Americans always go against so much the British fighters....whether it be Lewis or Benn....Bruno ....they always do their best to belittle the British boxer

The reason why Ben survived alot of those punches 👊🏾 missed or grazed. I love GM also ,but truth is truth 😊

only Benn could survive that first round I dont even think Eubanks or Watson could have?

Probably the most brutal and viscous fight in a British boxing ring. McClellan throwing shots with serious intent in the first round. Benn eventually had more heart and fighting spirit. Shame what happened to McClellan.

I was at this fight at the london areana we were about 5 rows from the ring and i swear you could hear literally every punch land was pure power from both of them

the commentary by jim watt about mclelland not having the heart for it is shocking in light of what happened

Great fight !

If any fighter deserves the title warrior it was Nigel Benn ...

2 tough warrior's 👏👍

Tony tuckers hair though 😂😂

Brilliant fight and the likes will not be seen again. been not only came back but still took at least 20 good smacks on the chin and carried on.. this was pure aggression and fitness by Benn.. Gerald also had a granite chin as most of those shots he took was knocking out the other super stars..... terrible shame what happened in Gerald's corner at the end, they definitely done something extremely stupid to get him back to normal. what did they do to that poor fella in that corner ? seen same sort of thing a few times and its not the punches.. i could understand if we has knocked out. but goes back to corner fine, stands there fine talking away and nodding all fine, then they get hi ma chair and he is surrounded then he is in a terrible state . what did they inject him with ? its the same when they smother round a fighter and put too much oxygen into them and they go in a coma.. ... been deserved to be a champion after that performance and should of called it a day right then. he had nothing else to prove to anyone that he had the heart and fire for fighting..

Nigel in round2 was amazing ❤

If the ref didn’t interfere in the first round McClellan would have knocked out Ben. The ref didn’t do anything about the rabbit punches later in the fight

Should have been stopped in the first round. Such a shame. Also, Jim Watt's take that McClellan quit due to a lack of heart has to be one of the worst ever made. Shows why ex-boxers don't always make great commentators, they're often a bit dim. The other guy had it right, he noticed the blinking, he knew something was amiss and he pointed it out - but Watt kept banging on like McClellan just wanted out of the fight because he was getting punched - the guy had taken everything Julian Jackson could throw at him, I very much doubt Benn would have made him quit. Benn was a great boxer, and a hard puncher, but Jackson threw absolute bombs and McClellan took them all. Watt likely wouldn't have known that as Jackson was always terribly promoted (so was McClellan to be honest) so he likely never watched him fight. Best wishes to Gerald and his family.

One of the most incredible fights in Boxing History.

Listen to the commentator . " He is ducking below he belt line , which is not allowed" Mayweather did that as a major part of his defence. I always said that

Seru, mantap

The dogfighting boxer got bit by the dark destroyer. Justice was served .

Benn bullied the bully. Yes GM could punch, but it showed in the second ,ZERO defense Benn bullied the bully. GM lost end of ,zero excuses

The first sign apoarently was with Julian Jackson whic Mc won. A punch had his mouthpiece out and he was numb. The beginning. But experts dont post this at one shot but over a time-- may be during sparring and throughout. A string is involved.

the ref gets a christmas card from benn to this day

Benn was a great boxer, his chin let him down slightly, but his judgment of distance was supreme! 99% of boxers would have been Ko'ed after 3!

Savage fight.

No boxer goes between the ropes expecting to be hurt but benn was devastated as the same as eubank v watson

The referee blew it in many ways. He gave Benn too long to get back in the ring. He allowed Benn to bend below the waist, which is not allowed. And he kept needlessly interrupting McClellan from continuing his assault. McClellan should have scored a first round stoppage.

You can see McClellan suffered without Manny Steward in his corner. Power is there, but what a mindless and limited attack he had after a shoulda-been-done Benn got up. Downward right over and over with an occasional left hook. No jabs, combos, or mix of shots.

In retrospect the signs were there of McClellans distress with the pushing out of the gum shield. I rooted for Benn but never wanted to see a his opponent (or any boxer) end the fight in such a manner.

That first round,& the Eighth round shows what heart Nigel Benn had as well as an Engine..Could bang too..One of many great fights involving Benn.Fair play to Nigel for helping McClelland too later in life,Respects. Cheers B,S3

I have thumbed this up...but i cant watch it. I saw it first time around, a few times since and it just upsets me. McClellan was an awsome Boxer..people talk about Wilders right left combo...well McClellan was one of the hardest puchers i ever saw. Hindsight is always wise, i know...but there was so obviously something badly wrong with McClellan in this fight...but one had the balls to stop it. This is what infuriates me about Wilder v Fury 2. McClellan would have had a wonderful career if they had done so...very sad...God bless you Gerald....peace.

Was that a headbutt around 36:25? It looked like McClellan reacted to a headbutt. Or it could be he was just reacting to previous blows.

Wel done Ben the warrior .god thank you,god have many ways to punish any one who dislove his childrens.

What an incredible fight, how Benn come back from the first round is unbelievable. Nigel Benn is one of the true greats from boxing oner the year, a real animal with a thirst to win. Amazing come back to win, however, a very tragic ending. Very sad .

McClellan before the fight said he was sending Benn home in a body bag & would enjoy it. Karma served cold. So i don't give 2 hoots about how his life has gone since.

It looks like a case of Mclellan could dish it out, but he couldn't handle the punishment in the long run! Sad that it ended his career , but I've seen some real back and forth fights even more intense than this one!

The best fight never shown

Very sad. Same thing happened to Prichard Colon, from Puerto Rico.

The rules are only suggestions to the Brits.

The medical staff should have watched him vividly 😔💯

Benn took lots of stick in the 1st but i'd bet my house on him playing possum going out the ropes there. His eyes were clear.

Whenever I watch this back I always end up wondering at what point did the bleed on McClellan's brain start. Was it one shot or a cumulation of them? Or had the damage already began from the huge shots he took from Jackson in his previous fights meaning the outcome of this one was going to happen regardless of who he fought?

Britain's best performance in the ring by far

I love that Benn faint with drop of the left shoulder and the right hook over the top. He just couldn't miss. It maybe should have been stopped in the first round, mind. Bit of behind the scenes boxing shenanigans going on there I reckon

I watched this live and will never forget it. Rewatching it again with my son I see one thing. This ref won the fight for Benn in the first round. He kept McClellan off Benn way too much

You can take the dog out of the fight, but you can’t take the fight out of the dog. Too soon?

Always to remember: It was not Nigel Benn fault. It was McClellan training method based on alot of hard sparring that did this with him.

I’m a massive fight fan, but when I watch this I think about all the poor Labradors and other Dogs McClellan use to adopt and tape there mouths shut so his pitbulls could rip them apart he was a monster.

Mr Nigel Ben was and is a legend,who smashed not only a fantastic fighter, but also a very nasty piece of work outside the ring