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Benn v McClellan documentary Mon 5th

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    Benn v McClellan documentary Mon 5th

    http://www.touchline.tv/boxing/itv-t...an-documentary

    ITV1 are to scereen a documentary about the 1995 world title fight boxing match between Nigel Benn and Gerald McClellan, which ended in such tragic circumstances that it has never been broadcast since.

    British paratrooper-turner-boxer Benn faced rising American star McClennan, one of the hardest punchers in boxing history, in a match which changed their lives forever. The brutal and controversial fight left McClellan seriously injured and Benn mentally scarred. The programme features fresh allegations and further twists as well as the emotional reunion of the two fighters after years of bitterness.

    The Fight of Their Lives is a story of human courage, the search for the truth and for redemption. It is a story that stretches far beyond the ropes of the boxing ring. Now, 16 years later, ITV has unlocked its archive to allow the incredible story of that savage night to be told in full.

    Nigel Benn, a British paratrooper turned world class fighter, faced America’s rising star Gerald McClellan, one of the hardest punchers in boxing history. Their lives – and those of many others involved that night – would be changed forever.

    A brutal, controversial fight would leave one man mentally scarred, the other seriously injured and the Benn and McClellan camps at war for more than a decade. Benn was knocked down twice but recovered to achieve the most dramatic victory of his career – perhaps of any boxer’s career.

    The fight has never been shown on TV since and controversy over what happened that night persists today. The stories of the accused, talking for the first time, make for emotional viewing. Unseen footage throws new light on the story.

    Featuring fresh allegations, further twists and the emotional reunion of the two fighters after years of bitterness, The Fight of Their Lives is an unforgettable story that stretches far beyond the ropes of the boxing ring. In 2007 Benn and McClellan were reunited, an incredible moment captured for The Fight of Their Lives. The reunion was meant to bring closure. However, there have been fresh allegations, further twists and new discoveries made since then.

    Boxing legends and A-list witnesses Barry McGuigan, Jim Watt, Frank Bruno and Manny Steward contribute their own powerful testimonies.

    Interweaving past and present, the amazing narrative of a hidden sporting classic, the emotional testimonies of the accused and the incredible stories of two men, this promises to be compelling viewing on ITV1.

    The Fight of Their Lives is on Monday 5 December at 10.35pm on ITV1, with an extended 90-minute version on Tuesday 13 December at 9pm on ITV4.

    #2
    Thanks for this fah-q.

    Seen a few clips of McClellan on YouTube since this fight - he just sits in a chair all day now. He can't see, hear or move. Really sad.

    Comment


      #3
      There's a great documentary about this on YouTube which shows Benn going over to meet McClellan for the first time since the fight, and poor GM cuts a sorry figure having been practically abandoned by the boxing community over there and seemingly receiving little help from anyone.
      Thanks very much for being ‘This Mornings’ Farmer’

      Comment


        #4
        Those were halcyon days for boxing. I remember them well, and lost interest after that because nothing really lived up to it.

        It is so terribly tragic that 2 fighters (Michael Watson also) paid such a high price for their efforts.
        Oh I don't know.

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          #5
          Cheers, Ill watch that tonight

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            #6
            Kevin Mitchell's 'War Baby' about the Been vs McLellan fight is one of the better boxing books you'll read. You can pick it up for a couple of quid on Amazon.

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              #7
              It was a interesting documentary, Sad seeing how he is now from the specimen of a man that he was.

              Didn't realise how amateur McClellan's team were fight should have been stopped well before by his corner.
              We come not to play.

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                #8
                what was the controversy?

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                  #9
                  Originally posted by Helios Creed View Post
                  what was the controversy?
                  There was no real controversy, what the documentary pinpointed:

                  1) French only speaking ref, should have counted out Benn in the first round, maybe should have also stopped the fight later when McClellan was struggling
                  2) McClellan (to save $$) had a very poor inexperienced corner, filled with yes men - They should have spotted he was struggling and thrown in the towel
                  3) Nigel Benn had many skeletons in his closet, wasn't the most caring in the post fight comments
                  4) McClellans trainer claims Benn was juiced on steroids
                  We come not to play.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Some odd comments by Benn at the end saying he'd never used 'anabolic steroids...while boxing' seemed as though there was emphasis on 'while boxing' why would he feel the need to take steroids after he quit?

                    During my lifetime (child of the 80's) that was the best era for boxing, Benn, Eubank. Steve Collins, Nas, Tyson, Hollyfield, Lewis, Bowe etc all had great fights around this period that all seemed to be on normal TV before Sky started to throw it's money around. It seemed like less fighters dodged each other back then (apart from Bowe/Lewis).
                    “Me having no education. I had to use my brains.”

                    Sir Bill Shankly


                    Quote:
                    Matt Dickinson ‏@DickinsonTimes
                    Terry painfully has to recount to court the song from Liverpool fans about his "mum loving Scouse cock"

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                      #11
                      I missed it but its repeated on ITV4 Tuesday the 13th December 9pm if anyone else wants to catch it

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                        #12
                        Originally posted by knockers View Post
                        Some odd comments by Benn at the end saying he'd never used 'anabolic steroids...while boxing' seemed as though there was emphasis on 'while boxing' why would he feel the need to take steroids after he quit?

                        During my lifetime (child of the 80's) that was the best era for boxing, Benn, Eubank. Steve Collins, Nas, Tyson, Hollyfield, Lewis, Bowe etc all had great fights around this period that all seemed to be on normal TV before Sky started to throw it's money around. It seemed like less fighters dodged each other back then (apart from Bowe/Lewis).
                        It was a good time for boxing although not sure it was as good as Hagler/Hearns/Leonard/Duran era.

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Originally posted by fah-q View Post
                          It was a good time for boxing although not sure it was as good as Hagler/Hearns/Leonard/Duran era.
                          Too young to have seen those fight's, the first fight I really remember was Tyson unifying the division some time in the late 80's, 89 I think.
                          “Me having no education. I had to use my brains.”

                          Sir Bill Shankly


                          Quote:
                          Matt Dickinson ‏@DickinsonTimes
                          Terry painfully has to recount to court the song from Liverpool fans about his "mum loving Scouse cock"

                          Comment


                            #14
                            The fight was in 95 Knockers!

                            Just finished watching it, thought it was a bit superficial really, which is typical of anything ITV do. There was no real depth to the interviews with Benn, it was more focused on "Look how I've changed" from his perspective. The crude comparison between the modest house and Mallorca villa was a bit obvious too.

                            Its a horrendous story though. I remember there being a fund raiser for McLellan but never realised he got £200,000.

                            That era for middleweights / super middleweights was awesome though. Eubank, Watson, Benn, Collins in the immediate precursor to Calzaghe. Its never really been as good as that.

                            Loved it when Benn was a studio guest for an Audley Harrison fight when the BBC had signed him up after he won gold at the Olympics. He said something along the lines of it all being a but rubbish, it not being an occasion and how it was loads better when it was him, Watson and Eubank were on ITV

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Forgot I'd recorded this and just watching it back, it's quite sad that Stan Johnson (McLennans trainer) still to this day refuses to accept any blame for what happened to Gerrald but I suppose if you pay peanuts you get monkeys
                              We managed to rectify it, though, because it now says, "Cook" where it once said "Cock", and "Pass" where it once said "Piss", so it’s slightly less rude.

                              Comment

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