I know it's not MT or FC related, but I just wanted to make Ax Forum fight fans, aware of the above named documentary being shown on ITV Monday 5th December @ 22:35.

My all-time favourite fighter is Nigel Benn, and this recounts the epic fight he had with Gerald McClellan. Gerald was considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world back then, and he went to work on Nigel from the get-go. What follows next is an extreme mixture of emotions, as Nigel (who for want of a better description is getting the beating of his career), comes back and beats Gerald.

The roller-coaster of emotion begins when you witness Nigels 'heart-of-a-lion' comeback, but the aftermath of the win is a truly devastating affair.

This fight has never, ever been aired, since the actual event back in 1995. I thought it worth a mention on this board.

Yep,Defo one to watch or record or both!

makes you think it could be all over with a few hits to the head.. never to be the same person you once were needing 24hr care etc. scary i wont be watching.

I think this kind of awareness is vital to people in the fight game. Especially referee's and the corner team, as they are there to protect the fighter and shoulder a massive responsibility. Thankfully, incidents akin to this are extremely rare. This link may help folk decide whether to tune in to see what was classed as one of the brutal fights ever staged.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2011/dec/02/nigel-benn-gerald-mcclellan-fight

Ill be watchin it. The big thing for fighters is meeting the weight for the weigh-in and in doing so they sometimes de-hydrate. If thius happens it takes a certain time for the fluid round the brain to come back, this leaves the brain in a vulnerable position ultimately leading to blood-clot caused by trauma to the skull!! If its not sorted asap then your in trouble! Not worth the risk really.

I remember the fight I was and still am a massive fan of benn, he was never the same after it, the danger is always there and should never be over looked

Similar thing happened to a good friend he was boxing for British title and was well in front going into final round, the corner made a massive mistake by telling him to go for knock out in last round, he got caught as a result and was stopped his fiancée luckily found him face down in the kitchen at 1am and rushed to hospital to remove a clot,

But the damage was done in sparring so if he'd won the fight could have died in his sleep who knows thankfully he is fine could never fight again but Life is a bit more precious ;-)

after Gerald had defended his title WBC middleweight title v julian Jackson he said in interview he had a headache after the fight for three weeks I believe part of the damage was done then as Julian Jackson was a bigger puncher than both benn and McClellan also kronk is known for wars look at hearns then again it's not draughts is either sad to see it happen to anyone x

that coach of mcclellan was a ratbag,it was tough viewing, was tragic, i hope mcclellan and his family get help now from within the boxing community or from a wealthy boxing fan

Concur. G-Man's 'trainer' was abysmal to the N'th degree !! Bells should have been ringing when Gerald had to wrap his own hands before the fight !!

I don't think the docu provided an ultimate answer as to what caused the tragedy. It seemed to skirt around a variety of reasons from apparently poor reffing,through to Gerald dismissing his previous manager and trainer (Manny Steward), thus bringing that dick-head 'trainer' on board.

Were the signs there for somebody to step in and call a halt to the fight ?? Continued heavy blinking from Gerald (especially after the accidental headbuut from Nigel), constant rubbing of the temple when there was no cuts/bruising in that area, the fact Gerald had his mouthpiece hanging out for nearly half the fight suggesting difficulties ??

Exremely tough decisions to be made when stopping a fight at that level !! Whatever conclusions individuals draw from the docu, my own will be that it was one of the hardest/toughest brawls I have ever seen, and that nobody actually won that evening.