Editing Gerald McClellan (section)

===Benn vs McClellan===
{{Main article|Nigel Benn vs. Gerald McClellan}}
McClellan moved up in weight to challenge WBC super middleweight champion [[Nigel Benn]] in London on February 25, 1995. The fight was watched by an estimated 17 million people on television and 10,300 paying spectators.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Boxing%3A+Benn+bids+to+boost+Gerald.-a0159447238 |title=Boxing: Benn bids to boost Gerald. - Free Online Library |website=Thefreelibrary.com |access-date=2016-12-27}}</ref>

In a savage bout, McClellan knocked Benn out of the ring in round one and scored another knockdown in round eight, but each time Benn was able to work his way back into the fight. Throughout the fight Gerald received several [[Rabbit punch|punches to the back of the head]], known to be especially dangerous, without referee interference. Referee Alfred Azaro was also roundly criticized for his officiating mistakes, which included impeding the challenger's progress when McClellan was trying to finish off Benn in round 1. McClellan was noticeably blinking repeatedly early in round ten, during which, after receiving a single hard blow from Benn who seemed to throw his shoulder into McClellan's eye, he voluntarily went down, taking a knee again.<ref>{{cite web|author=Tim Dahlbergap|url=http://staugustine.com/stories/092703/spo_1833681.shtml |title=Brain-damaged and blind, former boxer McClellan can't fight back |website=StAugustine.com |date=2003-09-27 |access-date=2016-12-27}}</ref> McClellan took the mandatory eight count and the fight was resumed, but he did not throw another punch, and moments later he dropped to his knee for a second time and allowed Azaro to count him out. After the fight was over, McClellan immediately stood up and walked to his corner under his own power. He then sat down on the canvas and leaned against the ring apron, but while being attended to by ring physicians he slumped onto his back and lost consciousness. McClellan was subsequently strapped to a stretcher and rushed to the hospital.