McClellan Still Critical but Expected to Recover : Boxing: Detroit boxer has blood clot removed from his brain after losing London title fight to Benn, who says he might retire.

Boxer Gerald McClellan of Detroit remained in critical condition and on life support in a London hospital Sunday after having a large blood clot removed from his brain.

Doctors said the next 48 hours would be critical to recovery for the 27-year-old American.

“I think there’s a good chance he will survive, unless any other problems develop in the next 24-48 hours,” said John Sutcliffe, a neurosurgeon who performed the operation at the Royal London Hospital. “I think it’s fair to say he is currently stable, but things could take a turn for the better or worse over the next two days.”

Sutcliffe, who put McClellan’s recovery chances as better than 50-50, said it was too early to say whether the American had suffered long-term damage. In any case, he said, “his career as a boxer is finished.”

American promoter Don King, who visited the hospital Sunday, was full of praise for the British doctors and officials who acted to save McClellan’s life.

Perhaps the victim of his own ferocious attacking style, McClellan was floored twice in the 10th round Saturday night by Nigel Benn in a sometimes brutal World Boxing Council super-middleweight title fight.

While Benn celebrated, McClellan collapsed in the ring soon after reaching his corner. Sutcliffe said the fact that medics were on hand at ringside to administer oxygen so quickly was crucial. If they hadn’t, McClellan probably would have died, he said.

Rushed to the hospital, McClellan underwent surgery for a large blood clot on the right side of his brain.

McClellan’s family flew to London on Sunday from its home in Freeport, Ill. to see him deep under sedation.

Benn, who was treated briefly at the same hospital for exhaustion, said he was deeply saddened by McClellan’s injuries and was considering retiring from the sport.

Benn, who had been knocked down by McClellan in the first and eighth rounds, issued a statement that said:

“My heart goes out to Gerald McClellan and his family. It was a fierce and fair fight, but no one could imagine that such a great sporting spectacle could end so sadly.”