Mike McCallum

Mike McCallum (born 7 December 1956) is a Jamaican former professional boxer who competed from 1981 to 1997. He held world championships in three weight classes, including the WBA super welterweight title from 1984 to 1988, the WBA middleweight title from 1989 to 1991, and the WBC light heavyweight title from 1994 to 1995.

Mike McCallum
Statistics
Nickname(s)The Bodysnatcher
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 11+1⁄2 in (182 cm)[1]
Reach78 in (198 cm)[1]
Born (1956-12-07) 7 December 1956
Kingston, Jamaica
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights55
Wins49
Wins by KO36
Losses5
Draws1
Medal record
Men's amateur boxing
Representing  Jamaica
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place 1978 Edmonton Welterweight
Pan American Games
Silver medal – second place 1979 San Juan Welterweight
Central American and Caribbean Games
Gold medal – first place 1978 Medellín Welterweight
Silver medal – second place 1974 Santo Domingo Welterweight

A slick, hard-hitting technician in the ring, McCallum was known for his exceptionally durable chin and toughness, and was never stopped in any of his five losses. He earned his nickname of "The Bodysnatcher" due to his ability to land vicious body punches in fights. McCallum was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003. In 2011, The Ring magazine ranked him as eighth on their list of the "10 best middleweight title holders of the last 50 years."[2]

Amateur career

Claimed an amateur record of 240–10

  • 1974 - Competed as a welterweight in the World Championships in Havana, losing by a 3rd-round TKO to Clint Jackson of the United States.
  • 1974 - Won welterweight silver medal at the 1974 Central American and Caribbean Games.
  • 1975 - Represented Jamaica at the 1975 Pan American Games in Mexico City.
  • 1976 - Represented Jamaica as a welterweight at Montreal Olympic Games. Results were:
  • 1977 - National AAU Welterweight Champion, defeating Marlon Starling in semifinals and Roger Leonard of the Air Force in the final.
  • 1977 - National Golden Gloves Welterweight Champion
  • 1978 - Won welterweight gold medal at the 1978 Central American and Caribbean Games.
  • 1978 - Welterweight Gold Medalist at Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Canada.
  • 1978 - Won welterweight gold medal at the 1978 Central American and Caribbean Games.
  • 1979 - National Golden Gloves Welterweight Champion, defeating Doug DeWitt and Robbie Sims.
  • 1979 - Welterweight Silver Medalist at Pan-American Games in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Results were:
    • Defeated Claudio Pereira (Brazil)
    • Defeated Edward Green (United States) TKO 2
    • Defeated Javier Colin (Mexico) TKO
    • Lost to Andrés Aldama (Cuba) KO by 2
  • 1979 - National Golden Gloves Welterweight Champion.
  • 1980 - Lost to Alex Ramos in New York Golden Gloves.[3]

Professional career

Light middleweight

Mike McCallum turned professional in 1981. As a professional, he fought almost exclusively in the USA. He first became a world champion in 1984 by defeating Sean Mannion to win the vacant WBA super welterweight title. McCallum would defend that title six times, winning all six fights by knock out.

His first prominent opponent was future two-weight world champion and future fellow International Boxing Hall of Fame member Julian Jackson, whom McCallum fought in his third title defense. McCallum survived some punishment in the first round and came back to stop the undefeated Jackson in the second round.[4]

McCallum really came to prominence when he knocked out former WBC welterweight title-holder Milton McCrory and former undisputed world welterweight champion, another future International Boxing Hall of Fame member, Donald Curry in 1987. Curry was ahead on all three scorecards going into the fifth round when McCallum knocked him out with what some have called a "perfect" left hook.[5]

Middleweight

In 1988, he moved up to middleweight, suffering his first defeat, a clear unanimous decision, in an attempt to win the WBA middleweight championship from Sumbu Kalambay. In 1989, McCallum defeated Herol Graham by a split decision[6] to win the then-vacant WBA middleweight title (which had been stripped from Kalambay for signing to face IBF champion Michael Nunn). He defended the title three times, defeating Steve Collins, Michael Watson, and Kalambay in a rematch.

McCallum fought IBF middleweight champion James Toney in 1991. McCallum was stripped of the WBA title before the bout. The fight ended in a draw, and McCallum lost the second fight by a controversial majority decision the following year. Some felt that McCallum won both fights.[7]

Light heavyweight

McCallum then moved up two weight divisions and won the WBC interim light heavyweight title against Randall Yonker, then won the full WBC title by outpointing Jeff Harding in 1994. Being in his late thirties, he did not hold the crown long, losing the title to Fabrice Tiozzo. At 40 years of age, he attempted to regain the vacant Interim WBC title against Roy Jones Jr. in December 1996, but lost by a wide decision.

In his last fight, McCallum lost a rubber match to James Toney via a unanimous decision in a cruiserweight bout.

McCallum had a professional record of 49-5-1 (36 knockouts). He was never knocked out as a professional. After McCallum retired, he moved to Las Vegas and became a trainer. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003.[8]

Professional boxing record
55 fights 49 wins 5 losses
By knockout 36 0
By decision 13 5
Draws 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
55 Loss 49–5–1 James Toney UD 12 22 Feb 1997 Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, US For vacant WBU cruiserweight title
54 Loss 49–4–1 Roy Jones Jr. UD 12 22 Nov 1996 Ice Palace, Tampa, Florida, US For vacant WBC interim light heavyweight title
53 Win 49–3–1 Ali Saidi UD 10 22 Jun 1996 Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, Germany
52 Loss 48–3–1 Fabrice Tiozzo UD 12 16 Jun 1995 Palais des Sports de Gerland, Lyon, France Lost WBC light heavyweight title
51 Win 48–2–1 Carl Jones TKO 7 (12), 1:17 25 Feb 1995 London Arena, London, England Retained WBC light heavyweight title
50 Win 47–2–1 Jeff Harding UD 12 23 Jul 1994 Civic Center, Bismarck, North Dakota, US Won WBC light heavyweight title
49 Win 46–2–1 Randall Yonker TKO 5 (12), 2:55 4 Mar 1994 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, US Won vacant WBC interim light heavyweight title
48 Win 45–2–1 Glenn Thomas PTS 10 14 Aug 1993 Labatt's Apollo, London, England
47 Win 44–2–1 Ramzi Hassan UD 10 25 Mar 1993 Amiens, France
46 Loss 43–2–1 James Toney MD 12 29 Aug 1992 Convention Center, Reno, Nevada, US For IBF middleweight title
45 Win 43–1–1 Fermin Chirino UD 10 21 May 1992 Bally's Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, US
44 Draw 42–1–1 James Toney SD 12 13 Dec 1991 Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US For IBF middleweight title
43 Win 42–1 Nicky Walker RTD 5 (10), 3:00 10 Oct 1991 Bally's Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, US
42 Win 41–1 Carlos Cruzat UD 10 29 Aug 1991 Eldorado Resort Casino, Reno, Nevada, US
41 Win 40–1 Sumbu Kalambay SD 12 1 Apr 1991 Stade Louis II, Fontvieille, Monaco Retained WBA middleweight title
40 Win 39–1 Frank Minton TKO 4 (10), 1:21 19 Feb 1991 Kemper Arena, Kansas City, Missouri, US
39 Win 38–1 Michael Watson KO 11 (12), 2:22 14 Apr 1990 Royal Albert Hall, London, England Retained WBA middleweight title
38 Win 37–1 Steve Collins UD 12 3 Feb 1990 Hynes Convention Center, Boston, Massachusetts, US Retained WBA middleweight title
37 Win 36–1 Herol Graham SD 12 10 May 1989 Royal Albert Hall, London, England Won vacant WBA middleweight title
36 Win 35–1 Ralph Moncrief TKO 5 9 Jan 1989 Nogent-le-Phaye, France
35 Win 34–1 Randy Smith UD 10 22 Dec 1988 Vincennes, France
34 Win 33–1 David McCluskey TKO 2 (10), 2:24 27 Jun 1988 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
33 Loss 32–1 Sumbu Kalambay UD 12 5 Mar 1988 Palazzo dello Sport, Pesaro, Italy For WBA middleweight title
32 Win 32–0 Donald Curry KO 5 (15), 1:14 18 Jul 1987 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, US Retained WBA super welterweight title
31 Win 31–0 Milton McCrory TKO 10 (15), 2:20 19 Apr 1987 Pointe Resort, Phoenix, Arizona, US Retained WBA super welterweight title
30 Win 30–0 Leroy Hester KO 1 (10), 1:30 21 Mar 1987 National Arena, Kingston, Jamaica
29 Win 29–0 Said Skouma TKO 9 (15), 2:25 25 Oct 1986 Le Zénith, Paris, France Retained WBA super welterweight title
28 Win 28–0 Irving Hines TKO 4 (10) 15 Sep 1986 Paris, France
27 Win 27–0 Julian Jackson TKO 2 (15), 2:03 23 Aug 1986 Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, US Retained WBA super welterweight title
26 Win 26–0 Jimmy Shavers TKO 6 2 May 1986 Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
25 Win 25–0 David Braxton TKO 8 (15), 2:26 28 Jul 1985 Tamiami Park Auditorium, Miami, Florida, US Retained WBA super welterweight title
24 Win 24–0 Marcos Martinez TKO 2 (10) 15 Jun 1985 Riviera, Winchester, Nevada, US
23 Win 23–0 Luigi Minchillo TKO 13 (15) 1 Dec 1984 Palasport di San Siro, Milan, Italy Retained WBA super welterweight title
22 Win 22–0 Sean Mannion UD 15 19 Oct 1984 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US Won vacant WBA super welterweight title
21 Win 21–0 Hasim Razzaq KO 1 (10), 0:48 10 Mar 1984 Cobo Hall, Detroit, Michigan, US
20 Win 20–0 Manuel Jiminez UD 10 25 Oct 1983 Playboy Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
19 Win 19–0 Jose Vallejo TKO 6 (10) 31 Aug 1983 Sands, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
18 Win 18–0 Tony Suero TKO 3 (10) 26 Apr 1983 Tropicana, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
17 Win 17–0 Ayub Kalule RTD 7 (10), 3:00 13 Nov 1982 Sands, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
16 Win 16–0 Carlos Betancourt TKO 3 (10) 22 Oct 1982 Felt Forum, New York City, New York, US
15 Win 15–0 Kevin Perry UD 10 11 Jun 1982 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
14 Win 14–0 Reggie Ford TKO 4 (10) 30 Apr 1982 Felt Forum, New York City, New York, US
13 Win 13–0 Gilberto Almonte KO 1 (10), 1:06 26 Mar 1982 Hotel, Kingston, Jamaica
12 Win 12–0 Greg Young TKO 5 (10), 0:29 22 Jan 1982 Felt Forum, New York City, New York, US
11 Win 11–0 Jimmy Heair TKO 2 (10) 8 Oct 1981 Curtis Hixon Hall, Tampa, Florida, US
10 Win 10–0 Ed Harris KO 1 (8) 8 Sep 1981 Curtis Hixon Hall, Tampa, Florida, US
9 Win 9–0 Tirso Roque KO 3 (8) 27 Aug 1981 Curtis Hixon Hall, Tampa, Florida, US
8 Win 8–0 Bruce Strauss TKO 3 19 Jul 1981 Packard Music Hall, Warren, Ohio, US
7 Win 7–0 Freddie Creech KO 3 10 Jun 1981 Tampa, Florida, US
6 Win 6–0 Charles Smith KO 3 30 Apr 1981 Curtis Hixon Hall, Tampa, Florida, US
5 Win 5–0 Danny Chapman TKO 4 (4), 2:09 24 Apr 1981 Felt Forum, New York City, New York, US
4 Win 4–0 Shelby Wilkerson KO 5 2 Apr 1981 Tampa, Florida, US
3 Win 3–0 Ricky Sheppard KO 5 19 Mar 1981 Curtis Hixon Hall, Tampa, Florida, US
2 Win 2–0 Rocky Fabrizio KO 1 3 Mar 1981 Tampa, Florida, US
1 Win 1–0 Rigoberto Lopez KO 4 (6) 14 Jan 1981 Silver Slipper, Paradise, Nevada, US

See also

References
  1. HBO Sports tale of the tape prior to the Roy Jones Jr. fight.
  2. "10: Best middleweight titleholders of the last 50 years". RingTV. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  3. "Mike McCallum". The Cyber Boxing Zone. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  4. "Mike McCallum: Forgotten Champion". Archived from the original on 7 April 2007. Retrieved 3 March 2007.
  5. "Mike McCallum vs. Donald Curry". BoxRec.com. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  6. Peter Arnold (1989). The illustrated encyclopedia of world boxing. New York: Gallery Books. ISBN 0831727896.
  7. "Do You Remember McCallum, Jackson, Nunn, Graham, or Benn?". Archived from the original on 8 April 2007. Retrieved 3 March 2007.
  8. "Mike McCallum". Ibhof.com. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
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