Mike McCallum
| Mike McCallum | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Mike McCallum |
| Nickname(s) | Bodysnatcher |
| Rated at | light middleweight middleweight light heavyweight |
| Nationality | Jamaican |
| Born | 7 December 1956 Kingston, Jamaica |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 55 |
| Wins | 49 |
| Wins by KO | 36 |
| Losses | 5 |
| Draws | 1 |
| No contests | 1 |
Mike McCallum (born 7 December 1956 in Kingston, Jamaica) is a retired boxer. Nicknamed "The Body Snatcher" for his fierce body punching. McCallum won world titles in three weight classes.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Amateur career
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's Boxing | ||
Competitor for  Jamaica |
||
| Pan American | ||
| Silver | 1979 San Juan | Welterweight |
| Commonwealth Games | ||
| Gold | 1978 Edmonton | Welterweight |
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.
- 1976 - Represented Jamaica as a welterweight at Montreal Olympic Games. Results were:
- Defeated Damdinjav Bandi (Mongolia) points
- Defeated Robert Dauer (Austria) points
- Lost to Reinhard Skricek (West Germany) points
- 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 - Welterweight Gold Medalist at Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Canada.
- 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.[1]
[edit] Professional career
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 light Middleweight title. McCallum would defend that title six times, winning all six fights by knock out.
His first prominent opponent was future world champion and Hall of Fame inductee Julian Jackson, who 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.[2]
McCallum really came to prominence when he knocked out former WBC welterweight title holder Milton McCrory and former Undisputed welterweight champion 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.[3]
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 close decision to win the now-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 majority decision the following year. Some felt that McCallum won both fights.[4]
McCallum moved up in weight again and won the WBC light heavyweight 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. He attempted to regain the vacant interim title against Roy Jones Jr, but lost by a wide decision. In his last fight, McCallum lost a rubber match to James Toney in the cruiserweight division.
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 trainer. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003.[5]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Don Quarrie |
Jamaica Sportsman of the Year 1978 |
Succeeded by David Weller |
| Preceded by Bertland Cameron |
Jamaica Sportsman of the Year 1984–1987 |
Succeeded by Jeff Dujon |
| Preceded by Jeff Dujon |
Jamaica Sportsman of the Year 1989–1990 |
Succeeded by Patrick Patterson |
| Achievements | ||
| Preceded by Roberto Durán Stripped |
WBA Light Middleweight Champion 19 Oct 1984–1988 Vacates |
Succeeded by Julian Jackson |
| Preceded by Sumbu Kalambay Stripped |
WBA Middleweight Champion 10 May 1989–1991 Stripped |
Succeeded by Reggie Johnson |
| Preceded by N/A Inaugaral title |
WBC Light Heavyweight Interim Champion 4 March 1994 – 23 July 1994 Unified |
Vacant
Title next held by
Roy Jones, Jr. |
| Preceded by Jeff Harding |
WBC Light Heavyweight Champion 23 July 1994–16 June 1995 |
Succeeded by Fabrice Tiozzo |
|
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