Mike McCallum

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Mike McCallum

Statistics

Real name Michael McCallum

Nickname(s) The Bodysnatcher

Rated at Light middleweight

Middleweight

Light heavyweight

Cruiserweight

Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)

Reach 74 in (188 cm)

Nationality Jamaican

Born 7 December 1956 (age 59)

Kingston, Jamaica

Stance Orthodox

Boxing record

Total fights 55

Wins 49
 Wins by KO 36

Losses 5

Draws 1

No contests 1

Medal record[hide]

Men's boxing
Representing Jamaica
Commonwealth Games
1978 Edmonton Welterweight
Pan-American Games
1979 San Juan Welterweight

Mike McCallum (born December 7, 1956) is a Jamaican former professional boxer. He held
the WBA light middleweightand middleweight titles, as well as the WBC light heavyweight title.
A slick, hard hitting, iron-chinned technician in the ring, McCallum is regarded by many fans
and critics alike to be one of the most underrated fighters in history, and also one of the best of
all time. He earned his nickname of "The Bodysnatcher" due to his ability to land vicious body
punches in fights. His final fight was against old nemesis and three-weight world
champion James Toney, against whom he lost by unanimous decision after twelve rounds.
McCallum retired in February 1997 after a professional career spanning sixteen years, three
world titles and four weight divisions. He defeated seven champions in Ayub Kalule, Julian
Jackson, Milton McCrory, Donald Curry, Steve Collins, Sumbu Kalambay and Jeff Harding.
McCallum currently resides in New York City. He was inducted into the International Boxing
Hall of Fame in 2003.

Contents
[hide]

 1Amateur career
 2Professional career
o 2.1Light-middleweight
o 2.2Middleweight
o 2.3Light-heavyweight
 3Professional boxing record
 4See also
 5References
 6External links

Amateur career[edit]
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]

Professional career[edit]
Light-middleweight[edit]
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 two-weight world champion 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 championDonald 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]
Middleweight[edit]
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[4]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 controversial majority decision the following year. Some felt that McCallum won both fights.[5]
Light-heavyweight[edit]
McCallum then moved up two weight divisions and won the Interim WBC 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 vacantInterim 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.[6]

Professional boxing record[edit]

49 Wins (36 KOs), 5 Losses, 1 Draw [7]

Res Reco Oppon Roun

Type Date Location Notes
. rd ent d

Ja
Los 22/02/19 Uncasville, Connecticut, United
49-5-1 mes UD 12
97
s States
Toney

Ro For vacant
Interim WBC
Los y 22/11/19
49-4-1 UD 12 Tampa, Florida, United States light-
s Jones, 96
heavyweight
Jr. title.

Ali 22/06/19 Dortmund, Nordrhein-

Win 49-3-1 UD 10
96 Westfalen, Germany
Saidi

Los Fa 16/06/19
Lost WBC light-
48-3-1 brice UD 12 Lyon, Rhone, France heavyweight
s 95
Tiozzo title.

Retained WBC
Ca 25/02/19 light-
Win 48-2-1 TKO 7
95
Millwall, London, England
heavyweight
rl Jones
title.

Jef Won WBC light-

23/07/19 Bismarck, North Dakota, United
Win 47-2-1 f UD 12
94 States
heavyweight
Harding title.

Ra Won Interim WB
04/03/19 Las Vegas, Nevada, United C light-
Win 46-2-1 ndall TKO 5
94 States heavyweight titl
Yonker e.
 Gle
14/08/19 Hammersmith, London, Englan
Win 45-2-1 nn UD 10
93 d
Thomas

Ra
25/03/
Win 44-2-1 mzi UD 10 Amiens, Somme, France
1993
Hassan

Ja For Lineal/IBF
Los 29/08/ Reno, Nevada, United
43-2-1 mes MD 12 middleweight
s 1992 States titles.
Toney

Fer 21/05/ Las

Win 43-1-1 min UD 10
1992 Vegas, Nevada, United States
Chirino

Ja For Lineal/IBF
Dra 13/12/ Atlantic City, New
42-1-1 mes PTS 12 middleweight
w 1991 Jersey, United States titles.
Toney

Nic
10/10/ Las
Win 42-1 ky RTD 5
1991 Vegas, Nevada, United States
Walker

Ca 29/08/ Reno, Nevada, United

Win 41-1 rlos UD 10
1991 States
Cruzat

Su
Retained WBA
mbu 01/04/
Win 40-1 SD 12 Monte Carlo, Monaco middleweight
Kalamb 1991 title.
ay

Fra
19/02/ Kansas City,
Win 39-1 nk TKO 4
1991 Missouri, United States
Minton

Mic Retained WBA

14/04/ Kensington, London, Unite
Win 38-1 hael KO 11 middleweight
1990 d Kingdom title.
Watson

Ste Retained WBA

03/02/ Boston,
Win 37-1 ve UD 12 middleweight
1990 Massachusetts, United States title.
Collins

He Won vacant
10/05/ Kensington, London, Unite WBA
Win 36-1 rol SD 12 middleweight
1989 d Kingdom
Graham title.
 Ral
ph 09/01/ Nogent-le-Phaye, Eure-et-
Win 35-1 TKO 5
Moncrie 1989 Loir, France
f

Ra
ndy 22/12/ Vincennes, Val-de-
Win 34-1 UD 10
"Manste 1988 Marne, France
r" Smith

Da
vid 27/06/ New York City, United
Win 33-1 TKO 2
McClus 1988 States
key

Su
For
Los mbu 05/03/
32-1 UD 12 Pesaro, Marche, Italy WBA middlewei
s Kalamb 1988 ght title.
ay

Do Retained WBA
18/07/ Las light-
Win 32-0 nald KO 5 middleweight
1987 Vegas, Nevada, United States
Curry title.

Milt Retained WBA

on 19/04/ Phoenix, Arizona, United light-
Win 31-0 TKO 10 middleweight
McCror 1987 States
y title.

Ler
21/03/
Win 30-0 oy KO 1 Kingston, Jamaica
1987
Hester

Sai Retained WBA

d 25/10/ light-
Win 29-0 TKO 9 Paris, France middleweight
Skoum 1986
title.
a

Wi 28- Irving TK
0
4 15/09/1986 Paris, France
n Hines O

Miami Beach, Retained WBA

Wi 27 Julian TK light-
–0
2 23/08/1986 Florida, United middleweight
n Jackson O
States title.

Wi 26- Jimmy TK Atlantic City,

0
6 02/05/1986 New
n Shavers O
Jersey, United
 States

Miami, Retained WBA

Wi 25- David TK light-
0
8 28/07/1985 Florida, United middleweight
n Braxton O
States title.

"Ferdinand" Las
Wi 24- TK
0
Marcos 2 15/06/1985 Vegas, Nevada, U
n O
Martinez nited States

Retained WBA
Wi 23- Luigi TK Milan, Lomba light-
0 13 01/12/1984 middleweight
n Minchillo O rdia, Italy
title.

Won
vacant WBA lig
Wi 22- Sean New York
UD 15 19/10/1984 ht-
n 0 Mannion City, United States
middleweight tit
le.

Detroit,
Wi 21- Hasim
0
KO 1 10/03/1984 Michigan, United
n Razzaq
States

Atlantic City,
Wi 20- Manuel New
0 UD 10 25/10/1983
n Jiminez Jersey, United
States

Atlantic City,
Wi 19- Jose TK New
0
6 31/08/1983
n Vallejo O Jersey, United
States

Atlantic City,
Wi 18- Tony TK New
0
3 26/04/1983
n Suero O Jersey, United
States

Atlantic City,
Kalule retired
Wi 17- Ayub RT New
0
7 13/11/1982 at 3:00 of the
n Kalule D Jersey, United seventh round.
States

Wi 16-
Carlos TK New York
0 "Cano" 3 22/10/1982
n O City, United States
Betancourt

Wi 15- Kevin UD 10 11/06/1982 New York

n 0 Perry City, United States

Wi 14- Reggie TK New York

0
4 30/04/1982
n Ford O City, United States

Wi 13- Gilberto Kingston,

0
KO 1 26/03/1982
n Almonte Jamaica

Referee
Wi 12- Greg TK New York stopped the
0
5 22/01/1982 bout at 0:29 of
n Young O City, United States
the fifth round.

Tampa,
Wi 11- Jimmy TK
0 2 08/10/1981 Florida, United
n Heair O
States

Ed Tampa,
Wi 10-
0
"Hurricane" KO 1 08/09/1981 Florida, United
n
Harris States

Tampa,
Wi 9– Tirso
0
KO 3 27/08/1981 Florida, United
n Roque
States

Bruce Warren,
Wi TK
8-0 "Mouse" 3 19/07/1981 Ohio, United
n O
Strauss States

Tampa,
Wi Freddie
7-0 KO 3 10/06/1981 Florida, United
n Creech
States

Tampa,
Wi "Prince"
6-0 KO 3 30/04/1981 Florida, United
n Charles Smith
States

Referee
Danny stopped the
Wi TK New York
5-0 "Thunderhand" 4 24/04/1981 bout at 2:09 of
n O City, United States the fourth
Chapman
round.

Tampa,
Wi Shelby
4-0 KO 5 02/04/1981 Florida, United
n Wilkerson
States

Tampa,
Wi Ricky
3-0 KO 5 19/03/1981 Florida, United
n Sheppard
States
 Tampa,
Wi Rocky
2-0 KO 1 03/03/1981 Florida, United
n Fabrizio
States

Las
Wi Rigoberto Professional
1-0 KO 4 14/01/1981 Vegas, Nevada, U debut.
n Lopez
nited States