Mike McCallum

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]

Amateur career

Mike McCallum

Medal record
Men's Boxing
Competitor for  Jamaica
Commonwealth Games
Gold	1978 Edmonton	Welterweight
Pan-American Games
Silver	1979 San Juan	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.

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 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 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]

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 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 controversial majority decision the following year. Some felt that McCallum won both fights.^[4]

Light-heavyweight

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 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.^[5]

Professional boxing record

49 Wins (36 KOs), 5 Losses, 1 Draw
Res.	Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Date	Location	Notes
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	49-5-1	James Toney	UD	12	22/02/1997	Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	49-4-1	Roy Jones, Jr.	UD	12	22/11/1996	Tampa, Florida, United States	For vacant Interim WBC light-heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	49-3-1	Ali Saidi	UD	10	22/06/1996	Dortmund, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	48-3-1	Fabrice Tiozzo	UD	12	16/06/1995	Lyon, Rhone, France	Lost WBC light-heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	48-2-1	Carl Jones	TKO	7	25/02/1995	Millwall, London, England	Retained WBC light-heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	47-2-1	Jeff Harding	UD	12	23/07/1994	Bismarck, North Dakota, United States	Won WBC light-heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	46-2-1	Randall Yonker	TKO	5	04/03/1994	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Won Interim WBC light-heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	45-2-1	Glenn Thomas	UD	10	14/08/1993	Hammersmith, London, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	34–9	Ramzi Hassan	UD	10	25/03/1993	Amiens, Somme, France
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	31–0–2	James Toney	MD	12	29/08/1992	Reno, Nevada, United States	For Lineal/IBF middleweight titles.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	12–6–2	Fermin Chirino	UD	10	21/05/1992	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Draw	28–0–1	James Toney	PTS	12	13/12/1991	Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States	ForLineal/IBF middleweight titles.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	40–9–2	Nicky Walker	RTD	5	10/10/1991	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	15–1	Carlos Cruzat	UD	10	29/08/1991	Reno, Nevada, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	51–4–1	Sumbu Kalambay	SD	12	01/04/1991	Monte Carlo, Monaco	Retained WBA middleweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	22–11–1	Frank Minton	TKO	4	19/02/1991	Kansas City, Missouri, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	22–1–1	Michael Watson	KO	11	14/04/1990	Kensington, London, United Kingdom	Retained WBA middleweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	16–0	Steve Collins	UD	12	03/02/1990	Boston, Massachusetts, United States	Retained WBA middleweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	41–1	Herol Graham	SD	12	10/05/1989	Kensington, London, United Kingdom	Won vacant WBA middleweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	23–10	Ralph Moncrief	TKO	5	09/01/1989	Nogent-le-Phaye, Eure-et-Loir, France
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	18–14	Randy "Manster" Smith	UD	10	22/12/1988	Vincennes, Val-de-Marne, France
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	8–9–2	David McCluskey	TKO	2	27/06/1988	New York City, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	43–3–1	Sumbu Kalambay	UD	12	05/03/1988	Pesaro, Marche, Italy	For WBA middleweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	27–1	Donald Curry	KO	5	18/07/1987	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Retained WBA light-middleweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	31–1–1	Milton McCrory	TKO	10	19/04/1987	Phoenix, Arizona, United States	Retained WBA light-middleweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	14–5	Leroy Hester	KO	1	21/03/1987	Kingston, Jamaica
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	21–2	Said Skouma	TKO	9	25/10/1986	Paris, France	Retained WBA light-middleweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	14–10–1	Irving Hines	TKO	4	15/09/1986	Paris, France
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	29–0	Julian Jackson	TKO	2	23/08/1986	Miami Beach, Florida, United States	Retained WBA light-middleweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	12–10	Jimmy Shavers	TKO	6	02/05/1986	Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	35–1	David Braxton	TKO	8	28/07/1985	Miami, Florida, United States	Retained WBA light-middleweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	0–3	"Ferdinand" Marcos Martinez	TKO	2	15/06/1985	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	45–3	Luigi Minchillo	TKO	13	01/12/1984	Milan, Lombardia, Italy	Retained WBA light-middleweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win		Sean Mannion	UD	15	19/10/1984	New York City, United States	Won vacant WBA light-middleweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	––	Hasim Razzaq	KO	1	10/03/1984	Detroit, Michigan, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	23–4	Manuel Jiminez	UD	10	25/10/1983	Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	5–7	Jose Vallejo	TKO	6	31/08/1983	Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	14–5–2	Tony Suero	TKO	3	26/04/1983	Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	40–2	Ayub Kalule	RTD	7	13/11/1982	Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States	Kalule retired at 3:00 of the seventh round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	12–5–1	Carlos "Cano" Betancourt	TKO	3	22/10/1982	New York City, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	6–1	Kevin Perry	UD	10	11/06/1982	New York City, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	10–7–1	Reggie Ford	TKO	4	30/04/1982	New York City, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	0–4	Gilberto Almonte	KO	1	26/03/1982	Kingston, Jamaica
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	13–3	Greg Young	TKO	5	22/01/1982	New York City, United States	Referee stopped the bout at 0:29 of the fifth round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	95–23–1	Jimmy Heair	TKO	2	08/10/1981	Tampa, Florida, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	2–12	Ed "Hurricane" Harris	KO	1	08/09/1981	Tampa, Florida, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	4–0	Tirso Roque	KO	3	27/08/1981	Tampa, Florida, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	47–21–2	Bruce "Mouse" Strauss	TKO	3	19/07/1981	Warren, Ohio, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	2–0–1	Freddie Creech	KO	3	10/06/1981	Tampa, Florida, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	2–1–1	"Prince" Charles Smith	KO	3	30/04/1981	Tampa, Florida, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	2–1	Danny "Thunderhand" Chapman	TKO	4	24/04/1981	New York City, United States	Referee stopped the bout at 2:09 of the fourth round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	3–1	Shelby Wilkerson	KO	5	02/04/1981	Tampa, Florida, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	––	Ricky Sheppard	KO	5	19/03/1981	Tampa, Florida, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	10–1–1	Rocky Fabrizio	KO	1	03/03/1981	Tampa, Florida, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	1-0	Rigoberto Lopez	KO	4	14/01/1981	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Professional debut.

See also

• List of boxing triple champions

References

External links

• Professional boxing record for Mike McCallum from BoxRec