Mike McCallum

Mike McCallum
Statistics
Nickname(s) The Bodysnatcher
Weight(s)
Height 5 ft 11 12 in (182 cm)
Reach 74 12 in (189 cm)
Nationality Jamaican
Born (1956-12-07) 7 December 1956
Kingston, Jamaica
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights 55
Wins 49
Wins by KO 36
Losses 5
Draws 1

Mike McCallum (born 7 December 1956) is a Jamaican former professional boxer who competed from 1981 to 1997. He is a three-weight world champion, having held 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.

A slick, hard-hitting technician in the ring, McCallum was known for his iron 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.

Amateur career

Claimed an amateur record of 240–10

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 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 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

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.[6]

Professional boxing record

Professional record summary
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 United States James Toney UD 12 22 Feb 1997 United States Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, US For vacant WBU cruiserweight title
54 Loss 49–4–1 United States Roy Jones Jr. UD 12 22 Nov 1996 United States Ice Palace, Tampa, Florida, US For vacant WBC interim light heavyweight title
53 Win 49–3–1 Germany Ali Saidi UD 10 22 Jun 1996 Germany Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, Germany
52 Loss 48–3–1 France Fabrice Tiozzo UD 12 16 Jun 1995 France Palais des Sports de Gerland, Lyon, France Lost WBC light heavyweight title
51 Win 48–2–1 United States Carl Jones TKO 7 (12), 1:17 25 Feb 1995 United Kingdom London Arena, London, England Retained WBC light heavyweight title
50 Win 47–2–1 Australia Jeff Harding UD 12 23 Jul 1994 United States Civic Center, Bismarck, North Dakota, US Won WBC light heavyweight title
49 Win 46–2–1 United States Randall Yonker TKO 5 (12), 2:55 4 Mar 1994 United States MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, US Won vacant WBC interim light heavyweight title
48 Win 45–2–1 United States Glenn Thomas PTS 10 14 Aug 1993 United Kingdom Labatt's Apollo, London, England
47 Win 44–2–1 Jordan Ramzi Hassan UD 10 25 Mar 1993 France Amiens, France
46 Loss 43–2–1 United States James Toney MD 12 29 Aug 1992 United States Convention Center, Reno, Nevada, US For IBF and lineal middleweight titles
45 Win 43–1–1 Venezuela Fermin Chirino UD 10 21 May 1992 United States Bally's Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, US
44 Draw 42–1–1 United States James Toney SD 12 13 Dec 1991 United States Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US For IBF and lineal middleweight titles
43 Win 42–1 United States Nicky Walker RTD 5 (10), 3:00 10 Oct 1991 United States Bally's Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, US
42 Win 41–1 Chile Carlos Cruzat UD 10 29 Aug 1991 United States Eldorado Resort Casino, Reno, Nevada, US
41 Win 40–1 Italy Sumbu Kalambay SD 12 1 Apr 1991 Monaco Stade Louis II, Fontvieille, Monaco Retained WBA middleweight title
40 Win 39–1 United States Frank Minton TKO 4 (10), 1:21 19 Feb 1991 United States Kemper Arena, Kansas City, Missouri, US
39 Win 38–1 United Kingdom Michael Watson KO 11 (12), 2:22 14 Apr 1990 United Kingdom Royal Albert Hall, London, England Retained WBA middleweight title
38 Win 37–1 Republic of Ireland Steve Collins UD 12 3 Feb 1990 United States Hynes Convention Center, Boston, Massachusetts, US Retained WBA middleweight title
37 Win 36–1 United Kingdom Herol Graham SD 12 10 May 1989 United Kingdom Royal Albert Hall, London, England Won vacant WBA middleweight title
36 Win 35–1 United States Ralph Moncrief TKO 5 9 Jan 1989 France Nogent-le-Phaye, France
35 Win 34–1 United States Randy Smith UD 10 22 Dec 1988 France Vincennes, France
34 Win 33–1 United States David McCluskey TKO 2 (10), 2:24 27 Jun 1988 United States Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
33 Loss 32–1 Italy Sumbu Kalambay UD 12 5 Mar 1988 Italy Palazzo dello Sport, Pesaro, Italy For WBA middleweight title
32 Win 32–0 United States Donald Curry KO 5 (15), 1:14 18 Jul 1987 United States Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, US Retained WBA super welterweight title
31 Win 31–0 United States Milton McCrory TKO 10 (15), 2:20 19 Apr 1987 United States Pointe Resort, Phoenix, Arizona, US Retained WBA super welterweight title
30 Win 30–0 United Kingdom Leroy Hester KO 1 (10), 1:30 21 Mar 1987 Jamaica National Arena, Kingston, Jamaica
29 Win 29–0 France Said Skouma TKO 9 (15), 2:25 25 Oct 1986 France Le Zénith, Paris, France Retained WBA super welterweight title
28 Win 28–0 United States Irving Hines TKO 4 (10) 15 Sep 1986 France Paris, France
27 Win 27–0 United States Virgin Islands Julian Jackson TKO 2 (15), 2:03 23 Aug 1986 United States Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, US Retained WBA super welterweight title
26 Win 26–0 United States Jimmy Shavers TKO 6 2 May 1986 United States Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
25 Win 25–0 United States David Braxton TKO 8 (15), 2:26 28 Jul 1985 United States Tamiami Park Auditorium, Miami, Florida, US Retained WBA super welterweight title
24 Win 24–0 United States Marcos Martinez TKO 2 (10) 15 Jun 1985 United States Riviera, Winchester, Nevada, US
23 Win 23–0 Italy Luigi Minchillo TKO 13 (15) 1 Dec 1984 Italy Palasport di San Siro, Milan, Italy Retained WBA super welterweight title
22 Win 22–0 Republic of Ireland Sean Mannion UD 15 19 Oct 1984 United States Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US Won vacant WBA super welterweight title
21 Win 21–0 United States Hasim Razzaq KO 1 (10), 0:48 10 Mar 1984 United States Cobo Hall, Detroit, Michigan, US
20 Win 20–0 Puerto Rico Manuel Jiminez UD 10 25 Oct 1983 United States Playboy Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
19 Win 19–0 Dominican Republic Jose Vallejo TKO 6 (10) 31 Aug 1983 United States Sands, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
18 Win 18–0 United States Tony Suero TKO 3 (10) 26 Apr 1983 United States Tropicana, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
17 Win 17–0 Uganda Ayub Kalule RTD 7 (10), 3:00 13 Nov 1982 United States Sands, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
16 Win 16–0 Puerto Rico Carlos Betancourt TKO 3 (10) 22 Oct 1982 United States Felt Forum, New York City, New York, US
15 Win 15–0 United States Kevin Perry UD 10 11 Jun 1982 United States Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
14 Win 14–0 Guyana Reggie Ford TKO 4 (10) 30 Apr 1982 United States Felt Forum, New York City, New York, US
13 Win 13–0 Dominican Republic Gilberto Almonte KO 1 (10), 1:06 26 Mar 1982 Jamaica Hotel, Kingston, Jamaica
12 Win 12–0 United States Greg Young TKO 5 (10), 0:29 22 Jan 1982 United States Felt Forum, New York City, New York, US
11 Win 11–0 United States Jimmy Heair TKO 2 (10) 8 Oct 1981 United States Curtis Hixon Hall, Tampa, Florida, US
10 Win 10–0 United States Ed Harris KO 1 (8) 8 Sep 1981 United States Curtis Hixon Hall, Tampa, Florida, US
9 Win 9–0 Cuba Tirso Roque KO 3 (8) 27 Aug 1981 United States Curtis Hixon Hall, Tampa, Florida, US
8 Win 8–0 United States Bruce Strauss TKO 3 19 Jul 1981 United States Packard Music Hall, Warren, Ohio, US
7 Win 7–0 United States Freddie Creech KO 3 10 Jun 1981 United States Tampa, Florida, US
6 Win 6–0 United States "Prince" Charles Smith KO 3 30 Apr 1981 United States Curtis Hixon Hall, Tampa, Florida, US
5 Win 5–0 United States Danny Chapman TKO 4 (4), 2:09 24 Apr 1981 United States Felt Forum, New York City, New York, US
4 Win 4–0 United States Shelby Wilkerson KO 5 2 Apr 1981 United States Tampa, Florida, US
3 Win 3–0 United States Ricky Sheppard KO 5 19 Mar 1981 United States Curtis Hixon Hall, Tampa, Florida, US
2 Win 2–0 United States Rocky Fabrizio KO 1 3 Mar 1981 United States Tampa, Florida, US
1 Win 1–0 United States Rigoberto Lopez KO 4 (6) 14 Jan 1981 United States Silver Slipper, Paradise, Nevada, US Professional debut

See also

References

  1. "Mike McCallum". The Cyber Boxing Zone. Retrieved 2016-06-18.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 7 April 2007. Retrieved 3 March 2007.
  3. "Mike McCallum vs. Donald Curry". BoxRec.com. Retrieved 2016-06-18.
  4. Peter Arnold (1989). The illustrated encyclopedia of world boxing. New York: Gallery Books. ISBN 0831727896.
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 8 April 2007. Retrieved 3 March 2007.
  6. "Mike McCallum". Ibhof.com. Retrieved 2016-06-18.
Sporting positions
Amateur boxing titles
Previous:
Clinton Jackson
U.S. Golden Gloves welterweight champion
1977
Next:
Jeff Stoudemire
U.S. welterweight champion
1977
Next:
Roger Leonard
Previous:
Jeff Stoudemire
U.S. Golden Gloves welterweight champion
1979
Next:
Donald Curry
World boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Roberto Durán
stripped
WBA super welterweight champion
19 October 1984 – November 1987
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Julian Jackson
Vacant
Title last held by
Sumbu Kalambay
stripped
WBA middleweight champion
10 May 1989 – December 1991
Stripped
Vacant
Title next held by
Reggie Johnson
New title WBC light heavyweight champion
Interim title

4 March 1994 – 23 July 1994
Won full title
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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