The boxing world was saddened by the news of Mike McCallum, 68, one of boxing’s most accomplished and respected champions of the 1980s and 1990s, passing away suddenly and unexpectedly on Saturday in Las Vegas.
McCallum won world titles in three weight classes and had moved into training fighters in retirement.
McCallum represented Jamaica at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. He made his pro debut in January 1981.
McCallum was nicknamed “The Body Snatcher” because of his proficient and strong body punching skills.
A champion in the junior middleweight, middleweight, and light heavyweight divisions, McCallum fought professionally for 16 years, registering an impressive 49-5-1 (36). McCallum was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003.
McCallum won his first world title in 1984, when he defeated Sean Mannion by UD 15 for the vacant WBA 154-pound title. He followed that up with six successful defenses of the WBA belt, including wins over Julian Jackson, Milton McCrory, and Donald Curry.
He later traveled to London and beat England’s Herol Graham by SD to win the WBA middleweight title in May of 1989. Then, in March of 1994, he beat Randall Yonker to win the vacant WBC light heavyweight title.
In an incredible 55-fight career, McCallum faced Julian Jackson, Milton McCrory, Donald Curry, Sambu Kalambay, Herol Graham, Steve Collins, Michael Watson, James Toney, Jeff Harding, and Roy Jones Jr., among others.
Rest in peace, Champ.
