Tony Zale vs. Mike McCallum

McCallum.

Simply more refined, a smoother fighter. Fought unbelievably well under pressure, which Zale would bring.

Even if Zale nearly had McCallum out of there he was composed and intelligent enough in the ring to survive after almost being put down by Julian Jackson.

 

McCallum would take a hard fought but clear decision.

 

I think McCallum could stop him with consistent punishment if it was a 15 round right, honestly.

Zale was extremely tough, but wasn't indestructable. He was stopped five times over the course of his career.

 

The man of steel Tony Zale was the bigger banger and actually the better and more dedicated body puncher of the two, and he was just as tough as Mike was and could take a punch as well as anyone. As good as Mike was I`m not convinced he would have won against a motivated Zale at his peak, that Zale was one dangerous fighter and I wonder how Mike would have reacted if he were on the receiving end of a comitted body attack by Zale as the fight wears on. Mike could punch but he wasn`t that hard of a banger really, and I don`t see him putting enough hurt on Zale to discourage him from coming in and getting his pound of flesh. I`ll go against the grain and pick Zale via decision in a highly competitive and close bout.

 

McCallum was never stopped.

How can Zale be unquestionably tougher then Mike when the bodysnatcher took everything Julian Jackson and Donald Curry threw at him.

 

I didnt say he was gonna get stopped Russell, and all I said was that Zale was just as tough as Mike when the going got tough. Zale could take a hell of a punch, this cannot be denied even if you believe that McCallum had the better whiskers between the two of them. I just think that Mike could wilt under the constant barrage of blows to his midsection which Zale will undoubtebly subject him to, and if he slows down considerably by the later rounds I think Zale can overcome him down the stretch and win enough of the later rounds to pull out a close win on points. This scenario is not all that unlikely in my opinion.

 

I'll tentatively agree.

 

McCallum may take it by a nailbiter, but Zale's pressure could win this close too.

 

Haha Zale wasn't a pressure fighter/brawler he had very good boxing skills but if the other fighter wanted to brawl he would do it in a second without even thinking so unless McCallum wanted to brawl it would be a boxing match and with Zale being the best body puncher ever i think he could definatley win no ko or tko i think decision would be for this fight, if McCallum wanted to have a brawl the toughness of Zale would come out along with the body shots and this is a prime Zale not the post ww2 from the Graziano fights an even better fighter that hasn't yet been hindered by a lay off fighting in the war. I mean what was Billy Conn the second time he fought Louis after the army, Zale was a much better fighter before the war and would win this match up

 

McCallum was a good all-around boxer/technician, but he didn't excel in any one area IMO. Even his nickname "Bodysnatcher" is misleading, since he really wasn't a powerful bodypuncher in the sense that someone like Arguello or Cuevas was - his persistence at working the body, moreso than the pure power of his punches, is what wore opponents down.

At his peak (pre-WW2) Zale was a more powerful puncher than McCallum (even to the body) and despite what many people may think, he was also quicker on his toes. McCallum's height and reach could pose problems for Zale, but I would favor Zale's speed and power to carry him to a decision victory.

 

Mike McCallum was an all purpose MW that was good at every aspect of boxing. But Tony Zale before the war was one tough SOB. When Zale started his career he was a part time fighter and inconsistant til he hooked up with the great team of Sam Pian and Art Winch who guided the career of the great Barney Ross. Zale then became a helluva MW
from 1939 til 1942 beating the dynamic punching Al Hostak, Fred Apostoli, Georgie Abrams and in his last bout losing to the prime bigger great Billy Conn. Zale was a murderous body puncher, with a searing left hook and right cross, and the toughness
in body few MWs equaled til Uncle Sam called in 1942 when he was in his prime. He remained in the service for FOUR years until 1946,when at the age of 33 Zale resumed his career half the fighter he was...At his best I have him over the smaller Ray Robinson
at catch weights...Robby as a MW had trouble with some MWs that a pre war Zale
would devour... For a reason Zale was called the "Man of Steel"...

 

:good Always wanted to see a Zale Robinson fight, but guess it was not ment to be Zale was on his way out in MW with a bad elbow while Robinson was still great in WW would of been pretty great though, Zale actually said yes to a fight with Ray when he was 50 i believe he said his elbow was healed and was sparring with the kids at his gym fine, Robinson said no though guess he was done. Or didn't want Zale

 

You wanna know how good Zale was pre war he fought Fred Apostoli who absolutely tore up Billy Conn, Conn called Apostoli the best fighter he ever fought including Joe Louis and Zale beat him in a decision shows he can box aswell...

 

:dealI agree with you 100% here RB...and if you go online here today, Happy New Year buddy!