Mike McCallum vs The Fab 4

I want to put McCallum at his Junior Middleweight best against the Fab 4 at their best while weighing 154 lbs.

Except Hagler because they will fight at middleweight.

Lets throw Benitez in at 154 for good measure too.

 

Some of the fab 4 were not in their absolute primes while fighting at 154. I assume you mean at their best 154 lb. form.

Wilfred Benitez W15 Mike McCallum
Mike McCallum W15 Roberto Duran
Mike McCallum KO 13 Thomas Hearns
Ray Leonard W15 Mike McCallum

 

You think Benitez beats Mike? Can't see it myself. He gives up too much in reach and height.

 

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beats duran and benitez, loses to hagler and leonard.

hearns is 50/50 imo

 

I think it would be an extremely even matchup. McCallum's height advantage is not great, only an inch or two. I can envision Benitez fighting effectively off the ropes and making Mike lead.

 

3 been deliberating this for a day or so and I've decided on the following picks:

Hagler beats him on points
Leonard has a close either may type fight
Hearns beats him clear on points
Duran gets beaten on points
Benitez gets stopped.

Mike was quality and is definitely one of the best to ever lace em up, but the guys we're pitting him against are a tier or two above.

Mike is in my top 50 ATG and the fab 4 are in my top 25.

 

He's got a solid reach advantage, though, and I think he'd make that count. Also think he was a better puncher at 154. And stronger with a better chin.

 

Good points. On paper, McCallum should win.

 

I think that he would beat all of them Benitez and Duran, and lose to Hagler. I'd reckon him a live underdog against Hearns and Leonard.

 

Ring magazine "Mythical Match-ups" picked McCallum over Duran and Hearns.

I think McCallum would beat Duran and Benitez at 154. I think he would lose to Leonard and Hearns. I also think he would lose to Hagler. None of these 6 men would have an easy night in these fights.

 

I can't improve on this answer, so I'll do the next best thing and agree with it.

 

I believed based on how he weathered the storm against Julian Jackson, that McCallum could survive the early Thomas Hearns onslaught, attack his body, and then set up the knockout flurry to stop Hearns.

 

He decisions Duran and Benitez. He loses to Leonard and Hearns in razor thin fights.

 

I'm in your boat. I think Benitez gets underrated a bit at 154 and rate him very highly. I think the Benitez that beat Duran would decision Mike. I only favour Mike over Duran, by decision.