Did McCall really have a "breakdown" or was he just frustrated (or just a bum) ?

The guy was crying in the ring, clearly there was something going on with him and some sort of breakdown wouldnt you think? The sad face before the fight was common but he was crying in the Lewis fight.

 

McCall if nothing else had a very good countering right hand. But I wouldn't say he was a smart fighter. Steward had McCall throw the right hand time and time again so he'd do it pretty much automatically when an opportunity to throw the right was presented. Against Lewis he was given that opportunity.

"Then naturally, training Oliver McCall (against Lennox) when Don King sent him to me, and no one figured he could win. At the time, the knock on Lennox Lewis was he was all about the right hand and we could take advantage of that. So I practiced with him over and over and over again on beating Lennox to the punch and keeping him from throwing his right hand. It worked perfect."

-Manny Steward

http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=20737&more=1

 

To me Mcall was a one trick pony. Fairly shitty jab and right hand and thats about it, but tough as nails. Thats why he was more effective in the 90's than 80's.

 

Exactly what I was going to say about him, word-for-word. His whole game was to sucker you into his big right hand. If he pulled it off enough times, he could beat you; but if he didn't, as against Bruno or the Lewis rematch, he was pretty much impotent.

It looked to me like he simply tried the same strategy for the Lewis rematch that he did in the first fight, but this time Lewis didn't take the bait. After realizing he wasn't going to get his way this time, he cried his way out of the fight. That "crazy man" **** was always part of his shtick anyway.

 

I bought a collection of Lewis' fights years ago.Forget the name of it now,but the video had very little action,but included about 10 minutes of the McCall's tedious and repetitive rantings during the post fight conference.

Incidentally the video was an absolute rip-off and the worst boxing related purchase I've ever made.

 

he was 2 weeks realeased from rehab for crack cocaine......probably stress and crack withdrawl....caused his breakdown.....

 

Thats one thing i wouldnt want to experience, Oliver McCall on crack? I dont mean to run the guy down as hes enough problems but i personally think he was just a headcase. No more no less. Wasnt he in trouble before for attacking the police in a hotel lobby? Took about 6 to hold him down

 

Thats because Lewis became a better fighter under Manny Steward.
Thats really the point of my entire arguement with you in the other thread. Thats part of becoming a better fighter under a better trainer. Not falling for stupid tricks like you mentioned and knowing how to approach a fight correctly, especially with a guy who wasnt going to get KO'd.

 

Apparently he was going cold turkey, but who knows. it would be interesteing to hear what McCall has to say about the whole thing.

 

McCall is certainly not a bum for crying out loud. He was mentally ill. Is/was.

 

I dont think he had a nervous breakdown. he realized what he was up against in a focused lennox lewis and chose to cry his way out of that reality. unfortunately it was on live television.

 

I have to agree with this.

 

Was the drug tested after the fight? And if so did they find coke in his system?

 

Didn't he also lose his daughter shortly before the Lewis fight? I seem the have a vague memory of that...