Where do we rank him in terms of legacy, in terms of head to head? Top 10, 20, 50? Are there analogous fighters from the past? How do you rank his skills? Or were his greatest assets brute strength and an iron chin? Discuss.
I say top 50.. McCall was very big, very durable, and could hit. Unfortunately he didn't have the instincts of a fighter, and could " opt out " of the action at times. His troubles outside the ring also derailed his momentium. McCall had Bruno very tired, but did not press it. He almost let an older Holmes out box him. McCall is known for an iron chin, and was never floored his career. Its iron for sure, but somehow Bruce Seldon once had him in a lot of trouble. McCall says Bert Cooper hit him the hardest. While McCall is remembered best for his sudden upset over Lewis, he actually beat a few ranked contenders too. As such I think top 50 for him is fine. [url]http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=451&cat=boxer[/url]
I think you are underrating him. Maskaev, Damiani, Seldon, Ferguson, Akinwande are all very good wins. Lewis is a great win. Head to head, I would pick McCall over several of the vaunted heavies from days of yore.
Best ever for chin. He has that going for him. Do you think Wlad would stop him if they fought tomorrow? I don't know.
I swear to god I sit here, 45 years old, and honestly envision that stupid pirhana talking in Frank's pseudo-English-troll speak, rationalizing how McCall was the greatest heavyweight ever. I am ashamed.
Maskaev had something like 5 fights when he lost to McCall. That win was meaningless. Ferguson was nothing special. The Akinwande win was good, and an upset to boot. Ive never really understood the Damiani love. I dunno. I think McCall was pretty ordinary. He had some gifts, namely durability and decent power but he could never bring them all together and like a lot of guys who get a rep for being durable he would basically shut down when stung, cover up, and just look to finish. In my opinion this has often been mistaken for him (along with other so called iron chinned fighters) not being active enough.
Those two assets, in combination, go very far in the heavyweight division. I'm not trying to make him out to be the second coming of Joe Louis, but on the otherhand, those particular assets described above make him a tough night for even the best of heavies and moreso certain heavies who liked to blow their wads early.... assuming he hasn't been on a crack-bender... The cooler-headed boxer types, Johnson, Ali, Holmes, and even Liston, eat him alive.
If I had to compare him to a heavyweight of the past I'd probably say he is a lot like Turkey Thompson. Both were strong and durable and a tough night for anyone.
I researched Thompson once. He was floored more than you think, but very game. A bit opposite of McCall
Would probably be ranked in the bottom part of the top 50 alll time great heavies. Strong,durable and could bang a bit. That's about all.
He was a solid rock. A sparring partner, a shock absorber. Strong mofo, decent punch, granite chin. Lacked skills, lacked heart. Liked crack cocaine.