How good was Mike McCallum?

Mike McCallum was one of the single smartest fighters that ever stepped into a ring, for me. He could hit but he wasn't one of the biggest hitters, he had good hand speed, but not great, he was a bit like Bernard Hopkins in that, he was not the RJJ of his time, he wasn't the super athlete. His footwork could be ponderous. But he was the brain. He was the guy that timed you, the guy that tricked you, the ultimate analyst and master manipulator. A trap-setter.

I think he's one of the best to do it, and teak tough on top of the ring IQ, very durable, but like a JMM, he could get hurt and the combination of will and craft always got him out, no matter what. He was the total professional. One of the most mentally composed guys you could hope for. I mean, when you watch him against Toney, these are two of the most at-home guys in a boxing ring. That they fought is like a gift to hardcore boxing fans, and that they did it twice, it's a miracle that we have technicians like this, giving those rounds, in the era of beautiful film, it's some of the best stuff on a two-way street you can see on film like this.

He's one of my all-time favourites. I think fights with the fab four, all four, and McCallum, could have made Mike a superstar. I think he knew that. But the problem was he was the worst risk-reward for those guys. Just the flat out worst. He would have stood in with any of them, but they already had each other. Plenty of risk, but so much more reward, among that group, there was no way Mike was breaking in with them. The timing was actually awful. Some people think the more stars, the better the opportunity, but it was actually THE OPPOSITE with Mike. Because he couldn't dominate a weak era, and get his props that way, he had to sit back, trying to get past the velvet ropes, with some of the biggest stars you could have. It was terrible opportunity. Sometimes boxing makes for the polar opposite of a meritocracy. McCallum was a terrible example of that.


Now: If anyone beat him from Taylor's time through to Martinez's/now, I'd consider it a genuine upset. VS Hopkins...wow. That would've been like a magic show, without all that shitty magic getting in the way.

 

:good

 

McCallum was good body puncher, but he could be outboxed by really good fighters.

 

Hagler ducked him for good reason.

 

He faced Julian jackson...

 

Exceptional fighter. He was a damn good middleweight - it would take a quality champ at their absolute best to take a W from him.

At 154, there is no comparison. He was an absolute beast there.

 

This is what I don't understand. He's not even fought the best middleweights out there yet and you believe in the hype. smh.

MCcallum would have owned him. Bare in mind Mike beat Julian Jackson too.

 

prime james toney, roy jones couldnt ko him when he was past prime, he ko'd a big middleweight in michael watson, doubt he'd get stopped by ggg. good fight tho

 

GGG would have a chance to beat him, but it's not going to be simply power that gets the job done. I think Golovkin's got enough of the total package to pull it off, but a middleweight McCallum is still a high-level fighter, even with the losses and very close fights with Toney and Kalambay. Golovkin needs great fighters like that to push him to his best, which we still haven't seen yet. GGG-McCallum would be an incredible fight.

 

Agree with the big praise for Mike McCallum. He was just a flat out brilliant boxer. One of the best I ever saw. Despite his nickname I dont remember him being all that great of a bodypuncher though. More of a textbook stand-up boxer/puncher.
He was really not a middleweight. The few pounds that comes with age forced him up. His main career was as a light middle. But I felt he was robbed against Toney both times.
Ill never forget the Curry fight and ko....sensational!

 

so how old was mike when he fought the dude that killed him? was he way passed his prime?

 

Arguably the GOAT at 154 he was that good.

 

..

 

GG wouldn't have a chance to beat squat.

McCallum would brutally KO anybody on GG's weak resume.

GG puts all his weight on his front foot...McCallum would eat him alive.

 

Don't think mike was a " brutal ko " type of guy pibb.
Actually he was more of a graceful technical boxer than a power puncher.

He most likely would beat Proksa, Macklin, Stevens etc on points: not brutally ko them. I remember MCCallum very well, an unforgettable boxer, but in general not a killer puncher as a rule.

The curry job was highlight reel stuff, but it was not typical Mccallum at all.