34yrs ago today: Michael McKenzie "Body Snatcher" McCallum vs. Donald Sample "Lone Star Cobra" Curry

This is boxing at it’s finest.

 

One-punch KO at Caesar’s Palace for long-time WBA holder McCallum (when there were only two belts) against the man who a year prior was P4P #1. Good as it gets.

 

Great fighters and great fight. Curry almost had him in round 2 but McCallum was a crafty fighter.

 

State of the art boxing from both guys. McCallum and Curry were such master boxer-punchers with class and skill, only difference was that McCallum was able to take a shot and not feel deterred.
Upon rewatch I'm surprised that people were saying that Curry was outboxing McCallum and swept the first 4 rounds. The idea that Curry was dominating the fight is highly exaggerated, especially because of the round where Curry hurt McCallum briefly in the second round.. Curry was getting off first, landing faster combinations while McCallum was slowly taking his time coming forward and getting the better of Curry on the inside. Curry made the fatal mistake of leaving his chin up in the air, which gave McCallum an opportunity to land that left hook which Curry never saw coming. Great fight.

 

What's stunning to me is realizing this fight was 34 years ago!!!

 

After he lost his title at 147 I think Curry lost something, he was still a good fighter and competitive but I just sensed he wasn't the same, I can't put my finger on it but he was missing something.

 

Never really understood why Curry decided to change his style from his usual textbook high guard style. Curry was known for having such a tight defense with his gloves up and chin tucked. It just seemed like in this fight against McCallum he was relying more on his speed and leaving his chin wide open. He was practically begging to get clipped by a good shot.

This was the fight that finished Curry as an elite fighter. I seldom watch this fight despite it being a great fight. It just hurts seeing him crash and burn after looking so magnificent in his prime before Honeyghan broke him.

 

Thanks for posting this. When I watched it again was reminded of David Gorman’s negligent advice to Don Curry in the corner at the end of round 4, telling him to fight more relaxed. Curry did and got his head knocked off with a beautiful left hook. I was sad at the time because Curry was one of my heroes but certainly could not begrudge the excellent McCallum his deserved victory. Curry was a beautiful boxer to watch in motion.

 

Yeah but I don’t think it was physical more mental. I remember Donald saying when people were giving accolades as pound for pound etc due to his dazzling performances he himself could never see himself like that.

 

Remember that fight welll ! i was 18 and on holiday in Aviemore Scotland.

 

Those 2 fights did in Curry ‘s shining star even though he would win the world title again. Whatever anyone says we must never forget fundamentally both Honeyghan and McCallum were very good technical fighters with an all round game and sometimes sustained success requires more than just raw talent, This is why it’s good for fighters to face some adversity to see how they respond.

 

McCallum knew how to survive. Julian ****ing Jackson caught him with his best in round 1 and McCallum was victor a round later!

 

My great grampie said this was the first fight he ever saw live as a kid.