McCallum's brilliant stoppage of Watson (video)

McCallum was a very, very special fighter who never got the praise he deserved.

I find it amazing that when people talk of the great middleweights throughout the years, he is rarely mentioned. We often here of how great Hagler, Hearns, Hopkins, Monzon et al are, but rarely was McCallum mentioned in the same league.

I remember reading an interview with Manny Steward. He went on to talk about the wars McCallum and Hearns had in sparring, and during their first sparring session, Hearns had to stop and ask Steward "Why can't I seem to hit him" - that says all you need to know about how good McCallum was.

 

McCallum was just a step above Watson who despite his bravery was simply outgunned and outsmarted.I always thought though that they messed Watson up a tad.On the way up and in the Benn fight he had been basically a counter puncher and had a good defence.Then suddenly they put him on the front foot against the likes of McCallum and Eubank who were basically counterpunchers thermselves and he just wasn't anywhere near as effective when having to make the fight.Just look at his lack of defence in the clip.I suppose they went of the old adage that you have to go out and rip the belt off the Champion,but i think it definitely reduced his chances of winning.It would have made it a more boring fight, but i think if it had been a more cagey fight Michael would have had a better chance.Having said that McCallum would have beaten Watson anyway so what the hell do i know!

 

spencer olivers brilliant interview with mc callum where he speaks about hagler...

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abmZoQRxRrc[/ame]

 

I've got a lot of time for McCallum but he should never have stayed at junior middle for so long if he was so serious about wanting a fight with Hagler.

Marv was the undisputed middleweight champion of the world and had been for years.This is one of the most prestigious titles in boxing history we are talking about.

McCallum on the other hand opted to stay as an alphabet champ in the less prestigious and historically significant junior middle division, where he picked up a vacant belt against mediocre Mannion.Mike was huge at the weight, and easily a natural middle from his 2\3 year as pro, but only moved up once Hagler retired.

he didn't exactly make the right moves for that fight.Herol Graham tried a lot harder imo, but didn't get enough fights with other contenders quickly enough and then ran into Kalambay.MIke sure moved up quickly when Hagler lost the belts, maybe he figured he had another Mannion there for easy pickings.

 

He used our gym for that Fight did McCullam, funny story. This guy brought this Fighter who would become British Champ for sparring Mike. Telling the Guy to go and get hold of Mike and make a name for Himself, which He tried to do but without landing a shot. Eddie said to me, is this guy for real, I replied think theyve wound Him up. The next round was the biggest shellacking Ive seen in a gym in my life, I felt sorry for the Kid.

 

Scrap, you are a very lucky guy to have spent time in the gym with 'the professor'. McCallum is someone who I have always admired, and I would just love to pick his brains on the art of boxing - he was a 'master' boxer, and had no sign of any ego, and that is rare in one so talented.

 

Why would he think that? Kalambay was probably more underrated than McCallum and was coming off a win over Herol Graham & a 15 schooling of Iran Barkley. I think its pretty safe to say that he did not view Kalambay as a Sean Mannion type figure, you only had to look at Kalambay's skillet to know he was leagues!! above Mannione.

 

It was Ray Webb who broke the nose of Watson in sparring, which is a bit bizarre because Webb was a southpaw.

 

not bizarre at all

 

McCallum was as orthodox as you get, remorselessly orthodox. That's my reasoning anyway.

 

Well I defy anyone to say the punishment Watson received in that fight did not contribute, if ever so slightly, to what happened in the rematch with Eubank!

Watson was good, but he was thrown in at the deep end by taking on McCallum. Its easy to say now it was too early to take such a fight against such a seasoned pro as McCallum, but it was too early! Mike was just too good for Watson, too smart!

McCallum's body shots were the key.

 

thats a great post ron....you're right too