I remember being in the riong with Mike and thinking constantly how I just didnt want to get caught with any "bodysnatcher shots" LOL. I did well with the jab and the straight right hand, I remember and Trevor Berbick was impressed with me, he didnt think I knew who I had just boxed with and he wanted to manage me after that (even though my manager at the time was standing right next to me). I actually have a photo of the exact moment when Trevor was telling me these things...I will see if I have it on this comp. To be honest, though, I am sure me sparring with him was a much bigger deal for me than it was him so I did well but I was really on a high that day while he was winding down his training, you know? HE WAS A GREAT TECHNICIAN BY THE WAY.
McCallum and I at Tocco's Gym in Las Vegas, 1989. Literally a few minutes after we sparred each other. This content is protected
Berbick and I in Vegas... after I sparred McCallum...he wanted to manage me, etc LOL. McCallum wanted to give me 40 dollars for working with him that day...he only had a 50... asked me if I had change...I told him NO...so he had someone go GET change!! LOL This content is protected
Moore was pushed way before his time... I dont think he would have competed well enough to actually WIN against McCallum. He was good, though
Was a GREAT fighter, and imo, is highly under-rated (at least in terms of being mainstream; he seems to get a bit of credit on here at least!). Not much more I could add that others who clearly know what they're talking about have already said.
Aesthetically, working perfection in action. The Body Snatcher or the Professor would pick his shots from range in continuous motion, double jab ya with a rangy left lead, change the punching plane to come underneath with two well placed body blows, step back and come up with a sized right counter ( vs Michael Watson) or a beautiful left hook ( vs Donald Curry). Mike should have won that first bout with heavy handed Toney with skills alone - that was his first draw after a loss avenged in Monte Carlo against Sumbu Kalambay that I saw in Italian TV live in 91 - lost a majority decision to Toney afterwards in another very well fought middleweight bout but beat that australian guy who had a thriller with Andries for the WBC LHWT crown, he would drop three other decisions to RJJ at his best, Tiozzo and Toney at Cruiserweight. One of my favourites of all time.
One of my favourite fighters. Beat- Jackson Curry Mcrory Kalumbay Graham Watson Collins Jeff Harding unlucky against Toney apparently (never seen them myself) Hell of a resume and an even better talent. Incedentially can anyone remember how the fight against Graham went? I remember thinking that 'Macallum's just knicked this', but I haven't seen it since the actual night and my memory is a bit fuzzy.
I didnt see the fight with graham,but i remember it was very close,mcallum was exhausted by the end and i think he thought graham was a hell of a tricky opponent to beat. (im not sure if graham was deducted a point which was crucial to the scoring?)
I remember it being razor thin and Mike when asked has a lot of respect for Graham. As for the point deduction I think that was the Graham-Kalubay rematch. Graham lost a point for spinning his opponent and went on to drop a dubious points decision.
Very Good fighter was graham,too many just think of the jackson fight. (which he was winning handily until getting too frisky with a dynamite puncher.) He was definately on the level of eubank,benn and guys like that. He lost narrowly against kalambay first time because of being too agressive against type in the final round...
I know from first hand conversation that Roy Jones has GREAT RESPECT for Mike McCallum and his skills
