Mike McCallum's legacy if a 4 weight champion

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by babaluma, Oct 3, 2012.


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  1. babaluma

    babaluma Member Full Member

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    If Mike had stopped off at Super Middleweight and picked up a 4th title from Benn, Nunn or Eubank would he be a little less of a forgotten man? How would 4 rather than 3 titles effect his ATG standing? And would he have been able to pick up a title against the previously mentioned fighters (I am assuming he would have lost against Toney or Jones while they held the IBF SM title)?

    Did he jump the weight class to avoid having to fight Toney a third time at that point or purely weight issues?

    PS I may have got my time lines mixed up a bit so please correct if so!
     
    babaluma, Oct 3, 2012
    babaluma, Oct 3, 2012
    #1
  2. PowerPuncher

    PowerPuncher Loyal Member Full Member

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    He beats Eubank and Benn, Nunn would be trickier but he may well edge Nunn out
     
    PowerPuncher, Oct 3, 2012
    PowerPuncher, Oct 3, 2012
    #2
  3. Boxed Ears

    Boxed Ears this my daddy's account (RIP daddy) Full Member

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    Oh, he beats Nunn, alright. :bbb
     
    Boxed Ears, Oct 3, 2012
    Boxed Ears, Oct 3, 2012
    #3
  4. PowerPuncher

    PowerPuncher Loyal Member Full Member

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    I'd assume it's more to do with what fights he could get. Was a Toney 3 fight on the table? Eubank said he turned McCallum down after McCallum supposedly turned him down when he was coming up but Eubank once he got his title didn't want any live dogs for the most part. They weren't going to feed Benn to McCallum either
     
    PowerPuncher, Oct 3, 2012
    PowerPuncher, Oct 3, 2012
    #4
  5. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    An extra belt over a top rated opponent can boost the legacy of any fighter. My answer is yes. Especially if he had beaten Michael Nunn or Nigel Benn when they still had market value.
     
    mr. magoo, Oct 3, 2012
    mr. magoo, Oct 3, 2012
    #5
  6. lora

    lora Fighting Zapata Full Member

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    Nobody really cared about Nunn in the boxing press after Toney, though a win over him might be looked at a bit more favourably nowadays.

    he was lazy coked up damaged goods at 168 though.I can't see McCallum getting a clear win over Benn or Eubank unless he managed to get the fight very soon after the Toney bouts.Would have been interesting fights though.168 may have been a good weight for a brief 1-3 fight reinvigoration for McCallum.
     
    lora, Oct 3, 2012
    lora, Oct 3, 2012
    #6
  7. MAG1965

    MAG1965 Loyal Member banned

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    Nunn would have beaten McCallum at 160 but at 168 it is pickem. Mike was good, but not as dominant as some want to make him out to be. Had he only beaten Kalambay in 1988 when he moved up in weight. He would have been elevated to the big fights.
     
    MAG1965, Oct 3, 2012
    MAG1965, Oct 3, 2012
    #7
  8. Nightcrawler

    Nightcrawler Boxing Addict Full Member

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    i agree with this. i think there's a bit of revisionist history at times considering how WILDLY underappreciated he was. he was an iron chinned, technically sound, well schooled body puncher...who could be outworked and outhustled. even at or near his best
     
    Nightcrawler, Oct 3, 2012
    Nightcrawler, Oct 3, 2012
    #8
  9. Lester1583

    Lester1583 Can you hear this? Full Member

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    That's not his weaknesses when he was in his prime.

    And that's not what happened to him against Kalambay.
     
    Lester1583, Oct 4, 2012
    Lester1583, Oct 4, 2012
    #9
  10. frankenfrank

    frankenfrank Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    McCallum was outjogged against Kalambay
     
    frankenfrank, Oct 4, 2012
    frankenfrank, Oct 4, 2012
    #10
  11. lora

    lora Fighting Zapata Full Member

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    :lol:

    ****in' runners
     
    lora, Oct 4, 2012
    lora, Oct 4, 2012
    #11
  12. The Funny Man 7

    The Funny Man 7 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    It really depends who he beats to pick up the title. If its one of the three you menion, or someone like Iran Barkley then it really enhances his legacy.

    But if he moved up and dethroned Darrin Van Horn, it wouldn't be quite as impressive.
     
    The Funny Man 7, Oct 4, 2012
    The Funny Man 7, Oct 4, 2012
    #12
  13. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Are we talking George Chuvalo or Mike McCallum here?
     
    Bokaj, Oct 4, 2012
    Bokaj, Oct 4, 2012
    #13
  14. LittleRed

    LittleRed Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Who?
     
    LittleRed, Oct 4, 2012
    LittleRed, Oct 4, 2012
    #14
  15. Nightcrawler

    Nightcrawler Boxing Addict Full Member

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    i like that comparison :canada
     
    Nightcrawler, Oct 4, 2012
    Nightcrawler, Oct 4, 2012
    #15
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