revisionist myths series 1: mike mccallum fab 4

I love how most of you don't keep the same energy for the fighters FMJ "avoided.".

 

Good.

I wasn't really saying Hearns should have fought McCallum at 160 in the 86 time frame. After he beat Shuler he dropped down to 154 to fight Medal. Wasnt it clear by then Hearns/Hagler 2 would not happen ? Wouldnt a unification with Mike have been much riskier than am easy defense against Medal? Seems like Hearns just wanted to hold onto a piece of the 154 title before weighing options at other weights. Too bad. Hearns/McCallum at 154 in 1986 is a great matchup.

 

Yeah mate just giving some extra story from a great time in boxing.

However to explain the bolded - No it was in no way clear that the Hagler rematch was off.

As a matter of fact there was a date set (November 6) but Hagler had been procrastinating due to Ray Leonard challenging him. As a further matter of fact Hagler was due to announce a few days after Hearns - Medal whether he would fight Hearns in November or accept SRL's challenge instead.

Medal was just a keep busy fight for Hearns who along with Hagler didn't fight for almost a year after their WAR. Hagler however wanted more rest which was understandable as he had a much tougher fight against Mugabi than Hearns 1 minute with Schuler not to mention he was getting old.

Hearns was never going to fight McCallum in a stay busy fight while thinking the Hagler rematch was still reasonably likely.

McCallum fought a young Jackson not long after Hearns - Medal and still hadn't made any sort of name for himself. Also unifications weren't always easy to arrange between governing bodies at that time. Adding yet another reason Steward probably thought **** McCallum he's not making good money off me or any of my top fighters. Things didn't end very well between Steward and McCallum i believe.