Why does this boxer not get enough respect?

[Jeff Thomas]

49-5-1 (36 ko's)

Wins over ayub kulule, prime micheal Watson, Julian jackson, Milton mccrory, don curry, Herol graham, steve Collins, Sumbu kalumbay, Jeff Harding plus a draw with prime James toney....

I've left this guys name out on purpose, a three weight, three time world champion... Never stopped, only on the floor once in his career and only beaten in his own prime once and that was avenged.

Is that not the ledger of an ATG???

[jessi]

Mike Mc. . . . . . ?
He got my respect !

[Jeff Thomas]

You just never hear him mentioned as an atg... Well I don't

[jessi]

You just never hear him mentioned as an atg... Well I don't

True, he is a forgotten hero, think Roy jones gave him a boxing lesson though !
The body snatcher !
Forgot he beat Collins and Watson !

[crusader]

He is greatly respected by those who know of his accomplishments; if he doesn't get enough respect it's because many people are ignorant of his career.

My knowledge of pre 2000 boxing is limited, so I'm not sure why that would be the case.

[STRATHMAN]

Great shout. You could say the same about Herol who lost a split decision to him.

[Adamj1987]

Yep he wasnt in the top 100 by boxing news either but joe calzaghe was

[Jeff Thomas]

Yep he wasnt in the top 100 by boxing news either but joe calzaghe was

Seriously? Thats a joke. Calzaghe maybe belongs there- McCallum defo does

[Adamj1987]

Yep he wasnt in the top 100 by boxing news either but joe calzaghe was

Seriously? Thats a joke. Calzaghe maybe belongs there- McCallum defo does

There were a few other debateable plces higher up as well.

Also in a top 100 active boxers shoukdnt be included as they may hash things up.

[Final round]

Great fighter the way switched from body to head broke down Watson completely, nuked Curry and he was 40 against a 29 year old Toney in their last fight and still got a few rounds.

[Craig14]

Well he's not a household name but I don't know anybody who actually follows boxing properly that doesn't respect Mike McCallum. What's the point of this thread? Did one of your mates have a pop at him?

[Jeff Thomas]

Well he's not a household name but I don't know anybody who actually follows boxing properly that doesn't respect Mike McCallum. What's the point of this thread? Did one of your mates have a pop at him?

No I just think he gets overlooked thats all.

[Dean Powell]

Mike McCallum is the best fighter I have seen in the flesh ! Both in the gym @ The Thomas 'A' Beckett & in the ring he was magnificent to watch !

[mahatma]

Mike McCallum one of my favourite fighters great bodypuncher hence the nickname bodysnatcher- he was definitely avoided by many fighters and through no fault of his own was eclipsed by the fantastic four of the eighties so some of his fights went under the radar- watched him defend against graham and someone at the london arena in the 90s whose name escapes me- good call jeff loved this fighter

[Craig14]

Well he's not a household name but I don't know anybody who actually follows boxing properly that doesn't respect Mike McCallum. What's the point of this thread? Did one of your mates have a pop at him?

No I just think he gets overlooked thats all.

I think John Mugabi,Julian Jackson and Gerald McClellan do as well.

[safeerah]

Mike McCallum is the best fighter I have seen in the flesh ! Both in the gym @ The Thomas 'A' Beckett & in the ring he was magnificent to watch !

He was also one of the most avoided fighters, Hagler promised him he would defend his title against him, but never did and McCallum was with Steward when Hearns was at the top, he wanted to fight Hearns, but Steward never allowed it to happen, I think they fought when they were both old, when it did not matter at a much higher weight. Great chin, great body puncher and he did not believe anyone could beat him.

[LeedsLad]

McClellan is probably overrated, in light of what happened to him.

Jones would have destroyed him.

A potential ATG he most certainly wasn't.

[fatcity69]

I agree that the bodysnatcher is vastly underrated, regarding the jones fight Mike was an oldman by the time he fought Jones (in boxing terms). His three fights with the much younger Toney are often overlooked, only Jones gave Toney more trouble.
Having said all that I think its worth mentioning that Sumbu Kalambay is also crinimally underrated and gave Mike probably his hardest fights when he was at his peak.

[Deserter]

I agree that the bodysnatcher is vastly underrated, regarding the jones fight Mike was an oldman by the time he fought Jones (in boxing terms). His three fights with the much younger Toney are often overlooked, only Jones gave Toney more trouble.
Having said all that I think its worth mentioning that Sumbu Kalambay is also crinimally underrated and gave Mike probably his hardest fights when he was at his peak.

All true.

[jimcook]

McClellan is probably overrated, in light of what happened to him.

Jones would have destroyed him.

A potential ATG he most certainly wasn't.

jones did fight him when he was 38 and at light heavy, and he certainly didnt destroy him. like some of the other more educated posters on here have already stated, mccallum was an avoided fighter, winning all but one of his fights when he was in his prime. one of the best fighters ive had the pleasure to watch, and a nice guy to boot

[Deserter]

McClellan is probably overrated, in light of what happened to him.

Jones would have destroyed him.

A potential ATG he most certainly wasn't.

jones did fight him when he was 38 and at light heavy, and he certainly didnt destroy him. like some of the other more educated posters on here have already stated, mccallum was an avoided fighter, winning all but one of his fights when he was in his prime. one of the best fighters ive had the pleasure to watch, and a nice guy to boot

Mate, re-read it, he's talking about McClellan, not McCallum

[Counter-puncher]

Great fighter the way switched from body to head broke down Watson completely, nuked Curry and he was 40 against a 29 year old Toney in their last fight and still got a few rounds.

the performance against Watson, who with hindsight was stylistically perfect for McCallum, gets my vote both for Mike's best performance and one of the most punch-perfect I've seen at world level.

[Jeff Thomas]

He was fabulous to watch... amazing he didn't get the kudos he deserved. He'd have pushed Hagler hard IMO. I'm going to watch the Kalambay fight later.

[Final round]

Great fighter the way switched from body to head broke down Watson completely, nuked Curry and he was 40 against a 29 year old Toney in their last fight and still got a few rounds.

the performance against Watson, who with hindsight was stylistically perfect for McCallum, gets my vote both for Mike's best performance and one of the most punch-perfect I've seen at world level.

He played Watson like a drum!

[Counter-puncher]

I've seen that fight about 8 times, still end up 'oooohing' and 'urrrghin' over those bodyshots, the early rounds were just brutal.