Oliver McCall fighting tonight

[Stuarty]

Well the matchup they got him booked in tonight seems winnable for him. He's facing a man that is 25 years younger than him, but with a losing record of 17-42-7 (6 KO's)

McCall's younger opponent has only been stopped 6 times in 66 pro fights, so there is a challenge in this contest.

I honestly see no problem with this match up. McCall came in at 240 lbs. and visually he seems to be in good physical shape.

Getting in shape is one thing but at 53 you are not as fast or strong, his reflexes will have diminished, especially when he hasn't had a pro fight for over 4 years. Razor Ruddock tried something similar a few years ago aged 51, said he was in great shape (241lbs) and then got flattened by a 8-2 fighter with punches that wouldn't have bothered him in his hey day. No one can fight father time, look how poor David Haye was after a stint out of the ring and getting on in years.

Remember seeing an ancient and bloated Riddick Bowe fighting on an undercard in Germany years back. Might have been one of the K brothers undercards? He looked like an old tramp!

[DrDuke]

He needs to fight Ruddock, who is about the same age and being semi-retired as well.

[chuck9788]

Apparently his opponent pulled out at the last second with a family emergency.

[gilgamesh]

Probably for the best for McCall. Wonder if he'll try to fight again or just take it as a sign that he needs to stop.

[SenorPipino]

Is this "family emergency" on the level, or did the State of Texas feel some pressure to put a halt to the farce?

It's also possible that Woods might have suddenly demanded more money at the last minute, and when it was refused, he walked.

[chinarich]

McCall didn’t look too bad even six or seven years ago when he was beating the likes of Lawrence and Willis, but surely he can’t be anything less than an extremely durable heavy bag now...

[SenorPipino]

Is this "family emergency" on the level, or did the State of Texas feel some pressure to put a halt to the farce?

It's also possible that Woods might have suddenly demanded more money at the last minute, and when it was refused, he walked.

Now Woods is saying that McCall is a scared has-been and didn't pay him for making the 12 hour trip to Texas for the fight.

No mention of a family emergency. Money is apparently the sole reason. Pretty much always is.

Woods does say that he'll be ready to fight McCall in the future and promises to put the ex-champ "to sleep."

I don't think that a fighter with a 17-42-7 mark as a professional should be talking that tough.

[Lackeos]

Sad sight, now 53 but back in the ring tonight

http://www.worldboxingnews.net/20180707 ... for-battle

Why would anyone sanction this man to get punched in the face.

McCall has 0 knockout defeats, not including his mental breakdown against Lewis, which was hardly a knockout. McCall is pretty great at protecting himself, and is far from the fighter most vulnerable to serious injury. Plus (like Hopkins, Tarver, Foreman, and Glen Johnson) he ages better than most fighters. When he was 49 years old, he was still a top 75 heavyweight. At age 53, he could beat... someone.

[Controversial]

Sad sight, now 53 but back in the ring tonight

http://www.worldboxingnews.net/20180707 ... for-battle

Why would anyone sanction this man to get punched in the face.

McCall has 0 knockout defeats, not including his mental breakdown against Lewis, which was hardly a knockout. McCall is pretty great at protecting himself, and is far from the fighter most vulnerable to serious injury. Plus (like Hopkins, Tarver, Foreman, and Glen Johnson) he ages better than most fighters. When he was 49 years old, he was still a top 75 heavyweight. At age 53, he could beat... someone.

I think there should be a duty of care towards fighters, they are their own worst enemy. As good as Hopkins was he ended up getting knocked out aged 51, he was truly exceptional and lived the life of a fighter, there won't be many going on as long as him. Johnson and Tarver stopped boxing aged 46 and Foreman was 48. To comeback aged 53 with over 4 years out is crazy.

[funso banjo baby]

Woods is a respected journeyman.

shouldn't get involved with this

[Stuarty]

Apparently McCall had a mental breakdown before the fight according to his opponent.

[Grant]

everyone dreams of fighting again, but we all wake up knowing it was a dream. But the dreams never do stop

[chuck9788]

Apparently McCall had a mental breakdown before the fight according to his opponent.

That is very possible. I remember seeing McCall in 2009 (the day of the Hopoate fight) walking around the Orleans Hotel & Casino looking cognitively out of it and a bit crazed.

In 2010 McCall was arrested on drug charges just before he was scheduled to fight Zuri Lawrence forcing the cancellation.

[Stuarty]

Apparently McCall had a mental breakdown before the fight according to his opponent.

That is very possible. I remember seeing McCall in 2009 (the day of the Hopoate fight) walking around the Orleans Hotel & Casino looking cognitively out of it and a bit crazed.

In 2010 McCall was arrested on drug charges just before he was scheduled to fight Zuri Lawrence forcing the cancellation.

Wasn't he on crack etc...?

[chuck9788]

Yes sir. Arrested in Ft Lauderdale, Florida for :

POSSESSION OF COCAINE, POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA (crack pipe), and PROBATION VIOLATION.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Won a 6 rounder on Friday.

http://boxrec.com/en/event/777246

[HeavyHitters]

If I was close to Oliver, I would suggest he become a trainer, preferably taking up one of the young undefeated heavyweights and take him under his wing. Instead of getting hit in the head at his age of 53, teach some younger fighters the art of defense and how to take a punch. That way he can stay in the sport of boxing without risking any further damage to his brain, all the while making a paycheck.

I can see his charismatic personality lighting a hot fire under some heavyweights that could really use some inspiration. Heck, he's got one hell of a resume'!

Wins: Lionel Butler, Bruce Seldon, Jesse Ferguson, Francensco Damiani, Champion Lennox Lewis, Larry Holmes, Oleg Maskaev, Henry Akinwande, Lance Whitaker, Fres Oquendo, ( and now Larry Knight )

Losses, but not KO'ed: Mike Hunter, Buster Douglas, Orlin Norris, Tony Tucker, Frank Bruno.

[Thomastearns]

everyone dreams of fighting again, but we all wake up knowing it was a dream. But the dreams never do stop

Such is life.

[gilgamesh]

If I was close to Oliver, I would suggest he become a trainer, preferably taking up one of the young undefeated heavyweights and take him under his wing. Instead of getting hit in the head at his age of 53, teach some younger fighters the art of defense and how to take a punch. That way he can stay in the sport of boxing without risking any further damage to his brain, all the while making a paycheck.

I can see his charismatic personality lighting a hot fire under some heavyweights that could really use some inspiration. Heck, he's got one hell of a resume'!

Wins: Lionel Butler, Bruce Seldon, Jesse Ferguson, Francensco Damiani, Champion Lennox Lewis, Larry Holmes, Oleg Maskaev, Henry Akinwande, Lance Whitaker, Fres Oquendo, ( and now Larry Knight )

Losses, but not KO'ed: Mike Hunter, Buster Douglas, Orlin Norris, Tony Tucker, Frank Bruno.

If nothing else he could be a motivational speaker for Athletes who are having personal issues. Particularly drug related ones. He was always a bit raw as a fighter, so I'm not sure if he'd be a good trainer or not, but he might be ok at it. It'd definitely be better for him to attempt that than to keep fighting.