How good was Jameel McCline?

[James9753]

How good was Jameel McCline compared to his other competitors in the heavyweight division during the 2000s. Was he ever considered a top 10 contender in his day?

[DrDuke]

Decent competitor with some decent scalps, but nothing more.

[Tuan_Jim]

Yes, he was in the top 10 after a run that saw him upset Michael Grant in his big comeback fight (KO1), Mount Whitaker (W12) and Shannon Briggs (W10, with a knockdown scored over Briggs). That set up a fight for the second-division WBO title versus Wladimir Klitschko, on a big HBO Mayweather show. His meek challenge sullied his reputation but as I recall he still lingered in and around the top 10 for several years. Lost to Byrd in another title fight despite scoring some KDs, lost on an injury versus Nikolay Valuev just as things were getting interesting, then took on Samuel Peter when the Nigerian's stock was at its highest and surprisingly decked him a few times before reverting to type and retiring into his shell to lose a decision.

Had monstrous size, did damage when he let his hands go, but simply lacked the intangibles to beat confident top class heavyweights.

[gilgamesh]

Solid Lower Top 10 contender at his best, which was the run he had through 2002-2005 or so. He never could cut it at the top, but he held his own with Chris Byrd and Samuel Peter pretty well in Title fights.

He eventually got over it, but I always found it amusing how a guy his size would sometimes fight like he was scared to death. Particularly early on.

Even against Michael Grant where he won with the 1st punch he threw. He looked kinda terrified when he threw it

[BoxBuzz]

IN the thread that asked the question "what was the worst fight you ever saw"....Jameel lands in that thread for me. Vs Chris Byrd..... just a snoozer where two friends slap each other around and then turn around to pass the hat to the audience asking them to pay for the show.

Watching paint dry, or grass grow would have been more interesting.

[Boxing Writer]

IN the thread that asked the question "what was the worst fight you ever saw"....Jameel lands in that thread for me. Vs Chris Byrd..... just a snoozer where two friends slap each other around and then turn around to pass the hat to the audience asking them to pay for the show.

Watching paint dry, or grass grow would have been more interesting.

Byrd vs McCline was actually a decent HW fight. McCline knocked Chris down hard in the second round but couldn't fiinish him off (like he couldn't finish Briggs, Brock, Peter after knocking them down too) and Byrd dominated the second half of the fight, which wasn't boring also. You are confusing this fight with Byrd vs Williamson, which was really awful.

[gilgamesh]

IN the thread that asked the question "what was the worst fight you ever saw"....Jameel lands in that thread for me. Vs Chris Byrd..... just a snoozer where two friends slap each other around and then turn around to pass the hat to the audience asking them to pay for the show.

Watching paint dry, or grass grow would have been more interesting.

I thought that fight was reasonably good personally. Jameel and Byrd were definitely in worse fights at other times.

Jameel vs Wladimir was more boring to me.

And don't even get me started on Byrd vs Davarryl Williamson

I mean Jameel vs Byrd was no barnburner or nothing, but there were a few dramatic spots in there I thought. It was probably one of the better fights on that card actually...although it was a pretty dull card.

[HomicideHenry]

I heard from Jason Gavern that McCline owns a gym down in Florida and that it's pretty successful so good on him.

[tiny_acres]

I always liked McCline. We did a charity fundraiser for Hurricane Katrina victims.
Jameel donated a signed pair of gloves and the shorts he wore when he face Byrd.
A class act and super nice guy.