BoxRec

Just watching Lewis v McCall second fight again. Had it in my head it was one way traffic and The Atomic Bull was just crying throughout. However he was quite competitive first two rounds. Third round Lewis caught him with three heavy right hands in about 45 seconds and McCall starts throwing shapes with his hands. Then looking out of the ring.



End of R3 he doesn’t go back to his corner. Just pacing around like a creepy c**t. Trainer George Benton (who didn’t look happy during the pre fight preliminaries) just looks disgusted but not massively surprised so wonder how bad his training was for this fight?

Round four doesn’t throw a punch apart from a single jab after about two minutes of the round. Just walking about like a sitting duck.

Bursts out crying end of R4. Eventually sits down in his corner. Mills Lane has a word and amazingly let’s it continue.

McCall’s chin was legendary. But f**k knows what was going on between his ears on that night. Do we know if he got paid for this fight?

He had his purse suspended and then was fined.

One thing is for sure. Don got paid.

McCall will have seen “some” money after the usual DK purse trickerations but more than likely smoked it anyway.

Another interesting footnote was King coming to the ring with him. Like literally behind him during the ring walk. Never saw that before or since with The Don’. Had he done this previously with his fighters?

He probably knew McCall was in a bad way and didn’t trust him to make it to the ring?

Yes, quite a dissatisfying revenge for Lennox Lewis.
As stated McCall fought for a couple of rounds, then when Lewis started unloading on him he quickly unravelled mentally.

McCall was suffering from substance abuse issues I think, so that's what was behind it.
Evidently McCall was a very hard man to stop, this being his only stoppage loss, and him sparring Tyson for dozens of rounds.

I think Bruno said McCall was sobbing in their fight in 95 too.

banjo wrote: ↑24 May 2020, 08:36 I think Bruno said McCall was sobbing in their fight in 95 too.

Yes i remember McCall crying walking to the ring that night.

Shhhh wrote: ↑24 May 2020, 08:43

banjo wrote: ↑24 May 2020, 08:36 I think Bruno said McCall was sobbing in their fight in 95 too.

Bruno being able to claim to be a heavyweight champion is a travesty really. He barely beat Oliver McCall when McCall was in the midst of crack addiction and was in a similar state to when he boxed lewis..... might put this on unpopular opinions thread lol

I agree,Bruno just hung on to beat a shell of a drug addict and after watching it myself last week was wondering if McCall did get paid in the end

bigjack wrote: ↑24 May 2020, 09:19

Shhhh wrote: ↑24 May 2020, 08:43

Bruno being able to claim to be a heavyweight champion is a travesty really. He barely beat Oliver McCall when McCall was in the midst of crack addiction and was in a similar state to when he boxed lewis..... might put this on unpopular opinions thread lol

I agree,Bruno just hung on to beat a shell of a drug addict and after watching it myself last week was wondering if McCall did get paid in the end

Whenever I think of that fight I always picture Nigel Benn going mad at ringside.

I knew a former cornerman who knew McCall. He couldn't stand him, said he only associated with criminal types, gang members, drug dealers etc, he was an accident waiting to happen 24-7.

TheGman wrote: ↑24 May 2020, 08:47

banjo wrote: ↑24 May 2020, 08:36 I think Bruno said McCall was sobbing in their fight in 95 too.

Yes i remember McCall crying walking to the ring that night.

He had mental issues, he lost his mother and he was addicted to Golden Brown. Very sad, he shouldn't have been in the same ring.

revpickles wrote: ↑24 May 2020, 12:13

TheGman wrote: ↑24 May 2020, 08:47

Yes i remember McCall crying walking to the ring that night.

He had mental issues, he lost his mother and he was addicted to Golden Brown. Very sad, he shouldn't have been in the same ring.

I'm sure Don King would have made sure he was ok moneywise

revpickles wrote: ↑24 May 2020, 12:13

TheGman wrote: ↑24 May 2020, 08:47

Yes i remember McCall crying walking to the ring that night.

He had mental issues, he lost his mother and he was addicted to Golden Brown. Very sad, he shouldn't have been in the same ring.

Was crack with McCall. Not heroin. Can anyone ever recall Don King walking into the ring with any of his fighters? If not, Wonder if he did so on this occasion as he wasn’t convinced The Atomic Bull would get there otherwise.

banjo wrote: ↑24 May 2020, 09:29

bigjack wrote: ↑24 May 2020, 09:19

I agree,Bruno just hung on to beat a shell of a drug addict and after watching it myself last week was wondering if McCall did get paid in the end

Whenever I think of that fight I always picture Nigel Benn going mad at ringside.

Returning the favour to Bruno for the McClelland fight!

Obviously it wasn't as bad as vs Lewis, but I definately believe McCall had a mini breakdown vs Bruno - he just didn't want to be there that night.

Jim Watt's commentary for the Lewis rematch was the first (and possibly) only time I have seen him way off in the calling of the fight (not meaning score cards). He was praising McCall at the start of the his antics, calling him "one of boxings real hard men". Yes he was taking shots flush, but there was no call for any praise for that performance. He twigged it by the end and was slagging him off, but he usually calls it correct from the off (okay I know some people might post the "he quit" comment for McClellan but I can forgive him for that one).

dookus wrote: ↑24 May 2020, 14:26

banjo wrote: ↑24 May 2020, 09:29

Whenever I think of that fight I always picture Nigel Benn going mad at ringside.

Returning the favour to Bruno for the McClelland fight!

When Frank was wearing that bright orange suit

banjo wrote: ↑24 May 2020, 18:53

dookus wrote: ↑24 May 2020, 14:26
Returning the favour to Bruno for the McClelland fight!

When Frank was wearing that bright orange suit

Yeah, you couldn't miss him at ringside from a tv perspective. I found myself getting distracted and looking at Bruno rather than the action during the middle of the fight.