BoxRec

Just read that the Body Snatcher has passed away, being reported online. What a great fighter, rest in peace champ.

I always wrote mostly about one of my favorite fighters in the Mythical Matchup category and he was the goat of all Jamaican fighters. RIP Bodysnatcher or Champ

One of the most complete boxers in my lifetime has passed away. The great Mike McCallum became Jamaica's first world boxing champion in history. And did he represented Jamaica well?

He won 3 world titles in 3 weight classes, something not impressive today, but it meant something then. Was WBA World Jr Middleweight Champion from 1984 to 1987 and made 6 title defenses, all by knockout!

His most famous knockout in that title reign was his last defense of that crown when he stopped cold former Welterweight World Champion and superstar Donald Curry of Dallas, TX with a timely perfect left hook. It was one of the most vicious and spectacular knockouts of the 1980s decade.

The Body Snatcher as McCallum was called, also won the WBA World Middleweight and WBC World Light-Heavyweight championships to annex his trophy hardware case.

One of his most remembered bouts was when he and the great James "Lights Out" Toney duke it out for Toney's IBF World Middleweight Crown in November 1991. It was a fight of high skill and technical prowess between two great complete boxers that showed the world how is to be done. The fight ended in a draw.

Some say and believe that the Body Snatcher was ducked and ignored by the best fighters of his era, especially the 4 Kings of Roberto Duran, Thomas Hearns, Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Sugar Ray Leonard. Is it true? Was he really ducked? Well, the evidences are there.

But, in my personal opinion, this guy McCallum could have beaten any member of The 4 Kings. He had class, skills and the style to beat all four of them. He was that good.

Among other great wins he beat Ayub Kalule, Julian "The Hawk" Jackson, Sean Mannion, Sumbu Kalambay, Michael Watson and Jeff Harding.

By the time he fought the great Roy Jones, Jr, McCallum was up in age at 39 years old and still held it's own. That's how great this boxer was.

To me, he is a bonafide top 100 pound per pound all-time great. He got to be. There's no debate in that. If he's not in your top 100, then something gotta be wrong with you.

Who was better at 154lbs? McCallum or The Hitman Hearns? I would say that McCallum was the best fighter ever at that class by splitting hairs.

Rest in peace champ. You was one of a kind. One of the top 5 most complete boxers in my lifetime.

Don't forget his win over Milton McCrory- an excellent performance.

goose 5 wrote: ↑01 Jun 2025, 20:21 Don't forget his win over Milton McCrory- an excellent performance.

Oh, yes! Mike McCallum was one of a kind. He will surely be missed.

Mike is probably the greatest Jamaican born boxer of all time right? Who else would be on that list?

RIP Champ. There was no ten count for him at the Plant card in Vegas Saturday (news of his passing may have not been made available by the time of the main). This weekend at HOF card I am sure we will hear a count for him. Great fighter.

McCallum was one of the slickest boxers out there—tough, smart, and super underrated.

ksolomo1 wrote: ↑02 Jun 2025, 14:57 McCallum was one of the slickest boxers out there—tough, smart, and super underrated.

He's one of them guys that only hardcore boxing fans seem to remember, but at least among us that remember him I don't think he's underrated. He's pretty highly thought of.

goose 5 wrote: ↑01 Jun 2025, 20:21 Don't forget his win over Milton McCrory- an excellent performance.

Don't forget Herol Graham either. Not an easy win for anyone.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑02 Jun 2025, 10:51 Mike is probably the greatest Jamaican born boxer of all time right? Who else would be on that list?

Out of Jamaica, in my opinion, we have:
1. Mike McCallum
2. Simon Brown
3. Lloyd Honeyghan
4. Trevor Berbick
5. Duke McKenzie
6. Donovan "Razor" Ruddock
7. Bunny Grant
8. Percy Hayles
9. Alex Stewart
10. Glen Johnson

elmersalsa wrote: ↑07 Jun 2025, 16:05

gilgamesh wrote: ↑02 Jun 2025, 10:51 Mike is probably the greatest Jamaican born boxer of all time right? Who else would be on that list?

Out of Jamaica, in my opinion, we have:
1. Mike McCallum
2. Simon Brown
3. Lloyd Honeyghan
4. Trevor Berbick
5. Duke McKenzie
6. Donovan "Razor" Ruddock
7. Bunny Grant
8. Percy Hayles
9. Alex Stewart
10. Glen Johnson

I would not count Honeyghan as Jamaican because he was born in England.

This is my opinion on the goat out of Jamaica:

1. Mike McCallum
2. Simon Brown or Glen Johnson
3. Glen Johnson or Simon Brown (couldn't choose between the two who I would rank second or third behind the Bodysnatcher)
4. Duke McKenzie
5. Donovan "Razor" Ruddock
6. Trevor Berbick
7. Dillian Whyte
8. O'Neil Bell
9. Keith Mullings
10. Alex Stewart

scorpio83 wrote: ↑08 Jun 2025, 07:48

elmersalsa wrote: ↑07 Jun 2025, 16:05

gilgamesh wrote: ↑02 Jun 2025, 10:51 Mike is probably the greatest Jamaican born boxer of all time right? Who else would be on that list?

Out of Jamaica, in my opinion, we have:
1. Mike McCallum
2. Simon Brown
3. Lloyd Honeyghan
4. Trevor Berbick
5. Duke McKenzie
6. Donovan "Razor" Ruddock
7. Bunny Grant
8. Percy Hayles
9. Alex Stewart
10. Glen Johnson

I would not count Honeyghan as Jamaican because he was born in England.

This is my opinion on the goat out of Jamaica:

1. Mike McCallum
2. Simon Brown or Glen Johnson
3. Glen Johnson or Simon Brown (couldn't choose between the two who I would rank second or third behind the Bodysnatcher)
4. Duke McKenzie
5. Donovan "Razor" Ruddock
6. Trevor Berbick
7. Dillian Whyte
8. O'Neil Bell
9. Keith Mullings
10. Alex Stewart

I’m sure McKenzie and Stewart were both born in the UK as well

Controversial wrote: ↑08 Jun 2025, 08:40

scorpio83 wrote: ↑08 Jun 2025, 07:48

elmersalsa wrote: ↑07 Jun 2025, 16:05

Out of Jamaica, in my opinion, we have:
1. Mike McCallum
2. Simon Brown
3. Lloyd Honeyghan
4. Trevor Berbick
5. Duke McKenzie
6. Donovan "Razor" Ruddock
7. Bunny Grant
8. Percy Hayles
9. Alex Stewart
10. Glen Johnson

I would not count Honeyghan as Jamaican because he was born in England.

This is my opinion on the goat out of Jamaica:

1. Mike McCallum
2. Simon Brown or Glen Johnson
3. Glen Johnson or Simon Brown (couldn't choose between the two who I would rank second or third behind the Bodysnatcher)
4. Duke McKenzie
5. Donovan "Razor" Ruddock
6. Trevor Berbick
7. Dillian Whyte
8. O'Neil Bell
9. Keith Mullings
10. Alex Stewart

I’m sure McKenzie and Stewart were both born in the UK as well

Some Jamaicans also believe that the great Lennox Lewis is from Jamaica and not from England.

Controversial wrote: ↑08 Jun 2025, 08:40

scorpio83 wrote: ↑08 Jun 2025, 07:48

elmersalsa wrote: ↑07 Jun 2025, 16:05

Out of Jamaica, in my opinion, we have:
1. Mike McCallum
2. Simon Brown
3. Lloyd Honeyghan
4. Trevor Berbick
5. Duke McKenzie
6. Donovan "Razor" Ruddock
7. Bunny Grant
8. Percy Hayles
9. Alex Stewart
10. Glen Johnson

I would not count Honeyghan as Jamaican because he was born in England.

This is my opinion on the goat out of Jamaica:

1. Mike McCallum
2. Simon Brown or Glen Johnson
3. Glen Johnson or Simon Brown (couldn't choose between the two who I would rank second or third behind the Bodysnatcher)
4. Duke McKenzie
5. Donovan "Razor" Ruddock
6. Trevor Berbick
7. Dillian Whyte
8. O'Neil Bell
9. Keith Mullings
10. Alex Stewart

I’m sure McKenzie and Stewart were both born in the UK as well

Yeah McKenzie and Stewart were born in the UK. Although Duke’s brother Clinton was born in Jamaica.

Honeyghan was defo born in Jamaica though.

And Kirkland Laing was Jamaican born too obviously.

I would say Nicholas Walters belongs in that list. Short prime but at a high level.

Controversial wrote: ↑08 Jun 2025, 08:40

scorpio83 wrote: ↑08 Jun 2025, 07:48

elmersalsa wrote: ↑07 Jun 2025, 16:05

Out of Jamaica, in my opinion, we have:
1. Mike McCallum
2. Simon Brown
3. Lloyd Honeyghan
4. Trevor Berbick
5. Duke McKenzie
6. Donovan "Razor" Ruddock
7. Bunny Grant
8. Percy Hayles
9. Alex Stewart
10. Glen Johnson

I would not count Honeyghan as Jamaican because he was born in England.

This is my opinion on the goat out of Jamaica:

1. Mike McCallum
2. Simon Brown or Glen Johnson
3. Glen Johnson or Simon Brown (couldn't choose between the two who I would rank second or third behind the Bodysnatcher)
4. Duke McKenzie
5. Donovan "Razor" Ruddock
6. Trevor Berbick
7. Dillian Whyte
8. O'Neil Bell
9. Keith Mullings
10. Alex Stewart

I’m sure McKenzie and Stewart were both born in the UK as well

Well, I think that I got to put Kirkland Laing instead of Alex Stewart.

So, I will rank them like this:
1. Mike McCallum
2. Simon Brown
3. Lloyd Honeyghan
4. Trevor Berbick
5. Duke McKenzie
6. Donovan "Razor" Ruddock
7. Kirkland Laing
8. Bunny Grant
9. Percy Hayles
10. Glen Johnson

elmersalsa wrote: ↑10 Jun 2025, 09:58

Controversial wrote: ↑08 Jun 2025, 08:40

scorpio83 wrote: ↑08 Jun 2025, 07:48

I would not count Honeyghan as Jamaican because he was born in England.

This is my opinion on the goat out of Jamaica:

1. Mike McCallum
2. Simon Brown or Glen Johnson
3. Glen Johnson or Simon Brown (couldn't choose between the two who I would rank second or third behind the Bodysnatcher)
4. Duke McKenzie
5. Donovan "Razor" Ruddock
6. Trevor Berbick
7. Dillian Whyte
8. O'Neil Bell
9. Keith Mullings
10. Alex Stewart

I’m sure McKenzie and Stewart were both born in the UK as well

Well, I think that I got to put Kirkland Laing instead of Alex Stewart.

So, I will rank them like this:
1. Mike McCallum
2. Simon Brown
3. Lloyd Honeyghan
4. Trevor Berbick
5. Duke McKenzie
6. Donovan "Razor" Ruddock
7. Kirkland Laing
8. Bunny Grant
9. Percy Hayles
10. Glen Johnson

You still have Duke McKenzie, he was born in England

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category: ... ale_boxers