BoxRec

I always wondered why McCallum never fought Hagler, Leonard, Hearns, or Duran. He was right in their age range.

Norris would trouble Mike in the early rounds with his speed and combinations but McCallum was an excellent counter puncher and had a great chin. By round 5 the Bodysnatcher would be in control. McCallum by late stoppage

McCallum KO6 Norris. Its a shame McCallum didnt fight any of the other legends of his era, I think he was a later developer and Leonard and Hearns had moved up weight divisions before he got there and Hagler had retired. McCallum would have run them close

>>>I always wondered why McCallum never fought Hagler, Leonard, Hearns, or Duran. He was right in their age range.<<<

No one wanted to fight him. Way too much risk for a payday that would not have been outstanding. Infortunately only the hardcore boxing fans knew who McCallum was, but all the middleweights and jr. middleweight sure as hell knew who he was. I think McCallum, undefeated at 154, was possibly the very best to ever hold a title at that weight. Arguments can be made for Hearns, Griffith and even Terry Norris, but McCallum matches up very well against any of them and Hearns would probably be about the only fighter at 154 that I would pick to beat McCallum.

Against Norris I think McCallum just picks Norris apart giving him a pretty solid beating before scoring a clean knockout sometimes around round five!

barry wrote:>>>I always wondered why McCallum never fought Hagler, Leonard, Hearns, or Duran. He was right in their age range.<<<

No one wanted to fight him. Way too much risk for a payday that would not have been outstanding. Infortunately only the hardcore boxing fans knew who McCallum was, but all the middleweights and jr. middleweight sure as hell knew who he was. I think McCallum, undefeated at 154, was possibly the very best to ever hold a title at that weight. Arguments can be made for Hearns, Griffith and even Terry Norris, but McCallum matches up very well against any of them and Hearns would probably be about the only fighter at 154 that I would pick to beat McCallum.

Against Norris I think McCallum just picks Norris apart giving him a pretty solid beating before scoring a clean knockout sometimes around round five!

Well stated, although I think at 154 McCallum might have been able to chop Hearns down as well with that body attack.

Mccallum was a much better all round fighter than Norris and would probably wear him down and win by ko in about 7 rounds... if Norris tried to trade the end would come even sooner...

>>>Well stated, although I think at 154 McCallum might have been able to chop Hearns down as well with that body attack.<<<

What I meant to say was that, probably about the only fighter that I might choose over McCallum would be Hearns, but that's not a definate pick.

McCallum had the chin to handle pretty much whatever Hearns had to offer, but Hearns did not have the durability that it would take...especially those late rounds...rounds 12, 13, 14 and 15 would be hell as McCallum would have really punished the body..having the opponent pissing blood for several days following a bout.

Someone had a similar thread about jr. middleweight a while back and I chose McCallum at number 1.

When speaking of fighters who were under-rated, McCallum is certainly one of the most under-rated...one of my favorite fights is McCallum-Toney I...great, great fight!

Its a shame Mccallum and Hearns never fought as it would have been a classic but I think I'd edge towards Hearns at 154.... I think he would have been a tad too fast at that weight... the way to beat Mccallum was to outspeed/outbox him and Hearns had the tools to do that and was at his most durable at 154.

silkov wrote:Its a shame Mccallum and Hearns never fought as it would have been a classic but I think I'd edge towards Hearns at 154.... I think he would have been a tad too fast at that weight... the way to beat Mccallum was to outspeed/outbox him and Hearns had the tools to do that and was at his most durable at 154.

yeah, but one blow at Hearns china glass jaw and it could be over. McCallum to me was the greatest jr middle ever

I'll Take Terry on this one in a close fight

The occasional claim that Tommy Hearns had a glass jaw is one of the biggest myths in boxing of the last 25+ years.

I think it was Hearn's legs rather than his chin. I don't recall off the top of my head Hearns being knocked unconscience or extremely dazed.

McCallum has an awesome nickname. McCallum, I think he can throw away the first three rounds and then chop away on Norris. McCallum KO6

Mccallum could get outboxed and in this case it would certainly happen with Hearns Mccallum's Chin might Help him last the distance Mccallum's Body punching might help him Be able to tire Tommy who was a Tall guy and body was always vulnerable but I don't see him getting the job done Hearns UD

McCallum easy.
Mike could give and take it.

McCallum would eventually win by late tko after having the fight of his life.

Hearns and Leonard both would have outboxed him at 154. he is a tad below them in class. Hagler would have defeated him as well if he would have moved up in weight. I doubt any of them would have ko'd or had an easy time with him however.

Agree with others regarding McCallum -

McCallum would break T. Norris down...and KO him inside of 10.


As for the great match-up between McCallum and Hearns at 154 - Hearns would win via Dec......Hearns power would keep McCallum honest...and Hearns was one hell of a boxer (outside of that lethel right hand). Hell he outboxed both SRL and Benitez.....Hearns via UD.

McCallum would stop Norris is less than 6 rounds.

Terry would outbox McCallum like he was doing with Jackson McCallum didn't have Jackson Type Power McCallum was getting outboxed by Curry and Sumbu Kalambay Tell me how many fighters were able to breakdown Terry??

Victor*KC wrote:Terry would outbox McCallum like he was doing with Jackson McCallum didn't have Jackson Type Power McCallum was getting outboxed by Curry and Sumbu Kalambay Tell me how many fighters were able to breakdown Terry??

How about Julian Jackson, Simon Brown, Keith Mullings, and Laurent Boudouani. Norris loses big against McCallum and Trinidad.

Julian Jackson, Simon Brown, Keith Mullings, and Laurent Boudouani

Julian Jackson landed 1,2 lucky shots in a fight he was getting his ass spanked Simon Brown landed a lucky shot and lost a 1 sided fight in the rematch Keith Mullings was when norris was already on the slide when he fough Laurent he was already Shot McCallum was outboxed by Kalambay and was getting outboxed by Curry too

Victor*KC wrote:Julian Jackson, Simon Brown, Keith Mullings, and Laurent Boudouani

Julian Jackson landed 1,2 lucky shots in a fight he was getting his ass spanked Simon Brown landed a lucky shot and lost a 1 sided fight in the rematch Keith Mullings was when norris was already on the slide when he fough Laurent he was already Shot McCallum was outboxed by Kalambay and was getting outboxed by Curry too

So Norris was stop only by lucky shots? Can McCallum gets lucky too?

This debate has made me change my opinion Terry loses in 1 round!

McCallum would win by stoppage around 8-10 rounds.

McCallum would beat Hearns and Leonard over 15 at 154 or 160. They'd be close fights though. Hagler would have been too much but it would have been Hagler's defence.

McCallum by knockout within five rounds. Norris, though an outstanding boxer, simply just did not have the chin to hang with McCallum and it would be a bout similar to Norris-Julian Jackson.