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The night of April 23 approaches as a crossroads for many of the fighters participating in the evening’s festivities. Perhaps no greater example exists than between the heavyweight forces of Calvin Brock and Jameel McCline, former spar-mates set to collide in a significant match-up. Having failed in two previous title attempts, McCline, by his own admission to this writer will be able to make a decent living if he loses, but a win would catapult him forth to try to secure his position as the premier heavyweight of his time. Calvin Brock knows no such pressures, being at the start of his professional career with a world of opportunity before him, and of course, McCline. Unfortunately for Brock, McCline is no slight obstacle on the path to true recognition; being proportionately larger than your average heavyweight stands McCline a greater chance of success where others might fail. Brock scrapped his way past such preliminary fight figures as Terry Smith and Clifford Etienne, but now, he comes before a fighter of greater size and experience who is eager to reclaim a place atop the heavyweight pecking order. Will Brock’s momentum carry him through, or will the sleeping giant in Jameel McCline finally awake? The SaddoBoxing.com team have their ideas about what will happen, read on to find out what they are.
Matt Cotterell: Much has been made of Brock and McCline’s “secret” sparring session, but in all honesty, Brock falling over his own feet during an impromptu sparring session as a southpaw means very little. Having said that, this is a big step for Brock, McCline is the one who has operated at the higher level and its McCline I’m picking to score a decision win.
Sergio Martinez: McCline vs. Brock is an interesting fight in that you have the known element in Jameel and the unknown in Calvin. “Big Time” is just that, big! He has the size, speed, reach, and strength to give any of the current heavyweights a tough fight. The main thing he lacks is testicular fortitude, which cost him his biggest fight against the younger Klitschko, Wladimir, in which Jameel looked like a “Big Time” chicken. Having said that, I still think that his edge in size, speed, and strength, coupled with having fought the MUCH tougher opposition, should be enough to pull McCline through. When your toughest opponent is Clifford Etienne, whose jaw is for sale at your local glass shop mart, the “boxing banker” shouldn’t quit his day job. Then again, anything can happen with those crazy heavyweights.
Shaun Rico LaWhorn: A potential heavyweight slugfest could be in store with Jameel McCline (31-4, 19 KOs) taking on the undefeated Calvin Brock(24-0, 20 KOs). McCline, who lost to Chris Byrd via decision, is entering into another dangerous fight. As for Brock, his TKO of Clifford Etienne has his confidence at a high point. McCline, if he box wisely can use his six-foot-six height as an advantage point to keep Brock at bay. I don’t think Brock will risk a decision. This fight has the ability to end early. I have Brock, landing a heavy shot, which will keep McCline down for the count in round four.
Don Caputo: Brock by KO, I think Jameel will be in charge until Brock lands big on his chin. He will go down a few times before the referee jumps in, probably around the fifth round.
Edwin Gonzalez: Brock wins via mid-round stoppage. Brock stops McCline in the sixth.
Jim Cawkwell: I have spoken extensively with Jameel McCline over the last six months and kept a close eye on his progress in training. It is obvious from the Byrd fight that McCline needed to bring his weight down from a monstrous 270-pounds in order to sustain himself over a distance fight. I hate to call against McCline because he is a fighter whom I have invested some belief in to do some good things in the division, but the indications are that he has been unable to shed the poundage he so desired during training camp for this fight. Being only five pounds lighter than for the Byrd fight, I suspect that McCline will have to go for it early and Brock, despite being relatively untested looks to be a decent enough scrapper and may survive McCline for long enough to take a late stoppage or decision.
Jim Cawkwell can be reached at jimcawkwell@yahoo.co.uk
