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In a interesting matchup this Saturday evening, former heavyweight champion Oliver McCall takes on Darroll Wilson in a battle of the veterans in the world famous Louisville Gardens in Kentucky on a Warriors/Chris Webb shared promotion.
McCall, now aged 40, is unbeaten in his last seven bouts and has an overall record of 47-8 with 34 knockouts. An interesting character to say the least, the boxing world has seen him go from journeyman to heavyweight champion only to surrender his title a year later and then appear to suffer a mental breakdown in a bid to regain his old title.
For the uninitiated, I think the above deserves an explanation. A pro since 1985, McCall seemed to be treading water in the early days. A loss to future champion Buster Douglas in 1989 and Orlin Norris in 1990 certainly didn’t help his cause. Then in 1991, cast as the opponent, “The Atomic Bull” scored the biggest win of his career by stopping hot prospect Bruce Seldon in nine rounds. Nine fights and three years later, McCall found himself number one contender to Lennox Lewis’ heavyweight crown.
On September 24, 1994 McCall scored the upset of upsets. Seen as a warmup defence for a potential Lennox Lewis title defence against Riddick Bowe, McCall with one big right hand in round two scuppered the chance of a Lewis vs. Bowe superfight.
McCall would make one defence of his newly won title, scoring a points decision over veteran Larry Holmes in April 1995. Five months later, McCall would tamely surrender his title to British hero Frank Bruno, losing on points after only coming to life in the last couple of rounds.
After two comeback wins McCall was matched with old rival Lennox Lewis in Las Vegas in February 1997, in a chance to win his old title back. Five rounds later he was a quivering wreck, breaking down in tears with even Lewis being reluctant to hit him. Certainly a bizarre ending!
That seemed to be the end for McCall but nine years later, he still seems to have something to offer the heavyweight division. A win in 2001 over fellow veteran Henry Akinwande showed McCall had something in the tank and he has continued to rack win after win.
In Wilson, he meets a man a year younger than himself. Once deemed a hot prospect, especially when he knocked out Shannon Briggs in 1996, Wilson’s career seemed to fall apart after that. Knockout losses to the likes of David Tua, David Izon and even veteran Tim Witherspoon have stunted his progress.
In analysing this fight, I fear for Wilson. Although McCall is the older man, Wilson’s record shows a vulnerability to a man with a big punch and a strong chin. McCall fits the bill in both instances and has also been winning, with a seven fight unbeaten streak over the last two years.
McCall by knockout for me.
