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I had the pleasure of talking with former heavyweight champion Oliver “The Atomic Bull” McCall recently. McCall is getting ready to face Darroll Wilson on 9 September in Louisville, KY. Although Wilson is not a top caliber fighter, he is helping to keep the former champion busy. McCall has fought seven times since February of last year and is looking to increase the pace and hopefully enter the top 10.
Oliver feels he is ready to challenge for a title soon and wants to stay sharp and ready. Looking at the longevity and active roster of today’s heavyweights, even at 41 years old, you have to start taking McCall seriously. He has power that is a threat to anyone and the experience to handle the crop of green up and comers. Most importantly, he has the attitude of a guy determined to show that he is more than just another former champion who doesn’t know when it’s time to quit.
We talked a little about everything; his past, the current state of the game, what the younger generation of today is lacking and the things he learned from his past mistakes. Not only as a fighter, but as a person. Here is what Oliver McCall had to say about all of the above and a little more…
SaddoBoxing: Thank you for taking the time to speak with us Champ. How are you feeling? How is training going?
Oliver McCall: “No problem. I feel good. I had a good run this morning, I’m in shape, I am feeling refreshed and blessed.”
SB: You just fought at the end of June with a quick stoppage of Kenny Craven. A month prior you beat Wallace Daniel. Next up is Darroll Wilson. That’s three fights in under five months; your a busy guy. You trying to show these younger guys up?
OM: “Nah! I just have an extra fire under me since Maskaev won the title, so I am trying to move up the ladder. Keep myself sharp by staying active. Fighting as much as I can. The more I fight ,the quicker I move up. I would love to fight more often. If it was up to me I would fight once a month. This way I am always in shape. I am always on my game staying sharp. It’s not up to me though, I don’t make those decisions. That’s a thing between the promoters who make the fights.
SB: Last year, you fought five times and this one is your third this year. These days, that’s a busy schedule for guys 31 years old, let alone 41. You don’t seem to be slowing down any, with the belief of staying active to keep sharp and keeping a busy schedule to help move up the ladder. Do you think these younger guy’s today who only fight two or three times a year at most could learn something from you?
OM: “I really don’t know why these young guys don’t keep busier. You would think they would want to. Maybe it’s injuries, or not wanting injuries? That happens a lot in this sport. I know I want to keep busy. The busier I am, the quicker I get a title shot.”
SB: Oliver, I have followed your career since 85′ when you started in the pros. You have had some ups and downs. It seems that in the past, every time you started to put together a nice win streak somehow you were set back with an unexpected loss. You always seemed to bounce back though and step back into the ring, determined to keep taking care of business. It seems like these younger guys today that make it to the big fights have a problem dealing with a loss. They don’t step right back up. Sometimes, they just fade away. Worse yet they just retire, e.g. Felix Trinidad, who exited right after each of his losses and didn’t rebound and come back more determined immediately. Why do think that is?
OM: “Trinidad really surprised me. The guy had all the talent necessary. It’s not like he got really beat up by Wright. The same goes for the other guys who do the same thing. I think these guys just don’t know how to deal with adversity. Adversity comes with the sport and you have to learn to deal with it if you want to stay around. The ups and the downs. Right now in my life, I have learned how to deal with those things. At 41, I want to be a role model. Show the kids out there you can’t stop trying just because something doesn’t go right, no matter how old you get. The best example of that was Archie Moore. He kept fighting late in his 40’s, even after he lost the title. As long as he knew he had something left he kept going, he overcame adversity. He showed as long as you can, you have to keep going.”
SB: In your career, you have some big name opponents in your win column. Seldon, Damiani, Holmes, Maskaev, Akinwande, Lewis. All tough guys and top 10 fighters or champions at the time. How do you compare the current crop of fighters to the ones you faced earlier in your career?
OM: “I don’t know, they’re alright. There is only one who will be a real threat in the future, Samuel Peter. He is young, strong and he’s only what, 25 or 26? By the time he is 30, he will dominate the division. He is still learning and getting better. He has awesome power in both hands. He is going to dominate this division in the future just watch and see. As long as he keeps doing what he is doing right now.”
SB: Well, he lost to Klitschko not to long back. In a week he returns to fight James Toney. Peter right now relies too much on his power. In the Wlad fight, do you think when Klitschko didn’t stay down after the third time in the fight it effected Peter at all?
OM: “Yeah I do, that goes with experience though. His trainers will modify that. Like I said, he is still learning. Take his power and add it with more boxing skills and Samuel will be devastating, eventually after they work on the little things. Tune him up and teach him to become a better boxer he will be able to easily rule the division. After I retire of course! ( laughs ). As long as he gets better technique, which I think he will, he has a future.”
SB: I know you would like a title shot in the near future. As long as things keep going good for you, eventually you will get one. Out of the current champions Klitschko, Maskaev, Valuev, and Lyakovich, who do you think is the best of the bunch?
OM: “Wladimir Klitschko is the best, I would have to say. He keeps getting better with every fight it seems. Plus with Emanuel Steward in his corner, that’s a big plus on his side. What Wlad lacks in chin, he makes up in speed, power and technique.”
SB: Speaking of Samuel Peter and Wlad’s chin, we all know what kind of power Peter possess. In their fight, Wlad was down three times, yet got back up to keep fighting and ended up winning. In his previous KO losses, he seemed to fall apart once he was hurt, in the Corrie Sanders fight especially. Do you think Wlad is learning to compose himself more? Instead of destructing once stunned, he is becoming more relaxed and learning to work through the rough spots of a fight?
OM: “That has to do with Steward a lot. It is Emanuel doing what he does best, he is making a good fighter better, especially in that part of Wladimir. Showing him what to do once he gets hurt, Emanuel is showing him how to handle that situation. How to compose himself. Use his jab to keep his opponent off of him. Showing him not to throw too many punches and leave yourself open when you’re hurt. How to buy himself some time to clear his head. I was with Emanuel for one fight after I won the title and I saw for myself the mastery of his craft. He is a legend, maybe the best ever.”
SB: If you fought Oleg Maskaev for the WBA title tomorrow, could you beat him as easy as the first time you fought him?
OM: “I think so. Right now, his confidence level is real high. If we fought, his camp would be having him believe the first time was a fluke, that I was lucky and that he is better now. He wouldn’t take me seriously. The truth is he is slow, methodical and tries to telegraph his punches to much. Even at 41, I am faster and stronger. I hit harder. My right hand would land hard. There is a big difference between me and Hasim Rahman. Rahman never could take a good shot. Your not going to put me down with one shot. But with his confidence so high, I probably wouldn’t take him out in one round. It would go two this time (laughs). And then I would bring the title home to America where it belongs.”
SB: We all know the rumors of your personal problems in the past and how it affected you in the ring. So, I am not really going to try and get into it but it seems like that’s all behind you now. Do you feel as though your a better fighter now that it’s all behind you and your problems from that time are settled?
OM: “I do feel better. I am settled. I’ll be even better if I become champion (laughs) but I have to be a champion outside the ring. To be morally and spiritually content inside myself, to continue what I am doing, to be a role model for kids today and show them you can change things. If I continue down the right path, not only am I a champion outside the ring but I’ll be able to become champion once again inside as well.”.
SB: What do you have to say to your critics who wrote you off long ago when you were having problems? All the guys who said you were finished as a fighter. The guys who said you were no longer a threat in the ring against the top guys.
OM: “Hey, thousands of years ago they wrote Christ off. All is scribe and he is still here today. Everyone has critics, they are out there, what are you going to do?. I don’t hold opinions against them. I just keep doing my thing. Like I said, even Christ had critics. I don’t get mad, I just try to prove them wrong. Hopefully in the future when I succeed, I will change their mind when they have seen what I have accomplished or am going to accomplish. If I can’t change their minds, what am I going to do? No matter what you do, there is always going to be a critic.”
SB: So what’s next after Wilson? Any plans? Anyone lined up already?. Or are you willing to step in with anyone willing to lace up the gloves?
OM: That’s about it really. I am moving up the rankings, I should be in the top 10 soon. Come the ninth of September, I will be ready. I am focusing on Oliver McCall and just staying positive.”
SB: Oliver, you’re a big puncher. Out of your 47 wins, you won 34 by KO. At 41, can you still match power with the younger, bigger guys out there? Can you match strength with the big punching champions and last in there 12 rounds if necessary?
OM: “I think so. My right hand is harder than almost anyone else’s out there. If I connect with my right full power,I am going to knock you out. The only other guy who hits harder than me is Sam Peter at the moment. I watch the reaction of the guys I hit. I know they feel my right hand and how hard it is. I know I’m hurting them with it. Other than Peter, no one else can match the power of my right. I will even say my right is just as hard as Peter’s.”
SB: Anything you want to say to your fans out there?
OM: “I just want to say God Bless. Thank you for your support and your prayers. I appreciate it and I will become champion again soon”
SB: Oliver, I want to say on behalf of SaddoBoxing and myself, thank you again for taking the time and talking with us. Hopefully, the next time we talk you will have a title around your waist.”
OM: “Thank you.”
