Mike McCallum

[Bill Paxtom]

I Was There
-------------------------------------------------------
Friday Night ~ April 30, 1982

Felt Forum ~ New York, New York

Mike McCallum ~ 13-0-0 {13 KO's}
vs.
Reggie Ford ~ 37-7-1 {18 KO's}

Reggie was coming off '2' solid wins.

* March 2, 1982 ........... W Dec 10 .. Kirkland Laing
* November 31, 1981 ..... TKO 5 ..... Davey 'Boy' Green

Reggie who was from Georgetown, Guyana - was based in New York now.

The fight bill stated that Reggie was riding a '14-Bout' wining streak dating back
to February 1980.

I believe he was listed as the Caribbean {West Indie} Light Middleweight Champion,
and was ranked as the #2 British-Commonwealth Light-Middleweight as well.

[Master]

Reggie Ford beat our Lang and Green! He must have been good?

[Bill Paxtom]

Reggie Ford beat our Lang and Green! He must have been good?

Fact >

Reggie Ford defeated Marvin Hagler in the Amateurs

[Master]

Reggie Ford beat our Lang and Green! He must have been good?

Fact >

Reggie Ford defeated Marvin Hagler in the Amateurs

To be fair Lang and Green were welterweights and Green would have been old. Still Reggie must have been a decent fighter.

[Bill Paxtom]

November 3, 1981

Davey 'Boy' Green ~ 37-3-0 {29 KO's}
vs.
Reggie Ford ~ 35-7-1 {17 KO's}

Both fighters were at the exact age {28 years, 4 months}. So, I don't
think that Davey Boy was 'too old'.

Reggie, at 5' 10" was a southpaw with a slashing-punch style.

I believe that this bout was a position-bout for the WBC Light-Middleweight
division.

Davey Boy was the 'favorite' at Royal Albert Hall, and Reggie Ford {who was
riding a 12-Bout winning streak} was brought in as a '1-Week' replacement opponent.

If Davey Boy won, he was supposed to get to challenge WBC Light Middleweight Champion
Wilfred Benitez in early-1982.

Reggie bounced an enormous amount of punches off of Davey's face, and closed his left-eye
by the end of Round 4.

Manager - Andy Smith called it off in Round 5.

[Master]

I have just checked his boxing record and it was Dave Boy Green’s last ever fight so it was his last hurrah. He may have been 28 but he was an old 28 in boxing terms. Reggie never won another fight after Lang. So his big claim to fame was beating Green and Lang.

[Bill Paxtom]

April 30, 1982

Mike McCallum
Age................... 25 years, 4 months
Height............... 5' 11 1/2"
Reach................ 74 1/2"
Weight.............. 152 lbs.
Record.............. 13-0-0 {13 KO's}
Stance.............. Orthodox
Style................. Boxer-Body Puncher
Rank................. #12 USA {Light-Middleweight}

Mike was considered an 'old' youngster. He was a rising Light-Middleweight
prospect, with a solid body attack.

But, his 'chin' was suspect, and the Jury was still out on his 'heart'.

Mike would be facing his 1st World-Ranked opponent.

-----------------------------------------------

Reggie Ford
Age................ 28 years, 10 months
Height............ 5' 10"
Reach............. 71"
Weight........... 152 lbs.
Record............ 37-7-1 {18 KO's}
Stance............ Southpaw
Style............... Slashing-Boxer
Rank............... #15 WBA {Light-Middleweight} ~ #3 British-Commonwealth {Light-Middleweight}
Champion....... Caribbean {West Indie} Light-Middleweight

Reggie was ranked as the #15 WBA Light-Middleweight, and he was riding a 14-Bout
winning streak since January 1980 {2 years, 4 months}.