Mike McCallum

[nuggetdotcom]

Mike McCallum was a great fighter that didn't get massive fights he deserved.

He was around at the same time as the Big Four, but for some reason, was not 'marketable' like them & missed out on some big showdowns.

I would have loved to have seen him fight Hearns & LMW, because that would have been a true pick-em fight at that weight.

I'd lean towards McCallum due to his superior chin & stamina, but you could never bet against Hearns, as he was able to outbox master boxers with ease if he so wished.

Neither Mike nor Herrol Graham got as much money as they deserved from the sport, they were both avoided like the plague by the showbiz middleweights, shame.

[Master]

Mike McCallum was a great fighter that didn't get massive fights he deserved.

He was around at the same time as the Big Four, but for some reason, was not 'marketable' like them & missed out on some big showdowns.

I would have loved to have seen him fight Hearns & LMW, because that would have been a true pick-em fight at that weight.

I'd lean towards McCallum due to his superior chin & stamina, but you could never bet against Hearns, as he was able to outbox master boxers with ease if he so wished.

Neither Mike nor Herrol Graham got as much money as they deserved from the sport, they were both avoided like the plague by the showbiz middleweights, shame.

Yes Graham would have beaten Benn, watch what he did to Benn’s amateur nemesis in Rod Douglas and Eubanks who got routinely beaten at the ingle gym.

[Bill Paxtom]

A few early bouts that 'tested' Mike McCallum

* Reggie Ford
* Kevin 'Bo' Perry
* Ayub Kalule
* Manuel 'Yuca' Jiminez
* Sean Mannion

[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}.

[Master]

Boxing rec says Reggie Ford was on a 4 fight winning streak not 12.

[Bill Paxtom]

Boxing rec says Reggie Ford was on a 4 fight winning streak not 12.

Box/Rec is incorrect, as usual.

Reggie Ford fought '15-Times' from December 1979 thru March 1982.

Record as of > February 10, 1982 ..... 37-7-1 {18 KO's}

* February 9, 1982 ........ London, United Kingdom ....... W Dec 10 ....... Kirkland Laing
* November 3, 1981 ...... London, United Kingdom ........ TKO 5 ........... Davey 'Boy' Green
* October 10, 1981 ........ Lauwe, Belgium .................... W Dec 8 ........ Chaed Ringo
* September 1981 ......... Georgetown, Guyana .............. W Dec 10 ...... Mark Midland
* July 1981 ................... Georgetown, Guyana .............. W Dec 10 ...... Victor Ruiz
* June 1981 .................. Trinidad and Tobago ............... KO 7 ............ Edmund Carter
* April 1981 .................. Trinidad and Tobago ............... KO 4 ............. Allen Gray
* March 1981 ................ Georgetown, Guyana .............. W Dec 10 ...... David Brady
* November 1980 .......... Ivory Coast ........................... TKO 5 ........... Esso-Boy Edden
* October 1980 ............. Georgetown, Guyana .............. TKO 3 ............ Thomas Brown
* August 1, 1980 ............ Lagos, Nigeria ....................... W Split Dec 6 .. Hunter Clay
* July 1980 .................... Lagos, Nigeria ....................... KO 5 ............... Capitan Browne
* May 1980 .................... Georgetown, Guyana .............. KO 7 .............. Sol Ferriey
* February 29, 1980 ....... Trinidad and Tobago .............. TKO 8 ............. Edmund Carter
* December 20, 1979 ...... Georgetown, Guyana ............. Draw 10 .......... Brian Muller

* Record as of > December 19, 1979 ....... 23-7-0 {10 KO's}

[Bill Paxtom]

April 30, 1982

Felt Form ~ New York City, New York

Mike McCallum {TKO 4} over Reggie Ford.

Mike took his time during Rounds 1 and 2, and patiently walked Reggie
down with left-hands.

Mike opened up in Round 3, and scored with heavy body punches, and
had the 'slick-boxing' Guyanese bending over from the thudding body-blows.

Reggie could not keep Mike off of him, and was taking a 'one-sided' beating
in Round 4 before the bout was stopped.

The win improved Mike's record to 14-0-0 {14 KO's}.

[Bill Paxtom]

Mike McCallum

Was nearly KO'd by Kevin 'Boo' Perry.

Mike's legs went all spaghetti-like, and his eyes rolled back in his head
like a revolving-wheel in a Slot Machine.

[Master]

Mike McCallum

Was nearly KO'd by Kevin 'Boo' Perry.

Mike's legs went all spaghetti-like, and his eyes rolled back in his head
like a revolving-wheel in a Slot Machine.

If that is true then he may have grown a stronger chin as his career progressed like Ali because the body snatchers chin was magnificent.