How good was Mike McCallum?

[Beanflicker]

How good was the Bodysnatcher? Seems he is underrated and underappreciated by a lot of the boxing public. Does he get the recognition he deserves, ya think?

[Dark Lord Al]

Put Mike in any era and he would have been around world class.
A truely great modern fighter.

[roberto duran legend]

One of my favourite fighters of all time , McCallum is so underrated,
a truly great fighter,and how can anyone forget the Curry KO. Class.

[Master]

One of my favourite fighters of all time , McCallum is so underrated,
a truly great fighter,and how can anyone forget the Curry KO. Class.

I wanted Curry to win but Mike was quality, he beat Herol Graham too. I hated the fucker but watched him and slowly appreciated what a great fighter he was when he revenged against Kalamaby. He was a great technical fighter and I still think he beat Toney the first 2 fights.

[ICB]

How good was the Bodysnatcher? Seems he is underrated and underappreciated by a lot of the boxing public. Does he get the recognition he deserves, ya think?

He does now but didn't at the time. Kalue, Harding, are two underrated fights i enjoy. McCallum was having alot of trouble vs Kalue before he caught up with him a pretty good scrap.

And the Harding fight was a great exhibition of boxing by McCallum, in probably his last real good performance. Harding with his Margarito like style kept it close and competitive in a very good fight.

Everyone always mentions Toney, Jackson, Curry, fights. But i find them two fights to be closet classics in a great career.

[Master]

Mike beating Harding at light heavy (think it was short notice) was one of his best achievements. That was a truly good performance. His body shots were wicked and he schooled Michael Watson and would have done the same to Benn and Eubanks.

[donnydarkoIRL]

Always a tricky one to judge, but I think I'd insert him as the best Light Middleweight.

[THE PHILOSOPHER]

The martinez of his era! Overshadowed by the 3 big guns. But a GREAT fighter none the less. Why he was fighting at LHW/CW is anyones guess!

Cotto, floyd and mayweather! Sergio martinez.

Hearns, duran and leonard! Mcallum.

[donnydarkoIRL]

The martinez of his era! Overshadowed by the 2 big guns. But a GREAT fighter none the less. Why he was fighting at LHW/CW is anyones guess!

Actually a very nice comparison there.
I think I heard an interview by him before- he just fought where he was natural. Never worried about physical training too much, just skills and speed.

[Master]

The martinez of his era! Overshadowed by the 2 big guns. But a GREAT fighter none the less. Why he was fighting at LHW/CW is anyones guess!

Actually a very nice comparison there.
I think I heard an interview by him before- he just fought where he was natural. Never worried about physical training too much, just skills and speed.

He was old by the time he was fighting light heavy - light middle and middle weight was his prime.

[Bobthepen]

A beast of a fighter. Never really got his dues because he missed out on the fab four. He'd have beaten Hearns and Duran for me, and Hagler could have been fight of the decade.

[roberto duran legend]

Well Its all about primes, and weight divisions really,I loved watching McCallum
but he wouldnt beat Hagler, or a lightweight Duran you cheeky bugger

[ICB]

I heard McCallum used to be able to counter Hearns's jab in sparring with those famous body shots, he also beat a poor man's Hearns in Milton McCrory. I think he'd be too tough for Hearns in the end, i also think he'd beat Duran who was too up and down above Lightweight.

Hagler/McCallum would be a close one too hard for me to call, i think Leonard would beat McCallum though. And my reason's are because a prime McCallum lost handily to Sumbu Kalmabay who used movement and a good jab to beat him, i think Leonard has similar qualties and does those things a bit better than Kalambay.

[donnydarkoIRL]

He was old by the time he was fighting light heavy - light middle and middle weight was his prime.

Very, I think the additional body mass was an effect of age as opposed to physical development.
You know I think you're point has a lot of validity. I think anything over 160lbs and MccCallum wasn't himself. That may sound like a cop out for a fighter I am admittedly very fond of, but I actually believe it too

[Master]

Well Its all about primes, and weight divisions really,I loved watching McCallum
but he wouldnt beat Hagler, or a lightweight Duran you cheeky bugger

Mike would beat Duran at light middle and middleweight.
I think he would have beaten Leonard at middlewight too.