RIP Mike McCallum

[TIC]

rest peacefully champion

[Master]

Mike McCallum dead at 68: Jamaican boxing legend 'The Bodysnatcher' found dead after pulling his car off the road.

Jamaican boxing hero Mike McCallum has sadly passed away at the age of 68.

The Hall of Fame fighter, who held world titles in three different weight classes, died suddenly in Las Vegas on Saturday.

Reports claim McCallum was on his way to the gym when he fell ill and pulled his car off the road.

According to the Jamaica Observer, he was then found unresponsive and later pronounced dead.

McCallum was known 'The Bodysnatcher' due to his heavy hitting style and was the first Jamaican to become a world champion in boxing,

He did so in 1984 when he beat Ireland's Sean Mannion at Madison Square Garden in New York, claiming the WBA Junior Middleweight crown.

McCallum also claimed the WBA Middleweight and the WBC Light heavyweight titles during his career and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003.

The Ring Magazine posted on X: 'The Ring is saddened to learn of the passing of boxing legend Mike McCallum.

The 'Body Snatcher' was a three-weight world champion, having won titles at super-welterweight, middleweight, and light-heavyweight.

Our deepest sympathies are with his friends and family at this time.'

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/bo...ay-age-68.html

[Spicoli]

Just tremendous pure boxer-puncher talent thru and thru, one of the very best to ever take the ring. Calm cool and collected approach was the Body Snatcher. Rest easy now Champion.

[Master]

I am going through some of the body snatchers fights and he was 35 when he faced James Toney. Most thought he was old and had too many hard fights but it was a classic contest from two supremely skilled boxers in their era.

Enjoy, even with bias commentary from Hagler.

[TIC]

that's the fight to show to anyone wanting to learn to finer details of the sweet science

[Master]

Mike McCallum trained at the Kronk gym so must have sparred with Hearns. He left them as he wanted to face Duran and Manny got the fight for Tommy instead. Hagler would not face him so after beating everyone at light middle he picked up the world title at middleweight.

McCallum beat Michael Watson and Herol Graham the best UK middleweights at the time.

Eubanks would not go near him because he would not have survived the body shots. Nigel Benn would have give it a go, but as the body snatcher destroyed Julian Jackson he would have taken out the dark destroyer.

The jab, ring IQ and body shots were weapons that made Mike McCallum one of the greats. He even won a world title at light heavyweight when he was very old.