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14 Facts About Mike McCallum

1.

Mike McCallum was born on 7 December 1956 and is a Jamaican former professional boxer who competed from 1981 to 1997.

2.

Mike McCallum held world championships in three weight classes, including the WBA super welterweight title from 1984 to 1988, the WBA middleweight title from 1989 to 1991, and the WBC light heavyweight title from 1994 to 1995.

3.

Mike McCallum earned his nickname of "The Bodysnatcher" due to his ability to land vicious body punches in fights.

4.

Mike McCallum was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003.

5.

Mike McCallum first became a world champion in 1984 by defeating Sean Mannion to win the vacant WBA super welterweight title.

6.

Mike McCallum would defend that title six times, winning all six fights by knock out.

7.

Mike McCallum survived some punishment in the first round and came back to stop the undefeated Jackson in the second round.

8.

Mike McCallum really came to prominence when he knocked out former WBC welterweight title-holder Milton McCrory and former undisputed world welterweight champion, another future International Boxing Hall of Fame member, Donald Curry in 1987.

9.

Curry was ahead on all three scorecards going into the fifth round when Mike McCallum knocked him out with what some have called a "perfect" left hook.

10.

In 1989, Mike McCallum defeated Herol Graham by a split decision to win the then-vacant WBA middleweight title.

11.

Mike McCallum defended the title three times, defeating Steve Collins, Michael Watson, and Kalambay in a rematch.

12.

Mike McCallum was stripped of the WBA title before the bout.

13.

Mike McCallum then moved up two weight divisions and won the WBC interim light heavyweight title against Randall Yonker, then won the full WBC title by outpointing Jeff Harding in 1994.

14.

Mike McCallum was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003.