{"id":152260,"date":"2025-06-01T15:15:16","date_gmt":"2025-06-01T21:15:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/?p=152260"},"modified":"2025-06-01T15:15:16","modified_gmt":"2025-06-01T21:15:16","slug":"the-great-mike-mccallum-has-died-aged-sixty-eight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/en\/the-great-mike-mccallum-has-died-aged-sixty-eight\/","title":{"rendered":"The Great Mike McCallum has died aged sixty eight"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Great Mike McCallum has died aged sixty eight<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Sometimes when a person dies at a relatively young age, there is the residual gnawing regrets of what might have been, but in the case of Mike McCallum, he won world titles at three different weights and was respected plus adored as a boxer`s boxer, involving fulfillment accomplished to its zenith.<\/p>\n

Mike was the first Jamaican born world boxing champion. He has left his mark. With a profound sense of shock and loss Jamaica`s Sports Minister Olivia George has announced: ”It is with utter and complete sadness that I learned of the death of Jamaica`s three times Boxing Champion Michael McKenzie McCallum. I express my personal condolences to his mother, siblings and children. I extend my sympathies to the family and friends of this Jamaican Legend.”<\/p>\n

As a youngster, Mike whose childhood heroes were Sugar Ray Robinson and Muhammad Ali, was awed and inspired by the Joe Frazier Vs George Foreman world heavyweight fight in Kingston, which he attended. He said: ”I got a lot of inspiration from that. I remember thinking. I want to fight for a championship like that. I was fifteen, but I was thinking, that could be me one day.”<\/p>\n

As an amateur, Mike was part of Jamaica`s 1976 Montreal Olympic Team. He won The Golden Gloves Tournament in 1977, a gold medal at the 1978 Commonwealth Games as well as the Central American and Caribbean Games.<\/p>\n

The towering legend is enwrapped in Mike`s glittering pro career, which spanned 1981-97. A colossus, he was WBA super-welterweight champion 1984-88, WBA middleweight champion 1989-91. And… the Best to last. WBC light-heavyweight 1994-95. At the ripe old age of thirty seven, the crafty, silky, hard hitting veteran TIO`d Randall Yonker in five fabulous and memorable rounds, to win the vacant World Boxing Council light-heavyweight belt. Mike was inducted into the International Hall of Boxing Fame in 2003.<\/p>\n

Mike`s tally of opponents is staggeringly breathtaking: James Toney, Roy Jones Jr, Julian Jackson, Jeff Harding, Michael Watson, Donald Curry, Herol Graham, Milton McCrory, Fabrice Tiozzo, Sumbu Kalambay, Ayub Kalule, Luigi Minchillo. What a galaxy of Stars Lineup!<\/p>\n

Mike`s body punching, especially that crunching left hook to the slats, liver and tum-tum, earned him the nickname: ”The Body Snatcher.” It was coined by Tommy Hearns younger brother Billy, who saw Mike`s body of work in the gym, exclaimed and proclaimed: ”Mellow Mike, Sweet Mike, Mighty Mike…Body Snatcher!”<\/p>\n

In his illustrious pro career of 49-5-1, 36 KO`s, Mike was never stopped. He had it all. Power, skill, a shrewd boxing brain, courage and sheer grit saying: ”i admire people who strive by hard work, discipline, dedication and determination.” Mike who was based in Las Vegas became a superb trainer following his retirement, often working with fellow former world champion Eddie Mustafa Muhammad.”<\/p>\n

As Mike is greeted by God and rests in Eternal Peace, the song Goodbye Jamaica, immortalized by Harry Belafonte, plays on a gentle sea breeze with the lyric: ”But I`m sad to say I`m on my way. Won`t be back for many a day.”<\/p>\n

Mike McCallum died far and away too soon and too young. Oh, how he and we could have had so much more to enjoy, but what a treasure chest of riches from Treasure Island he has left us. As actress Mae West once said: ”You only live once, but if you live right…once is enough.”<\/p>\n

The entire World Boxing Family and President Mauricio Sulaiman send our deepest condolences to the family, friends and fans of Mike McCallum.<\/p>\n

Goodbye Dear Champion. Sail swift on a billowing trade wind. You will forever be remembered.<\/p>\n

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The Great Mike McCallum has died aged sixty eight Sometimes when a person dies at a relatively young age, there is the residual gnawing regrets of [\u2026]<\/span><\/p>\n

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