Okay, I've just ordered a Mike McCallum DVD from ebay..

[JuicyJuice]

Here is the description:

fine quality boxing matches on Region 2 DVD

rare fights

Mike McCallum is not only the greatest fighters of the modern era, but also one of the most vicious body punchers of any generation. The Jamaican legend was never met by much fanfare, despite his amazing skills and toughness. Avoided by his glitzier contemporaries, he was forced to take on the tough skilled fighters no one else wanted to. See his remarkable journey from his time as history's greatest light middleweight to criminally underrated middleweight king, to finally his time as the WBC light heavyweight champion.

on this DVD set

the rare fight with former light middle champ Ayab Kalule. really nice picture. Kalule had given Sugar Ray Leonard a very difficult fight, was one of the best southpaw fighters ever amateur or pro, and McCallum was only in his 2nd year as a pro...

another rare '80s fight with very pleasing picture quality, vs David Braxton. Braxton knew McCallum inside out from their time together at the Kronk gym of Detroit. This fight was never going to be easy...

next up is McCallum's stab at the vacant middleweight title, in London against Sheffield's Herol Graham. The body puncher vs the defensive specialist - extremely tough, close fight against another criinally underrated man...amazing skills, really nice transfer

McCallum went over London again to fight Michael Watson. Watson had just demolished Nigel Benn, and had shown some v.improved and v.impressive skills from his breakthrough win against Don Lee onwards and was favored to beat the Jamaica. What followed might be McCallum's most complete ever performance...pretty good pic

McCallum never shied away from fighting in his opponents' backyards, so his decision to defend vs Eubank and Benn's future conqueror Steve Collins, in Boston, was no surprise. Hostile turf meant nothing to McCallum - unlike today's prima donnas he had no qualms about conceding advantages to excellent tough opponents...very good pic

Another London assignment, where Mike was greatly appreciated by the purist crowd, his WBC light heavyweight title defense vs Carl Jones was also his last great performance but was overshadowed by the main event of Benn v McClennan...excellent picture

1984 to 1995, sample one of the greatest careers in international boxing history


I'll check out all six fights when it gets delivered, and give my verdict on each one. I haven't seen these fights since they happened, and actually I don't think I've seen the Kalule, Braxton or Collins fights at all! Be cool to take a trip down memory lane and marvel at the ability of the great man.

[jabsRstiff]

You'll get to see a consumate pro.
Mike had natural talents, but what I liked most about him was that he was one of those fighters who acheived greatness because
he really perfected his technical skills through gymwork, & in-the-ring experience.
He wasn't the fastest fighter, nor the most powerful, but he did everything extremely well. He had a great jab, threw multiple combos, had sound movement, incredible accuracy, patience, world-class chin, & of course- the legendary body attack.

[pr20]

So how do you feel he stacks up against some other fighters in there prime. The Europeans and the Americans. Eubanks, Benn, Jones, Toney, Nunn, Watson. I remember when I got my first CD on G-Man from Ebay. I was really impressed but not blown away the way people described him. Still very impressed. I remember seein McCallum myself though. he was a strong fighter.

[JuicyJuice]

You'll get to see a consumate pro.
Mike had natural talents, but what I liked most about him was that he was one of those fighters who acheived greatness because
he really perfected his technical skills through gymwork, & in-the-ring experience.
He wasn't the fastest fighter, nor the most powerful, but he did everything extremely well. He had a great jab, threw multiple combos, had sound movement, incredible accuracy, patience, world-class chin, & of course- the legendary body attack.

Yeah I remember the guy had 305 competitive fights overall and not to mention the no end of sparring sessions (he was big on sparring) throughout the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's. He had so much ring experience.

It was said that the one virtue he had not mastered in the amateurs was body punching because they did not reward body work, so he went and learned it to a tee as a pro.

[JuicyJuice]

So how do you feel he stacks up against some other fighters in there prime. The Europeans and the Americans. Eubanks, Benn, Jones, Toney, Nunn, Watson. I remember when I got my first CD on G-Man from Ebay. I was really impressed but not blown away the way people described him. Still very impressed. I remember seein McCallum myself though. he was a strong fighter.

Well, he did clearly beat Toney twice in my eyes. He gave Watson a one-sided beatdown although that was more to do with Watson suffering from severe ring rust. He gave Jones a very close fight when he was 40 years old. Eubank never took a good body shot well at all, and McCallum could apply pressure well if needed (Eubank never ever liked being pressured), so I don't know if he'd cope with McCallum.

I think the 1988/early 89 Benn may of got McCallum out of there and probably the 1988 Nunn would of out-slicked him, but I dunno.

[pr20]

Intersting...I never saw the toney fights with McCallum but I knew they were close. I am not so sure about the Nigel Benn assessment. but the n again Benn was a fairly fast starter. If it went on to the later rounds I would give the edge to McCallum

[jabsRstiff]

Well, he did clearly beat Toney twice in my eyes. He gave Watson a one-sided beatdown although that was more to do with Watson suffering from severe ring rust. He gave Jones a very close fight when he was 40 years old. Eubank never took a good body shot well at all, and never liked being pressured, so I don't know if he'd cope with McCallum.

I think the 1988/early 89 Benn may of got McCallum out of there and probably the 1988 Nunn would of out-slicked him, but I dunno.

Juy....

I'm as big a McCallum fan as there is, as you know. But, McCallum didn't win either of those fights, especially the second one (which pretty much ******).
The first fight was terrific....a close fight all the way. But, a huge Toney finish (in which he rocked Mike badly) gave him the edge, IMO.

[jabsRstiff]

Well, he did clearly beat Toney twice in my eyes. He gave Watson a one-sided beatdown although that was more to do with Watson suffering from severe ring rust. He gave Jones a very close fight when he was 40 years old. Eubank never took a good body shot well at all, and never liked being pressured, so I don't know if he'd cope with McCallum.

I think the 1988/early 89 Benn may of got McCallum out of there and probably the 1988 Nunn would of out-slicked him, but I dunno.

The Benn who lost to Watson & couldn't stop Jorge Amparo....would have gotten McCallum out of there ?
Not a chance.

[JuicyJuice]

The Benn who lost to Watson & couldn't stop Jorge Amparo....would have gotten McCallum out of there ?
Not a chance.

No, the Benn of 1988 and early 89, are you blind?

Benn was ****ing rope-a-doped by Watson, no way McCallum would of handled Benn that night.

He didn't even try to stop Amparo, that was a rehabilitation fight where he really needed 10 rounds under my belt.

[jabsRstiff]

No, the Benn of 1988 and early 89, are you blind?

Benn was ****ing rope-a-doped by Watson, no way McCallum would of handled Benn that night.

He didn't even try to stop Amparo, that was a rehabilitation fight where he really needed 10 rounds under my belt.

You're the blind one. Benn fought like an idiot, a freakin' bum amateur that day. I thought I was looking at an all-time hype-job after tht. Of course, he went on to greatness.
But, no way a master counter-puncher like McCallum gets beaten by the ****** & aimless fighter Benn was back then.