He was not so known as names such as Thomas Hearns, Ray Leonard or Roberto Duran. However, he fought in the golden age of this sport, so golden that the biggest names in boxing were real celebrities. Despite this, in the overdue eighties until the early nineties he presented a number of star fighters worthy of major distinctions than they received. Marlon Starling was one. Simon Brown was another one. And of course there was Mike McCallum, who passed last weekend at the age of 68. Although it is true that McCallum lived to be admitted to the boxing gallery of Sław, he never reached the level of fame. Despite this, there was no doubt that a man known as “Body Snatcher” had a very impressive career.
Perhaps the biggest moment McCallum came in July 1987, when he took Donald’s curry “The Cobra”. Returning from the shocking defeat to Lloyd Honeyghan a year earlier, Curry was on two victorious victories when he slipped through the ropes to fight McCallum for the title of McCallum Junior Middle I would like. Of course, curry entered the ring with the favorite 2-1 tonight. However, McCallum was confident and determined.
“By becoming on his left,” Pat Putnam, the illustrated sport, was later to write: “McCallum turned strenuous, cracking the hook with Curry’s jaw. The pretender never saw the impact. He fell back, he rejected once, and then stiffly lay down, his hands over his head. Curry was open, but they did not reach anything. Perhaps it was a crowned moment in the then 30 -year -old McCallum career. “” Hearns. Hagler. Each of these guys – said McCallum about potential future opponents. “Now that people know me, I want to be a fight champion. I would like to fight Hearns.”
He never got this fight. Indeed, he was presented by Kalambay’s Sumbay in his next match. It was a loss he avenged three years later. McCallum also had two fights with James Toney (draw and loss) and an unsuccessful attempt to shock Roy Jones Jr. at the age of 39. Despite this, although he never hit the fame that Hearns, Leonard, Duran and others found McCallum, he was nothing if not the recipient of many good will. As indicated by the warrior/trainer/broadcaster John Scully, McCallum was a full respect from another era, and not at this age of warrior/showmen. But it should only be appreciated.
Haney won titles in three weight classes and was undisputed at lightweight. Most recently he defeated Brian Norman Jr. for the WBO welterweight world title.
Both men have impressed in their recent wins and are widely considered two of the most technically elite fighters in the sport today. A fight between the two has been discussed for a long time, and The Ring’s Mike Coppinger reported that it could now become a reality if one key hurdle can be overcome – an agreed weight limit.
This problem is not effortless to solve and may prove too stern for negotiations to overcome. Haney said he felt best at welterweight and looked exhausted at super lightweight. Stevenson argues that his opponent faced Jose Ramirez at the 144-pound catchweight last year and could do the same again. While Haney handled the weight well and performed well on the night, there is no doubt he would have been at a disadvantage.
Stevenson, however, argued that he is still a natural lightweight – even though he looks comfortable against Lopez at 140 pounds – and that a meeting under the welterweight limit creates a more even playing field.
Time will tell whether this can be agreed behind the scenes. A significant amount could assist move things forward, but given their undefeated records, pound-for-pound status and position as the face of American boxing, both Stevenson and Haney will be cautious in making decisions.
David Benavidez doesn’t think size alone will decide his fight against Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez. Ahead of the cruiserweight title clash, Benavidez says the advantage will come down to speed, combinations and a style that he feels Ramirez hasn’t faced before.
Benavidez said Ramirez is a bigger man and is used to facing naturally bigger opponents in the cruiserweight division, but he doesn’t see it as a problem. He believes the slower pace typical of this weight will work to his advantage once the punches start falling.
Benavidez said Ramirez has never faced someone like him in an official fight. Although both have sparred in the past, Benavidez has made it clear that he sees a major difference between rounds in the gym and fighting him under the lights for twelve rounds.
“There are a lot of opportunities to hit him with a lot of combinations because he is slower,” Benavidez told Double3 Coverage. “My speed, my movement and my defense will be too much for him and I will surely overwhelm and drown him with pressure and volume.”
It’s compelling that he so casually disregards the size difference. While Zurdo Ramirez is a natural cruiserweight and holds the unified WBA/WBO titles, Benavidez is betting that speed and volume will be the universal equalizer.
Benavidez sounds like a man who thinks he’s found a flaw in the system. Moving up to cruiserweight, he believes his hand speed will be a blur compared to fighters in the 200-pound division. But here comes the fear of a massacre.
He already says this is “his era.” When a fighter begins to look beyond a unified champion like Ramirez toward a September coronation or a legacy-defining run, he usually leaves his chin exposed.
On the other hand, bookmakers do not predict a massacre, at least not in the case of Benavidez. There’s a reason he’s a -600 favorite. Most analysts believe he is just unique enough that his volume will break Zurdo’s rhythm before the size difference becomes a factor.
Dan Ambrose is a boxing journalist at Boxing News 24, respected for his direct analysis and extensive coverage of the global fight landscape. His reports focus on the most vital fights, division development and the most discussed stories in sports.
Shakur Stevenson has hit the brakes following reports that he is in preliminary talks to fight Devin Haney.
Both elite Americans have claims to pound-for-pound status, both boast undefeated records and are considered among the most defensively gifted operators of the contemporary era.
However, a weight class or two has always separated them, and Haney’s recent move to welterweight – a division Stevenson says he can get to but is in no rush – seemed to make that fight less likely.
To make that happen, Stevenson said he would like Haney to agree to a catchweight of 144 pounds, the same limit he reached when defeating Jose Ramirez in 2025.
Today, The Ring’s Mike Coppinger reported that discussions had already begun, but the weight was a sticking point, with Stevenson likely still insisting on the stipulation, but Haney was keen on staying at 147 pounds.
However, Stevenson has now responded to Coppinger’s claim by speaking further X that there was no contact between the teams.
“I know the fans like to get excited and can toy with you all and easily manipulate you, but this rumor is dead for the second time. I haven’t heard a word about it, [I don’t know] what are they? [trying to] hide or hide, but me and my team haven’t heard any nonsense.”
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