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Los Angeles Times
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
Mike ‘The Body Snatcher' McCallum, boxing hall of famer and three-time champion, dies at 68
Mike 'The Body Snatcher' McCallum was so feared for his impeccable technique that the 'four kings' of the 1980s declined to fight him. Nevertheless, McCallum won world titles at super welterweight, middleweight and light heavyweight and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003. McCallum, the first Jamaican-born champion, died Saturday in Las Vegas at 68. The Jamaica Observer reported that McCallum fell ill while driving to a gym and pulled off the road. He was found to be unresponsive, and was later pronounced dead. Not that his inability to secure a bout with Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran, Sugar Ray Leonard or Marvin Hagler spoiled his mood. It was particularly telling that Hearns wouldn't fight McCallum, because they were longtime sparring partners before becoming champions. McCallum was disappointed but remained all smiles outside the ring, consistently carrying himself with a pleasant, if serious, disposition. In the ring, his attention to detail and faultless technique enabled him to post a 49-5-1 record. McCallum earned his nickname by repeatedly punching the body and head. More often than not, bouts ended in knockouts — he recorded 36 KOs and was never knocked out. The Ring magazine ranked him in 2011 as eighth on their list of the '10 best middleweight title holders of the last 50 years.' 'None of 'The Four Kings,' wanted anything to do with that guy and I know that for a fact because I tried to make some of those fights,' Hall of Fame boxer Lou DiBella told longtime boxing writer Kevin Iole. 'He was the most perfect technical fighter I've ever seen, and he wasn't a pitty-pat guy.' McCallum became the first Jamaican boxer to win a world title when he defeated Irishman Sean Mannion by unanimous decision in 1984 at Madison Square Garden for the WBA Junior Middleweight crown. Jamaican Sport Minister Olivia Grange issued a statement upon learning of McCallum's passing, saying, 'It is with utter and complete sadness that I learned of the death of Jamaica's three-time World Boxing Champion Michael McKenzie McCallum. 'I express my personal condolences to his mother, siblings and his children. On behalf of the Ministry of Sports I take this opportunity to extend our sympathies to the family and friends of this legendary Jamaican.' Michael McKenzie McCallum was born Dec. 7, 1956, in Kingston, Jamaica, and began boxing as a teenager, racking up as many as 250 amateur bouts before turning pro in 1981. He represented Jamaica at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, reaching the quarterfinals. He boxed professionally until 1997, successfully defending the WBA junior middleweight crown six times, including wins over Julian Jackson, Milton McCrory and Donald Curry before moving up a weight class to middleweight. McCallum defeated Herol Graham in 1989 to become WBA middleweight champion and defended the belt with wins over Steve Collins, Michael Watson and Sumbu Kalambay. He won his third division title in 1994 by again stepping up in weight class and defeating Jeff Harding for the WBC light heavyweight crown. He met his match against James Toney, fighting to a draw Dec. 13, 1991, before losing to Toney twice. McCallum also dropped a 12-round decision to Roy Jones in a 1997 light heavyweight title fight. He retired shortly thereafter and became a successful trainer, taking great pride in teaching his body-punching technique to young boxers. Jones expressed sadness to Kevin Iole, saying, 'Man, we lost another beautiful boxing soul. May he rest in peace.' Jones also lamented that McCallum was unable to book fights against the four kings. 'In the junior middleweight division, everyone always went around Mike McCallum, and that says a lot about him,' Jones said. 'Not even Marvin [Hagler] ever talked much about fighting Mike McCallum. You don't have to listen to what they say [about him]. You watch what they do and everyone wanted to go around him for a reason.' In a post on X, the WBC said: 'Rest in Peace to the legendary Mike 'The Body Snatcher' McCallum. Former WBA world champion and one of the most technically gifted fighters of his era. Thank you for the fights, the lessons, and the greatness.
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Jamaican boxing legend Mike McCallum dies suddenly, aged 68
McCallum died suddenly near his home in Las Vegas on Saturday (31 May), with the Jamaica Observer reporting that he was on his way to the gym when he fell ill and pulled his car off the road. He was later found unresponsive and later pronounced dead. Known 'The Bodysnatcher' due to his vicious punching ability, especially to the body, McCallum was the first Jamaican to become a boxing world champion – eventually winning titles at junior middleweight, middleweight and light heavyweight between 1984 and 1995. After retiring in 1997 with 49 wins, five losses and one draw from 55 fights, he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003. Jamaica's sport minister Olivia Grange wrote on Instagram: "It is with utter and complete sadness that I learned of the death of Jamaica's three-time World Boxing Champion Michael McKenzie McCallum. "I express my personal condolences to his mother, siblings and his children. On behalf of the Ministry of Sport, I take this opportunity to extend our sympathies to the family and friends of this legendary Jamaican. "We hope they find strength in this time of bereavement." His most famous fights came against the likes of Michael Watson, Steve Collins, James Toney and Roy Jones Jr, having turned professional in 1981 after winning welterweight gold for Jamaica at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton. McCallum became world champion when he beat Ireland's Sean Mannion at Madison Square Garden in New York in 1984, claiming the WBA junior middleweight crown, and won his first 32 fights in the paid ranks, including successful title defences against Milton McCrory and Don Curry. His first defeat came in Italy against Sumbu Kalambay in 1988 when trying to add the WBA middleweight title to his collection but he did claim that belt a year later by earning a split-decision win over Herol Graham in the Royal Albert Hall in London. Successful defences came against Collins in Boston and Watson back at the Royal Albert Hall before avenging his Kalambay defeat in Monaco. December 1991 saw the first of a trilogy of fights against Toney over the course of his remaining career – with a split-decision draw and majority-decision loss in the space of nine months twice denying him the IBF middleweight belt. He did win a world title in a third weight division as a 38-year-old in 1994 when Jeff Harding was defeated for the WBC light heavyweight title but lost it to Fabrice Tiozzo a year later. His career then ended with losses to Jones Jr and Toney, the latter at cruiserweight. McCallum was hugely technically gifted as fighter and is undoubtedly the greatest Jamaican boxer of all time, as well as one of the best of his era, who leaves a huge legacy behind. 'Rest in Peace to the legendary Mike 'The Body Snatcher' McCallum,' read a tribute from the WBA. 'Former WBA world champion and one of the most technically gifted fighters of his era. Thank you for the fights, the lessons, and the greatness."
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Rockets star Amen Thompson mulls playing for Jamaica in future international competitions
Houston Rockets guard/forward Amen Thompson is open to playing for Jamaica in future international basketball competitions, the 22-year-old rising star said earlier this week. 'Ever since I was a kid, I used to watch the Olympics and see [sprinters] Usain Bolt and [Yohan] Blake," Thompson said, via Daniel Blake of the Jamaica Observer. 'Jamaica always represents a gold medal culture. I always wanted to see a basketball team, I wanted to picture basketball players with a Jamaica jersey on, and I always wanted to wear one, too.' Advertisement 'So, just getting the opportunity — I could either play for USA or Jamaica — but being able to be here and it even [being] an option, it means a lot to me.' Michael Shapiro of Houston's has more: Thompson, along with his twin brother and Detroit Pistons wing Ausar Thompson, discussed his international basketball future during an appearance in Kingston, Jamaica, with the Jamaica Basketball Association and the Bob Marley Foundation. Both twins expressed interest in competing for Team Jamaica in future international basketball competitions, following in the footsteps of their uncle, Mark Thompson, who competed in the 400-meter hurdles for Jamaica at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Troy Thompson, the twins' father, is Jamaican, and according to the Jamaica Observer, both Amen and Ausar have started the process of obtaining Jamaican citizenship. Both Thompson twins are eligible to compete for the United States in upcoming international competitions, including the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Amen, in particular, would seem to have a path to Team USA after a breakout NBA season in 2024-25 and a stint with the U.S. Select Team during the 2024 offseason. But Jamaica represents another option, and one in which he could conceivably play with his twin brother. While Jamaica does not have any previous experience in either the Olympics or the FIBA World Cup, the team has already secured a playing commitment from Los Angeles Clippers star Norman Powell, which —especially if combined with the Thompson twins — could make them a formidable side. Advertisement The Rockets haven't had a representative on Team USA since Hakeem Olajuwon in 1996. More: Rockets prospects Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson named to USA Basketball select team This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Amen Thompson considers playing for Jamaica in global competitions
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Rockets star Amen Thompson mulls playing for Jamaica in future international competitions
Rockets star Amen Thompson mulls playing for Jamaica in future international competitions Rockets star Amen Thompson and his twin brother, Ausar, are expressing interest in playing for Jamaica in future international basketball competitions. Team USA is also an option. Houston Rockets guard/forward Amen Thompson is open to playing for Jamaica in future international basketball competitions, the 22-year-old rising star said earlier this week. 'Ever since I was a kid, I used to watch the Olympics and see [sprinters] Usain Bolt and [Yohan] Blake," Thompson said, via Daniel Blake of the Jamaica Observer. 'Jamaica always represents a gold medal culture. I always wanted to see a basketball team, I wanted to picture basketball players with a Jamaica jersey on, and I always wanted to wear one, too.' 'So, just getting the opportunity — I could either play for USA or Jamaica — but being able to be here and it even [being] an option, it means a lot to me.' Michael Shapiro of Houston's has more: Thompson, along with his twin brother and Detroit Pistons wing Ausar Thompson, discussed his international basketball future during an appearance in Kingston, Jamaica, with the Jamaica Basketball Association and the Bob Marley Foundation. Both twins expressed interest in competing for Team Jamaica in future international basketball competitions, following in the footsteps of their uncle, Mark Thompson, who competed in the 400-meter hurdles for Jamaica at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Troy Thompson, the twins' father, is Jamaican, and according to the Jamaica Observer, both Amen and Ausar have started the process of obtaining Jamaican citizenship. Both Thompson twins are eligible to compete for the United States in upcoming international competitions, including the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Amen, in particular, would seem to have a path to Team USA after a breakout NBA season in 2024-25 and a stint with the U.S. Select Team during the 2024 offseason. But Jamaica represents another option, and one in which he could conceivably play with his twin brother. While Jamaica does not have any previous experience in either the Olympics or the FIBA World Cup, the team has already secured a playing commitment from Los Angeles Clippers star Norman Powell, which —especially if combined with the Thompson twins — could make them a formidable side. The Rockets haven't had a representative on Team USA since Hakeem Olajuwon in 1996. More: Rockets prospects Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson named to USA Basketball select team
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Beloved Jamaican Restaurant in Bakersfield, CA, Calls On Community For Help
Barrington's Jamaican Kitchen, a popular Jamaican restaurant in Bakersfield, California, was forced to close its doors due to financial difficulties. The owner is asking for assistance from the community to reopen this cherished local eatery. Barrington Lewis opened the Jamaican restaurant in 2017. Known for its authentic cuisine and welcoming atmosphere, the restaurant quickly gained popularity among locals. Lewis mentioned that he began facing financial challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought capacity constraints and rising inflation. The Jamaica-born native noted that his restaurant did not receive the financial assistance related to COVID that other businesses received during that time. 'I fell short of getting the financial support that the nation was getting, and I didn't get it because they exhausted the money that they had allotted for small businesses like mine. I was kind of counting on that,' Lewis told the Jamaica Observer. Despite a significant rise in supply and operating costs, with some expenses even doubling, Lewis said his priority was to provide affordable food for his customers. Therefore, he was reluctant to raise his prices. The financial strain led him to fall behind on his rent. Although he attempted to establish a repayment plan, his landlord terminated his lease, forcing him to relocate. He acquired a new building about five minutes from his old location. Lewis planned to reopen there on April 1 but could not due to financial constraints. The business owner says he is facing difficulties obtaining the financial resources required to purchase restaurant equipment, supplies, and a rental deposit. He has launched a GoFundMe to help raise $20,000 to help cover the costs. The business owner, who provided free food to unhoused people, hopes to reconnect with his customers with whom he has built solid relationships over the years. Lewis has yet to announce a date for the restaurant's reopening. RELATED CONTENT:
