Latest news with #TheJamaicaObserver
New York Post
3 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Legendary boxer Mike ‘The Bodysnatcher' McCallum dead at 68
Legendary boxer Mike 'The Bodysnatcher' McCallum died over the weekend in Las Vegas. He was 68 years old. McCallum was driving to a Las Vegas gym Saturday, and he fell ill and had to pull over to the side of the road, The Jamaica Observer reported. Advertisement 5 Mike McCallum celebrates after winning an October 1986 fight. Reuters He was then found unresponsive before later being pronounced dead, though his official cause of death remains unknown and Las Vegas police have yet to publicly comment on the matter. In a statement to The Jamaica Observer, Sport Minister Olivia Grange expressed shock and sadness over McCallum's death. Advertisement 5 Mike McCallum is pictured working out in April 1979. Frank Empson / The Tennessean 'It is with utter and complete sadness that I learned of the death of Jamaica's three-time World Boxing Champion Michael McKenzie McCallum,' Grange said in a statement. '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.' 5 Mike McCallum is pictured in August 2015. Marcel Thomas/ZUMA Wire 5 Mike McCallum was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003. AP Advertisement McCallum was revered during his time in the ring over the years, having won across three different weight classes and becoming the first Jamaican boxer to win a world title in 1984 when he defeated Sean Mannion at Madison Square Garden for the WBA Junior Middleweight title. He fought in 55 bouts throughout his career, winning 49 and losing five, while one ended in a draw. 5 Mike McCallum tries to dodge a punch during a fight against Roy Jones Jr. Tampa Bay Times via ZUMA Press Wire Advertisement McCallum was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003, and in 2011, Ring Magazine included him on a list of the '10 best middleweight title holders of the last 50 years.' 'Greatly saddened by passing of Mike McCallum. Mike was lovely guy, humble guy, great champion,' Rich Marotta, the founder of the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame, wrote on X. 'He was an Inaugural year inductee of @nvbhof and, as resident of Las Vegas, always wanted to be part of the events, big or small. Had greatest nickname in boxing, 'The Bodysnatcher' RIP.'
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Boxing legend 'The Bodysnatcher' dies at 68 after pulling car off road
Mike McCallum was a Hall of Fame fighter who was the first Jamaican to win a world title, and secured titles at three different weight classes in his career Boxing great Mike 'The Bodysnatcher' McCallum has sadly died at the age of 68. The Jamaican, a Hall of Fame fighter who won three world titles in three different weight classes, passed away after falling ill on the way to the gym in Las Vegas on Saturday. Reports claim McCallum, who was 68, pulled his car off the road. According to The Jamaica Observer he was later found unresponsive and pronounced dead at the scene. McCallum earned his fearsome nickname due to his heavy hitting style, and the groundbreaking fighter was the first Jamaican to become a world champion, doing so in 1984 when he beat Irish fighter Sean Mannlon at Madison Square Garden in New York to win the WBA Junior Middleweight title. He would later claim the WBA Middleweight and WBC Light heavyweight titles, and he was inducted into Boxing's Hall of Fame in 2003. In addition he was a welterweight gold medal winner at the 1978 Commonwealth Games and the Central American and Carribbean Games in the same year. Jamaica sports minister Olivia Grange confirmed the sad news in a statement, 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." The Ring Magazine said on X: "The Ring is saddened to learn of the passing of boxing legend Mike McCallum. "The 'Body Snatcher' was a three-weight world champion, having won titles at super-welterweight, middleweight, and light-heavyweight. "Our deepest sympathies are with his friends and family at this time."
Daily Mail
03-05-2025
- Daily Mail
TikToker Baba Skeng assassinated during live stream as he's shot several times while filming in Jamaica
The TikToker Baba Skeng was murdered in an execution-style hit while recording a live stream in Saint Andrew, Jamaica on Monday. The online star, 25, whose real name is Jabari Johnson was filming live content with another TikToker when he was shot several times. Horrifying footage of the murder shows him laughing and talking with his friend just moments before his killer opened fire. The shooter, masked and dressed in all black, approached Johnson from behind and blasted him at close range. He was hit multiple times in the head and upper body, and he fell to the ground as terrified screams rang out. The gunman then fled on foot. The TikToker, who WAS the son of reggae star Jah Mason, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to The Jamaica Observer. Officers with the Saint Andrew North Police Division have launched an investigation into Johnson's killing. The brutal attack occurred Monday around 6.30pm near Queenie's Snack Shop on Red Hills Road. Johnson had reportedly been livestreaming while playing a game with a fellow TikToker. His father confirmed to the Observer that his son had been killed, but declined to comment any further as the family is still processing the tragedy. Shocking: The shooter, masked and dressed in all black, approached Johnson from behind His death follows that of three other high profile Jamaican TikTokers who were killed late last year. Marlon Samuels, known online as '41 Busshead,' was fatally shot on December 20, 2024 in Montego Bay. Fourteen days prior, on December 7, 2024, Xavier 'Niah Gang' Fogah, 23, was gunned down St Catherine. And in September 2024, a group of armed assailants murdered 23-year-old Keauno 'Popsy' Watson.
Daily Mail
02-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Horrifying moment TikToker is shot dead by assassin during live stream in execution-style hit
A TikTok personality was murdered in an execution-style hit while recording a live stream. Jabari Johnson, known on social media as 'Baba Skeng', was killed on Monday in Saint Andrew, Jamaica while he was filming live content with another TikToker. Horrifying footage of the murder shows Johnson, 25, laughing and talking with his friend just moments before his killer opened fire. The left-handed shooter, masked and dressed in all black, approached Johnson from behind and shot him at close range. Johnson was struck multiple times in the head and his upper body and fell to the ground, as terrified screams rang out. The gunman then fled on foot. The TikToker, the son of reggae star Jah Mason, was pronounced dead at the scene, The Jamaica Observer reports. Officers with the St Andrew North Police Division have launched an investigation into Johnson's killing. MailOnline has approached the force for comment. The brutal attack occurred Monday around 6.30pm near Queenie's Snack Shop on Red Hills Road. Johnson had reportedly been livestreaming while playing a game with a fellow TikToker. His father confirmed to the Observer that his son had been killed, but declined to comment any further as the family is still processing the tragedy. His death follows that of three other high profile Jamaican TikTokers who were killed late last year. Marlon Samuels, known online as '41 Busshead,' was fatally shot on December 20, 2024 in Montego Bay. Fourteen days prior, on December 7, 2024, Xavier 'Niah Gang' Fogah, 23, was gunned down St Catherine. And in September 2024, a group of armed assailants murdered 23-year-old Keauno 'Popsy' Watson. But the tragic slayings are not exclusive to Jamaica alone. TikTok star Gordo Percui, real name Leovardo Asipuro Soto, and his wife Brenda Félix were shot dead in a gang attack near their home in Culiacán, north-western Mexico last December. Soto was struck multiple times and pronounced dead at the scene, local media reports. Félix was transported to hospital in critical condition, where she later succumbed to her injuries.
