McCALLUM VS CURRY

[HSVIRK]

just like james toney's left hook against michael nunn

[BOX5]

Was just watching johnson vs maskaev on vhs and e steward bought up this left hook yell

[oakaziz]

Many of the big name boxers of that time did not want to fight Mike McCallum.

[BruceinFalkirk]

Good finish combined with a great commentator's curse.

[Eddieshack67]

kaaaBOOM

[frisbyrb5]

Looks like curry mis judged his distance when stepping back, boom game over

[adrion]

old guy got head butt @ 1:32 :D

[iljn1988]

Good to see McCallum getting the recognition he deserves more and more as the years go on. He was the greatest Light-Middleweight of them all, as far as I'm concerned.

[TheUruguay3050]

@iljn1988 have to agree McCallum was A class act would loved to have seen him fight hearns would have been A great fight don't think hearns could have taken McCallums punches McCallum by ko in round 10 I think

[06gtdriver]

Perfect punch at perfect time. Curry relaxed after thinking his left hook landed(not) and the cagey veteran McCallum, in perfect position, launched, perhaps, the greatest left hook since Sugar Ray Robinson leveled Gene Fullmer with what experts hail as "the perfect punch". Curry never saw it, probably never felt it. Text book knockout.

[openhead]

@06gtdriver mccallum set up that perfect punch by going downstairs with that left hook (as you would expect) for the whole fight. the way curry dropped his right sort looked like he was anticipating another bodyshot and trying to cover up. roy jones did the same thing to virgil hill, but in reverse, throwing right crosses to the head for four rounds, then breaking hill's ribs by ramming it underneath his jab. good stuff.

[widerthanone]

So many fuckin' wogs!! It's right and proper that us humans get to watch them beat the fuck out of each other.

[alphared10]

and counter punch returned the force 10 fold you take a clean shot no surprise he was knock out

[Groyneyvision]

One of the best punches ever thrown, roundhouse left to get his full body weight behind it and bang on the chin. McCallum was a frightening fighter. Guys that fought him said after a few rounds they felt comfortable but then suddenly they could feel severe aches and pains all across their body and McCallum would just take them out. That's why McCallum was called the body snatcher, he just sapped all the strength and stamina out of his opponent. Or, in this case, just whacked them hard!

[dabighen]

The epitome of getting your chin checked...

[Crispears1]

Most epic "I can take a punch, can you?" KO I HAVE EVER SEEN!!!!!

[Solowizard]

Jesus Crist!!

McCallum's camp so fucking frantic and stupid that one of them cut Lou Duva!

[openhead]

mccallum is probably the greatest junior middleweight of all-time, and you can tell how much difficulty he was having with curry.

curry's boxing was nothing short of superb. on the night he beat mccrory, i'm convinced he could have beat anyone at 147 or under, sugar ray included. but he was never the same after that fight for some reason. some say weight drain, some say drugs, some say his 400+ amateur fights. you could see flashes of his brilliance here though. pity he went out like he did.

[davisreardon]

@openhead I agree. Donald Curry is the greatest pure Boxing talent I have ever seen. In his prime he was breathtaking. He lft all his fight in the amatuers. Great Shame.

[BloodBoxingReturnz]

@openhead man....so true....me and my father was saying that leonard better stay away from curry after that fight

[BufordStone]

Savage exchange of left hooks at the end.

[mp4vids]

This was the first time that I had actually bet on a boxing match and i lost big time. I thought that Curry was going to win, but he got caught. He was doing well up to that point, but things happen.

[joeypolanski]

They always talk about th left hook Robinson landed against Fullmer as one o th greatest left-hooks of all time.

Surely this one from McCallum is another. Th Body Snatcher went a-head-hunting!

[tlig]

This ending wasn't much different to that of Curry-Mcrory. The only difference being Curry was at the receiving end this time..

[megas29]

i remember watching this fight on ma black n white tv in Jamaica. The entire family and those neighbours without tv was watching....i remember the euphoria when Curry fell as they all taught McCallum was being outclassed.

[PeekaPeep]

Think the sound of Curry's left hook landing solidly fooled him into thinking he had McCallum dead to rights there. Little did he know 1 sec. later, lol...

[chisacat]

that lefthook went all around the houses before landing right on the button - never did like curry  - he had larry holmes syndrome - comng up on the back of a legend retiring - Holmes had to fill Ali's shoes and Curry had to fill Sugar ray's before his 87 comeback -

The big dogs only wanted a piece of the bodysnatcher when he was older ( RJJ ) - But back in the day Mike was the most avoided fighter in boxing .

[70gabino]

Right on. This dude was a SERIOUS pro who you were never safe with. I always got the feeling when I watched him that everything he did had a plan for later in a fight.

[TheUruguay3050]

@chisacat so true no one wanted to fight the body snatcher mans the mans A legend

[kbi35]

Wow. Scheduled for 15 rounds.

[markpringle]

And that's why the big boys avoided Mike.

[Jorsalfar]

Mike is my favorite boxer.

[kc1973able]

Again,this was ANOTHER BAD loss for the Cobra.Honeyghan a year before and then this KO.

Remember seeing and reading this result in the Ring Magazine 87.Was deep down gutted to be honest.Was really glad he snatched the WBC strap in 88 only to lose it to another fighter from out of the blue.

The Lone star truely did fall.

[kbi35]

But who did he beat? Gianfranco Rossi!!!

[kc1973able]

Yeah,Curry stopped Rosi in Italy in 8 rounds.Then he lost it in his 1st defence to the french guy Called Rene.I know his surname but can't for hell spell it {grin}.

Then he had two more cracks at a world tittle.Micheal Nunn in 90.And Terry Norris in 91.Lossing both.

[kbi35]

Yeah, I remember now.. I remember when Curry was being touted as the heir to SSR, after Destroying Milt.

[blite13]

Curry got caught admiring his work. Protect yourself at all times.

[njomahony]

haha. his trainer gets a cut over his eye at 1.40 when theyre celebrating.

[darryl1914]

I think the major difference with the fighters from "today's" era and that deep talent from 147-160lbs in the mid 80's to early 90's were not afraid to fight each other!!! Norris, Donald Curry, Honeyghan, Mcclellan, Julian Jackson, McCallum, Leonard, Hearns, Duran, Mugabi, Benn Hagler and more...were not afraid to fight each other and LOSE...Fighters today from 147-160lbs..are avoiding each other like crazy!!!!!!

[KingRhaul]

i dont think it's a matter of being afraid i think it's a matter of with today's money they cant help but look at boxing as a business so every fight becomes a business move and you need to maximize your time on top.you want to get the most while risking the least...boxers have learned from past fighters and are a bit smarter now which is not really good for boxing but good for them

[T74G]

good point..plays a major factor..

[bigallovepal]

@KingRhaul ...that is an excellent analogy!

[Maxshard]

Good point Darryl. The guys willing to take on all comers now are the exception rather than the good old fashined rule.

Of course it doesn't help with ridiculous boxing politics and too many belts and arguments about money with media moguls, greedy managers and crooked promoters.

[kbi35]

Too many belts! Isn't paz like a 5 time 'world' champion. IBC/IBO etc.. Whats the point in being champion, if everyone is a champion. Only in boxing. One division has 8-10 champions..WBC/WBA/WBF/IBF/IBO WBO/IBC etc..

[T74G]

agreed!! the great era of the 80's is sorely missed!!!

[MRGKING]

init

[lemonite1]

I always wondered why Leonard never fought Curry, or Marlon Starling for that matter.

[kbi35]

High risk, little money.. Same reason why Duran, Leonard, and Hearns avoided Mccallum like the plague.

[megas29]

@kbi35 i wish he would have signed with Don king, for he would have definitely gotten one of those fights, but he refused King, but trust me he was the real deal.

[jummacob]

@darryl1914 hagler, hearns, leonard and duran all avoided McCallum like he was the plague. if they were not afraid they would have fought him. mike is bitter about them not fighting him to this day

[jacksondarryl34]

@jummacob Like a lot of fighters avoided Nigel Benn!

[67061912]

@darryl1914 ...I agree with you. The 80's and early 90's were deep in each division.

[chisacat]

that big sweeping left hook reminded me of old footage of Jake Lamotta - he would bring the left hook right around the outside as his opponent was pulling back

and he would catch them right on the end of it just like the body snatcher did here .

the honeyghan upset , this KO and the terry norris KO finished Curry as a fighter and a person - back in the mid 80's he was rated the new leonard and many had him above Hagler in the p4p ratings .

but not me though :-))

[tyson55]

Damn!!! You'd think that punch would have happend sooner by the way Curry sticks that damn chin out!!

[juliojgr19]

In that momment was famous the eye of the tiger, and Mc Callum really had. Very famous one punch knock out of the 80's.

[dan32113]

poor donald, what goes around comes around!!!

[kelvinkloud]

this goes down w/ the left hook frazier landed on ali in 1 & the left hook dempsey shattered willards cheek bone w/.

[Dubhlais]

Mike absolutely starched him with that punch, all time favorite one punch knockout of mine. That long left hook from McCallum was deadly man.

[shire2005]

Curry stepped back with his hands down a cardinal sin in boxing and mccallum timed it perfectly!

I think mccallum would have eventually wore curry down just like what happened in curry's other losses but to go down that way was a major blow to his career and stature.

[tienshanpai]

Curry was a different boxer after this.

[dabighen]

Incredible left hook. You see, the thing about Mike "The Body Snatcher" McCallum that makes him unique is that he could win a fight with EITHER hand and a variety of different punches. He, of course, set everything up with the incredible body punching. These new boxing cats know nothing about old school body punching. This is why he's in the Boxing Hall of Fame. Look on youtube for his fight with Julian Jackson. They were both undefeated at the time.

[examinfo]

Curry made the mistake of "sticking" and not moving.He caught Mike with a nice punch,and just stood there,square footed.All it takes is 1 second.

[Jorsalfar]

Mccallum has cool trunks.:P

[nportillo73]

I remember McCallum saying afterwards that he was timing Curry's in and out rhythm. Curry was coming in, landing shots and moving out. McCallum timed him just right. He knew if the right hand to the body could land, that followup hook was gonna be there.

Groyney, I remember Nigel Benn saying that out of all his potential opponents, Jones included, McCallum was the one he felt could inflict the most physical damage. Internal bone-busting damage.

[Groyney]

Classic example of how one punch can change a fight entirely. Curry was giving McCallum a boxing lesson and then - wallop - finished. I spoke to one of McCallum's opponents years ago and he said Mike had this uncanny ability to know the exact moment when you'd start to run out of energy and stamina and he'd then just step it up a gear. He told me he'd felt harder punches but never felt as much pain that McCallum dished out to him. An under-rated champion.

[frenchgoldenboyfan]

Mike McCallum, the most underrated fighter in the world !!

[quickjab33]

Curry was pretty much done after his loss to Honeyghan.

[lemonite1]

Yeah, he shoulda stayed a Welter. Some company coulda' bought ad space on the soles of Curry's shoes.

[BufordStone]

Incredible exchange of left hooks.

[markpringle]

...and that's why none of the bog boys of Mike's day wanted to fight him.

[boxingfanofthegame]

Boom

[BoxingBasics1989]

why is al bernstein faking being the commentator. He was not doing this live.

[isleyrundgren]

Curry said after the McCrory fight, that Milton surprised him and that he thought he was stronger, i wonder if he said the same after the McCallum fight. Haha

[mart3442]

Thats how take a punch and send it back....

A great win from the underrated McCallum against the overated Curry.

[07091102]

Throughout the early 80's Curry looked superb at welterweight as he became only one of only two undisputed world champions at the time, the other being Marvin Hagler. He had problems making weight and that is the main reason Lloyd Honeyghan was able to take his titles. He actually boxed well against McCallum, was quicker and had a greater variety of punches and combinations. Left himself open for a very big left hook though. Curry was very good but met a great Mike Macullum in his decline.

[sandman2kjackson]

What a devastating KO by the "Body Snatcher" Mike McCallum!

[cuzzy1965]

hello bambi

[stevenmac89]

what a punch, sit down ya QUITTER

[Ahsap7]

curry...what a sad story...I think it was coke...this guy looked unstoppable then honeyghan beat him...it was all over. He had such talent.  The body snatcher is an all time great.

[BonneNuitX]

What a punch, Priceless.

[donmarco510]

he never saw it coming

[peasah2005]

Since his upset defeat against Lloyd Honeyghan, Don Curry wasn't the same again and that left-hook by Mike McCallum who's a body puncher was so awesome.

[RichieRich0718]

I remember watching this fight and Curry was actually outpointing him before he got starched. Donald Curry had so much promise, but he was never really the same after Lloyd Honeyghan beat him.

[TheBoxingGuru]

Mike Mccallum was a great technician. Under Rated throughout his career. An asset to boxing, and a very pleasant person! Donald Curry was also a technician who made "Star Status", but always seemed just short of "Super Star Status". I remember this fight very well! Thanks for posting!

[1975tooto]

This is the guy the great Jr Middleweights were afraid of!They knew this would happen to them also! Not to make excuses for Donald Curry ,but after his Sister died in an accident he lost focus and did not have the desire to fight anymore.He became journeyman status after his first 2 losses.Mike would have beaten him anyway but a focused Curry would have gave a better account of himself.

[pegleyjr]

Donald Curry was a great fighter. Very classy, it seemed.

[kevinj1969]

Mike McCallum was one of the most underrated fighters ever - decent power, nasty body shots, very good chin and an excellent defensive fighter. Very difficult to hit even though he was always right there, similar to James Toney in that regard. Curry, although not a devestating puncher was a very technically sound fighter. Smooth and fluid in his movement and could throw all the punches - not one-dimensional. He did get clocked pretty good here though.

[BruceinFalkirk]

His only real weakness was his foot speed.

I was lucky enought to watch McCallum beat Jeff Harding and it was a treat.

[kevinj1969]

yeah - but with his style he didn't have to rely on it that much.