- Oliver McCall
-
Oliver McCall Statistics Real name Oliver McCall Nickname(s) The Atomic Bull Rated at Heavyweight Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Nationality United States
Born April 21, 1965
Chicago, Illinois, USAStance Orthodox Boxing record Total fights 69 Wins 56 Wins by KO 37 Losses 11 Draws 0 No contests 0 Oliver "The Atomic Bull" McCall (born April 21, 1965) is an American professional Heavyweight boxer best known for winning the WBC Heavyweight Championship in 1994 after scoring an upset knock out victory over Lennox Lewis, in Lewis' home town of London, England, followed by his infamous in-ring meltdown in the rematch. In a long rollercoaster career that has been blighted by drug addiction and almost constant legal troubles, McCall has served as the chief sparring partner for a peak Mike Tyson, then later come into his own as a professional, defeating Lennox Lewis, Larry Holmes, Lionel Butler, Bruce Seldon, Jesse Ferguson, Francesco Damiani, Oleg Maskaev, Henry Akinwande, Przemyslaw Saleta, Sinan Samil Sam, and Fres Oquendo.
Contents
Amateur career
McCall had a strong amateur career prior to turning pro, twice a winner of the Chicago Golden Gloves.
Professional career
Known as "The Atomic Bull", McCall turned pro in 1985 and slowly worked his way up the heavyweight ranks. He beat Jesse Ferguson and future heavyweight champion Bruce Seldon and lost a very close decision to Tony Tucker before landing the shot against Lewis in 1994. After a close first round McCall came out aggressive in the second and landed his signature counter right hand as Lewis moved forward. Lewis dropped to the canvas and got up before the count of ten, but he was unsteady on his feet, forcing the referee to wave a stop to the fight.
McCall's win over Lewis marked Don King's return to power in the heavyweight division, since none of his stable of fighters had been able to win the heavyweight title since Mike Tyson lost it in 1990. He successfully defended the title in a bout against 45 year old ex-champ Larry Holmes in Las Vegas winning 115-112 115-114 and 114-113 on the score cards, before returning to London to face Frank Bruno in 1995.
During a press conference before the fight McCall claimed he was going to get revenge for America after Gerald McClellan had been rendered brain damaged after a fight with Nigel Benn a few months earlier. He had claimed that he was going to hurt Bruno and that the only thing Bruno would be able to do was throw illegal rabbit punches.
The fight took place at the old Wembley stadium. Bruno started off well, working behind the jab and landing some big right hands. McCall seemed disinterested in fighting and lagged far behind on the score cards going into the latter rounds. By round 9 Bruno had built up a big lead on the score cards and looked comfortably in charge. McCall finally sparked into life in round 10 perhaps realizing that he was behind on the score cards. McCall landed several big punches over the final 3 rounds and had Bruno in trouble several times but Bruno managed to hold on and win the title by a unanimous decision.
McCall returned to the ring 6 months after losing his title when he beat future WBC heavyweight champion Oleg Maskaev in less than 3 minutes with a sneaky right hand. A month later McCall beat James Stanton in 6 rounds.
Lewis vs. McCall II
Lewis and McCall squared off again on February 7, 1997, in Las Vegas. In a bizarre fight, McCall refused to fight in the fourth and fifth rounds, beginning to cry and eventually forcing the referee to stop the fight and award Lewis the victory.[1] The referee for the fight, Mills Lane, stated in an interview after the match, "In the third round, he got in close, and then seemed frustrated, and then he just backed off and put his arms down. . . . I thought he was playing possum but then I saw his lips started to quiver and I thought, 'My God, is he crying?'" Lane stopped the fight when McCall had refused to defend himself for several rounds.
In 2001 at the age of 36 he resurrected his career with a tenth round knockout of Henry Akinwande, at the time one of the most avoided contenders in the world, on a high profile Lennox Lewis undercard in Las Vegas. McCall was ranked number 4 in the world off this performance, but was arrested shortly afterwards and imprisoned for over a year, losing his ranking.
In December 2004 he lost a close points decision to fellow contender DaVarryl Williamson on a high profile Don King undercard from New York, and in 2005 he traveled to Germany for an eliminator to skillful and well regarded Cuban Juan Carlos Gomez, and was outpointed over ten rounds. However this loss was removed from McCall's record as Gomez later failed a drug test.
Aiming for another shot at the title
Despite his legal troubles, Oliver's career has since continued. He began his next run at a title with a first round TKO of Kenny Craven in June 2006.
McCall defeated Darroll Wilson in a fourth-round TKO in Louisville, Kentucky, on September 9, 2006, for the WBC Fecarbox Championship.
On December 9, 2006, McCall defeated Yanqui Diaz via seventh-round KO in Hollywood, Florida.
On 16 June 2007, McCall defeated Sinan Samil Sam for the WBC International Heavyweight Championship by unanimous decision in Ankara, Turkey. This guaranteed him a shot at the WBC Heavyweight Championship (currently held by Vitali Klitschko). However, McCall took a fight with slick Cuban fighter Juan Carlos Gomez, a fight which McCall lost. As a result, Gomez took his place as the WBC's next mandatory challenger.
The long inactive McCall defeated Australian John Hopoate by 2nd round TKO on the May 22, 2009, for the vacant IBA intercontinental heavyweight belt. McCall dominated the fight and knocked Hopoate down twice.
He defended his IBA continental belt against Franklin Lawrence by a ten round unanimous decision on August 21, 2009, at the Orleans Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas.
On October 23, 2009, he defended his IBA continental title again by a ten round unanimous decision against 6'8" Lance Whitaker.
McCall's next opponent was Timur Ibragimov. The two fought at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Hollywood, Florida. Ibragimov is a fringe contender with a impressive 27-2-1 record, however he hasn't fought anyone on McCall's level before. The former world champion lost the bout by unanimous decision, with the scores of 117-111 twice and 119-109. It was McCall's first loss since his comeback in 2009.
Legal troubles
Although never knocked down as a professional boxer, McCall's career has been mottled by several stints in drug rehabilitation facilities [2] and arrests for disorderly behavior. He has attempted numerous comebacks, though the efforts have repeatedly been frustrated by run-ins with the law.
In January 2006 he was arrested by police in Nashville, Tennessee, who say they had to use a Taser on McCall after he tried running away from officers trying to arrest him for trespassing in a public housing development.[3]
Police told reporters that McCall had in his possession a glass pipe and a five-dollar bill containing a small amount of cocaine. They say the 40-year-old McCall later spat at an officer and threatened to kill him.[4]
He was held on $299,000 bond and charged with criminal trespass, resisting arrest, assaulting police officers, threatening to kill an officer, and being a fugitive from justice on charges in his home state of Virginia. He was released on May 8, 2006.
On the weekend before his scheduled fight with Zuri Lawrence at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in nearby Hollywood, Florida, McCall was arrested for possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia in Fort Lauderdale, preventing him from fighting. He was ultimately sentenced to probation. McCall was able to get another big fight, this time against Fres Oquendo, scheduled for December 7, 2010. McCall won in a split decision over the favored Oquendo.
On December 9, 2010, two days after his latest victory, McCall was again arrested in Fort Lauderdale for possession of cannabis and a violation of a municipal ordinance, causing him to violate the terms of his probation stemming from the February cocaine charge. As a result of the probation violation, McCall was facing six years in Florida State Prison. McCall's attorney was able to have him reinstated on his previous probationary term, modified to include a drug and psychological evaluation followed by any necessary treatment.
Personal
McCall was raised on the South Side of Chicago, and is married with four daughters and three sons. He has two children currently in high school, one daughter: Jeneva McCall who is currently fifth best in the state of Illinois for discus throw and one son: Mikael McCall who is currently a freshman running back for the University of Iowa. McCall has one other son, Elijah McCall is currently a professional boxer as well.
Professional boxing record
56 Wins (37 knockouts, 19 decisions), 11 Losses (1 knockout, 10 decisions), 0 Draws [5] Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes Win 56-11
2 NCDamian Wills
UD 10 20/08/2011 Houston Athletic Fencing Center, Houston, Texas, United States
Won vacant WBF International Heavyweight title. Loss 55-11
2 NCCedric Boswell
UD 10 18/03/2011 Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Hollywood, Florida, United States
For vacant NABA Heavyweight title. Win 55-10
2 NCFres Oquendo
SD 12 07/12/2010 Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Hollywood, Florida, United States
Won vacant IBF Inter-Continental Heavyweight title. Loss 54-10
2 NCTimur Ibragimov
UD 12 15/06/2010 Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Hollywood, Florida, United States
For vacant NABA Heavyweight title. Win 54–9
2 NCLance Whitaker
UD 10 23/10/2009 The Orleans Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Retained IBA Continental Heavyweight title. Win 53–9
2 NCFranklin Lawrence
UD 10 21/08/2009 The Orleans Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Retained IBA Continental Heavyweight title. Win 52–9
2 NCJohn Hopoate
TKO 2 (10) 22/05/2009 The Orleans Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Won vacant IBA Continental Heavyweight title. Loss 51–9
2 NCJuan Carlos Gómez
UD 12 19/10/2007 Estrel Convention Center, Neukölln, Berlin, Germany
Lost WBC International Heavyweight title. WBC Heavyweight title eliminator. Win 51–8
2 NCSinan Şamil Sam
UD 12 16/06/2007 Atatürk Sport Salonu, Ankara, Turkey
Won WBC International Heavyweight title. WBC Heavyweight title eliminator. Win 50–8
2 NCMarion Wilson
UD 8 24/02/2007 ABC Sports Complex, Springfield, Virginia, United States
Win 49–8
2 NCYanqui Díaz
KO 7 (10) 09/12/2006 Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Hollywood, Florida, United States
Win 48–8
2 NCDarroll Wilson
TKO 4 (12) 03/09/2006 Louisville Gardens, Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Won vacant WBC FECARBOX Heavyweight title. Win 47–8
2 NCKenny Craven
TKO 1 (10) 30/06/2006 Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Hollywood, Florida, United States
Win 46–8
2 NCWallace McDaniel
TKO 3 (8) 27/05/2006 The Plex, North Charleston, South Carolina, United States
NC 45–8
2 NCJuan Carlos Gómez
NC 10 15/10/2005 Mehrzweckhalle Süd, Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Originally Gomez won UD but NC because his drug test was positive. Win 45–8
1 NCPrzemysław Saleta
TKO 4 (10) 13/08/2005 United Center, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win 44–8
1 NCKelvin Hale
UD 8 10/05/2005 Kennel Club, Sarasota, Florida, United States
Win 43–8
1 NCCornelius Ellis
UD 8 16/04/2005 M.C. Benton Jr. Convention Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States
Win 42–8
1 NCMarion Wilson
DQ 6 (8) 05/02/2005 Washington State Convention Center, Washington, D.C., United States
Loss 41–8
1 NCDaVarryl Williamson
UD 10 13/11/2004 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, United States
Win 41–7
1 NCVernon Woodward
TKO 3 (8) 25/09/2004 Fire Lake Casino, Shawnee, Oklahoma, United States
Win 40–7
1 NCDennis McKinney
TKO 3 (?) 24/04/2003 The Plex, North Charleston, South Carolina, United States
Win 39–7
1 NCHenry Akinwande
KO 10 (10) 17/11/2001 Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 38–7
1 NCMatt Green
TKO 1 (?) 29/09/2001 Martinsville, Virginia, United States
Win 37–7
1 NCSedreck Fields
SD 10 11/08/2000 Paris Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 36–7
1 NCMarcus McIntyre
KO 3 (10) 25/05/2001 Grand Casino, Tunica, Mississippi, United States
Win 35–7
1 NCRic Lainhart
TKO 1 (10) 12/02/2001 Davidson Theater, Pembroke Pines, Florida, United States
Win 34–7
1 NCWill Hinton
TKO 1 (10) 18/12/1999 Grand Casino, Tunica, Mississippi, United States
NC 33–7
1 NCSamson Cohen
NC 2 (?) 25/09/1999 Bassett High School, Bassett, Virginia, United States
Win 33–7 Samson Cohen
KO 1 (?) 24/02/1998 Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Win 32–7 Abdul Muhaymin
UD 10 03/02/1998 Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Win 31–7 Mike Acklie
KO 1 (?) 06/01/1998 Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Win 30–7 Mike DeVito
TKO 2 (8) 16/12/1997 Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Win 29–7 Brian Yates
TKO 8 (10) 04/11/1997 Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Loss 28–7 Lennox Lewis
TKO 5 (10) 07/02/1997 Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
For vacant WBC Heavyweight title. Win 28–6 James Stanton
TKO 6 (10) 23/03/1996 Miami Arena, Miami, Florida, United States
Win 27–6 Oleg Maskaev
TKO 1 (10) 24/02/1996 Richmond Coliseum, Richmond, Virginia, United States
Loss 26–6 Frank Bruno
UD 12 02/09/1995 Wembley Stadium, Wembley, London, England, United Kingdom
Lost WBC Heavyweight title. Win 26–5 Larry Holmes
UD 12 08/04/1995 Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Retained WBC Heavyweight title. Win 25–5 Lennox Lewis
TKO 2 (12) 24/09/1994 Wembley Arena, Wembley, London, England, United Kingdom
Won WBC Heavyweight title. Win 24–5 Dan Murphy
TKO 1 (?) 26/02/1994 Earls Court Exhibition Hall, Kensington, London, England, United Kingdom
Win 23–5 Art Card
KO 1 (?) 18/12/1993 Estadio Cuauhtémoc, Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
Win 22–5 Francesco Damiani
TKO 8 (10) 23/04/1993 The Pyramid, Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Win 21–5 Mike Dixon
TKO 2 (?) 30/01/1993 The Pyramid, Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Win 20–5 Lawrence Carter
KO 3 (10) 30/01/1993 Mirage Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 19–5 Tony Tucker
SD 12 26/06/1992 CSU Convention Centre, Cleveland, Ohio, United States
For NABF Heavyweight title. Win 19–4 Mike Rouse
TKO 4 (10) 15/02/1992 Mirage Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 18–4 Jesse Ferguson
UD 10 08/08/1991 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win 17–4 Danny Wofford
TKO 5 (?) 08/06/1991 Civic Center, Salem, Virginia, United States
Win 16–4 Bruce Seldon
TKO 9 (10) 18/04/1991 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Loss 15–4 Orlin Norris
SD 10 17/11/1990 Lee County Civic Center, Fort Myers, Florida, United States
Win 15–3 Lionel Butler
SD 10 16/07/1990 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
Loss 14–3 Buster Douglas
UD 10 21/07/1989 Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win 14–2 Bruce Johnson
KO 1 (10) 01/10/1988 International Amphitheatre, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win 13–2 Wesley Smith
TKO 2 (10) 16/09/1988 Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States
Win 12–2 David Jaco
UD 10 30/06/1988 Pavilion Convention Center, Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States
Loss 11–2 Mike Hunter
UD 10 22/01/1988 Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win 11–1 Kim Adams
TKO 2 (8) 30/08/1987 Americana Congress Hotel, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win 10–1 Richard Scott
KO 2 (8) 11/08/1987 UIC Pavilion, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win 9–1 Tim Morrison
KO 1 (6) 30/05/1987 DiVinci Manor, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win 8–1 Fred Whitaker
UD 6 21/03/1987 DiVinci Manor, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win 7–1 Al Evans
UD 6 16/12/1986 Condesa Del Mar, Alsip, Illinois, United States
Win 6–1 Bashir Wadud
UD 6 25/10/1986 DiVinci Manor, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win 5–1 Larry Roberson
TKO 1 (4) 13/09/1986 DiVinci Manor, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win 4–1 James Churn
KO 1 (4) 14/08/1986 Americana Congress Hotel, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win 3–1 Kimmuel Odum
MD 4 14/08/1986 DiVinci Manor, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win 2–1 Felix Shorter
TKO 2 (4) 18/01/1986 DiVinci Manor, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Loss 1–1 Joey Christjohn
UD 4 06/12/1985 Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 1–0 Lou Bailey
TKO 1 (4) 02/11/1985 Odeum, Villa Park, Illinois, United States
References
- Professional boxing record for Oliver McCall from BoxRec
- Notable boxing families
Preceded by
Lennox LewisWBC Heavyweight Championship
September 24, 1994 – September 2, 1995Succeeded by
Frank BrunoCategories:- 1965 births
- Living people
- Heavyweight boxers
- Boxers from Illinois
- World boxing champions
- Sportspeople from Chicago, Illinois
- African American boxers
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