Legendary Jamaican boxer Mike McCallum, known as “The Bodysnatcher,” died May 31 in Las Vegas at age 68. The three-division world champion became ill while driving to the gym and pulled off the road, where police later found him unresponsive.
The Clark County Coroner’s Office confirmed McCallum’s death on Saturday. According to the Jamaica Observer, nothing suspicious was found at the scene, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has not yet confirmed a cause of death.
Jamaica’s Sports Minister Olivia Grange expressed her condolences in an Instagram post, stating: “It is with utter and complete sadness” that she learned of McCallum’s death. Grange extended sympathies to his mother, siblings and children on behalf of the Ministry of Sport.
McCallum made boxing history in 1984 when he became the first Jamaican-born boxer to win a world championship, defeating Sean Mannion for the WBA super welterweight title at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Kingston native earned his menacing nickname through his devastating body punches that left opponents unable to continue fighting.
Born Michael McKenzie McCallum, the boxer represented Jamaica at the 1976 Summer Olympic Games in Montreal as a welterweight. He also captured gold medals in both welterweight classes at the 1978 Commonwealth Games and Central American and Caribbean Games before turning professional in 1981.
McCallum’s professional career began with remarkable dominance, winning his first 32 fights with 29 knockouts. He held world championships across three weight divisions: WBA super welterweight from 1984 to 1988, WBA middleweight from 1989 to 1991, and WBC light heavyweight from 1994 to 1995.
Throughout his 16-year professional career, McCallum compiled a record of 49 wins, five losses and one draw from 55 total fights. Of his 49 victories, 36 came by knockout, demonstrating the punching power that made him one of boxing’s most feared competitors. His first professional defeat came in 1988 against Sumbu Kalambay in Italy while attempting to claim the WBA middleweight title.
McCallum successfully captured the WBA middleweight crown in 1989 with a split-decision victory over Herol Graham at the Royal Albert Hall in London. He defended the title against notable opponents including Steve Collins in Boston and Michael Watson, also at the Royal Albert Hall, before avenging his earlier loss to Kalambay in Monaco.
One of the defining rivalries of McCallum’s career involved a trilogy of fights against James Toney between December 1991 and late 1992. The first encounter ended in a split-decision draw, while the second resulted in a majority-decision loss for McCallum, twice denying him the IBF middleweight belt. A third fight against Toney at cruiserweight near the end of his career also resulted in defeat.
At age 38, McCallum captured his third world title in a different weight class when he defeated Jeff Harding for the WBC light heavyweight championship in 1994. However, he lost the title to Fabrice Tiozzo one year later. His career concluded with losses to Roy Jones Jr. and his final bout against Toney.
McCallum retired from boxing in 1997 and received induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003. Ring Magazine recognized his excellence by including him on their list of the 10 best middleweight title holders of the last 50 years in 2011.
Edward Brophy, executive director of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, issued a statement describing McCallum as a national hero in Jamaica and one of boxing’s most accomplished world champions. Brophy noted that McCallum’s incredible skills thrilled fans around the world throughout his career.
The boxing community mourned McCallum’s passing on social media. Chris Eubank Jr., the International Boxing Organization Middleweight champion, posted a tribute describing McCallum as his former trainer. Rich Marotta, founder of the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame, praised McCallum as a humble champion who always participated in boxing events regardless of their size.
The World Boxing Association also paid tribute to McCallum, thanking him for his fights, lessons and greatness while describing him as one of the most technically gifted fighters of his era. McCallum had been living in Las Vegas at the time of his death, remaining connected to the boxing community that celebrated his achievements.
