Las Vegas, Nevada — Renowned Jamaican boxer Mike McCallum, affectionately known as “The Bodysnatcher,” passed away on May 31 at the age of 68. He was found unresponsive after pulling to the side of the road while driving to a gym. The Clark County Coroner’s Office confirmed his death, while local authorities reported no suspicious circumstances at the scene.
McCallum’s unexpected passing elicited heartfelt reactions from many in the boxing community and beyond. Jamaica’s Sports Minister Olivia Grange expressed profound sorrow over the loss, offering condolences to McCallum’s family on social media. “It is with utter and complete sadness that I learned of McCallum’s death,” she wrote, highlighting the impact he had on the nation and the sport.
A groundbreaking figure in boxing, McCallum made history in 1984 by becoming the first Jamaican-born athlete to win a world championship. He achieved this feat by defeating Sean Mannion for the WBA super welterweight title at Madison Square Garden. His powerful body punches earned him his legendary moniker, striking fear into opponents and securing his status as one of the sport’s standout fighters.
Born Michael McKenzie McCallum, he began his athletic journey representing Jamaica at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal as a welterweight. McCallum’s early accomplishments included capturing gold medals at both the 1978 Commonwealth Games and the Central American and Caribbean Games before entering the professional ranks in 1981.
Once he turned pro, McCallum’s ascent was remarkable. He won his first 32 bouts, achieving 29 knockouts, showcasing his potent striking ability. Over his illustrious career, he competed in three weight classes, ultimately securing world titles in the WBA super welterweight (1984-1988), WBA middleweight (1989-1991), and WBC light heavyweight (1994-1995) divisions.
Throughout his 16-year professional run, McCallum accumulated an impressive record of 49 wins, five losses, and one draw from 55 fights. His first defeat came in 1988 against Sumbu Kalambay while vying for the WBA middleweight title in Italy. However, he rebounded to claim the championship the following year in a split decision against Herol Graham.
McCallum’s career featured fierce rivalries, most notably a trilogy against James Toney. Their first fight ended in a split draw, while McCallum lost the second match by majority decision, both times just missing out on the IBF middleweight title. He faced Toney again later in his career at cruiserweight, but emerged defeated yet again.
In a historic turn, McCallum won his third world title at age 38, defeating Jeff Harding for the WBC light heavyweight championship in 1994. However, he lost that title in 1995 and faced tough competition in his final bouts against renowned fighters such as Roy Jones Jr. and Toney.
Retiring from the sport in 1997, McCallum was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003, solidifying his legacy. In 2011, Ring Magazine honored him as one of the top ten middleweight titleholders in five decades.
Tributes to McCallum flowed across social media platforms, with boxing figures expressing their admiration. Chris Eubank Jr., the current International Boxing Organization Middleweight champion, remembered McCallum as a mentor. Rich Marotta, the founder of the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame, spoke highly of McCallum’s humility and dedication to the sport, regardless of the event’s size.
The World Boxing Association honored McCallum’s contributions, celebrating his fighting spirit and technical prowess while expressing gratitude for his impact on the sport. McCallum had remained an integral part of the boxing community in Las Vegas until his untimely passing, leaving a legacy of excellence and inspiration behind.