Greater fighter? Virgil Hill or Mike McCallum

[MAG1965]

I think this is a good competitive question. Virgil had 25 title defenses with 2 reigns at lightheavyweight and one at cruiserweight and Mike had good reigns at jr. Middleweight and Middleweight.

[Imperial1]

Hill all day ..

[Farmboxer]

I like Hill, but...............

[sweet_scientist]

:lol: Lot of sarcastic fuckers here.

[MRBILL]

Hill has been jacked off by the voters in certain polls...... Will he make the IBHOF in New York? He should.... Hill did make lotsa title defense on national TV back when TV was still airing world class boxing events..... However, Hill never was a sellable PPV fighter...... I thought Hill got butt-reamed in 2007 against Henry Maske in Germany...... I thought the fight sucked pool stick, and despite Hill suffering a nasty cut above the eye, he threw many more punches and was the busier fighter in the ring... How will history remember Virgil Hill is anyone's guess..... I sat it'll always be mixed......

Mike McCallum is another good fighter / champion who never broke through on PPV or ever fought a real Superfight for mega bucks..... Mike McCallum was prolly a truly great fighter at 154 to 160 pounds, but he became normal and old at 168 to 175 pounds.... His induction into the IBHOF is warranted, but also questionable........

MR.BILL

[Flea Man]

Clearly McCallum, I can't believe this is even up for debate to be honest.

[lefthook31]

Both were great fighters in their own right. Mcallum known for his excellent body attack, and Virgil for coming out to argueably the worst song in history.:lol: The final Countdown by Europe. All kidding aside, Hill was an excellent fighter who won a lot of titles, and beat some pretty solid guys. He was competitive in every fight except with Jones Jr. I still cant believe he lost to Tommy Hearns though.

[PowerPuncher]

McCallum and it isnt that close, Hill's underrated though

[LHL]

McCallum easily i like hill but McCallum is the much better fighter

[turpinr]

McCallum is up there with the very best and was much avoided at his peak.its debatable how he would have got on with hearns,hagler and leonard.

[Flea Man]

McCallum is up there with the very best and was much avoided at his peak.its debatable how he would have got on with hearns,hagler and leonard.

Mid-to-late 80-'s I'd favour McCallum over Leonard at MW

[turpinr]

Mid-to-late 80-'s I'd favour McCallum over Leonard at MW

probably,i think he'd have too much for hearns at middle too !!

[Flea Man]

probably,i think he'd have too much for hearns at middle too !!

When did Mike go up to middle? 85/'86? When did Hearns leave?

[teeto]

At 154, McCallum-Hearns is the shit

[he grant]

I think this must be a joke , right ? Hill was a decent, one handed fighter who benefited from the weakest light heavyweight division in history. He would have lost to Conteh, Galindez, Saad, Mustafa, Johnson, Qwai, Spinks ,Yaqi Lopez, Eddie Davis and Michael Moorer at light heavy (not to mention Jones who flattened him) at that is only a list of fighters from the late 70's foward ...

McCallum was a great fighter who many of the best of his day avoided ... there is no comparison ...

[Flea Man]

At 154, McCallum-Hearns is the shit

McCallum stoppage via the 12th.

It depends who dictates the pace but I think Mike would get Hearns' respect early.

[turpinr]

At 154, McCallum-Hearns is the shit

:good:goodisn't it just,the hearns who KOd duran V the mccallum who KOd curry and jackson:thumbsup:bbb

[teeto]

Yeah guys, i always find it hard to predict. Hearns is so much better and composed at the weight, imo technically more sound also. And McCallum is well, McCallum

[natonic]

Clearly McCallum, I can't believe this is even up for debate to be honest.

Ditto. I think McCallum is the much more complete fighter.

[DINAMITA]

I think this is a good competitive question. Virgil had 25 title defenses with 2 reigns at lightheavyweight and one at cruiserweight and Mike had good reigns at jr. Middleweight and Middleweight.

This is a joke, yes? McCallum is a top 70 ATG. Hill, while being a very good champion, is absolutely nowhere near that level IMO.

[TommyV]

The Body Snatcher by a country mile.

[My dinner with Conteh]

Eight people must be having a joke here. Just goes to show some people will rate by reading a few stats rather than actually watching the fighters in action.

[natonic]

Eight people must be having a joke here. Just goes to show some people will rate by reading a few stats rather than actually watching the fighters in action.

We get into resumes around here often and often it's necessary but I think the eyeball test is easily applicable to this comparison.
I'd go so far as to make McCallum a very live underdog (20 lbs over his best weight) against Hill.

[Sweet Pea]

The poll shouldn't even be competitive. McCallum by a landslide.

[GPater11093]

The poll shouldn't even be competitive. McCallum by a landslide.

100% spot on

[MAG1965]

When did Mike go up to middle? 85/'86? When did Hearns leave?Mike went up to middleweight in April of 1988 and lost to Kalambay. Hearns lost to Barkley in June of 1988 and moved up to 168 when he lost his title.

[MRBILL]

When did Mike go up to middle? 85/'86? When did Hearns leave?

Hearns' last fight at 154 was in June of '86 against Mark Medal in Vegas....

McCallum won the vacant WBA 154 lb. title in June of '84 against Sean Mannion... Big Wow.... That 15 rounder sucked long pool stick....

Mike McCallum went to 160 I believe in 1987, and dropped a decision to Sumbu Kalambay.... McCallum won the rematch in '88.?.?

MR.BILL:good

[Flea Man]

I myself think the way past his prime McCallum that went the distance twice with Jones (although Jones' respect may have been some of the cause for that) would probably beat Hill, especially when you consider McCallum was such a fantastic body puncher.

[good right hand]

i think this is a real legit question,

mccallum maybe better, but hill imo deserves to be matched up against mccallum. why not? hill was a darn good fighter wasent he?

one armed? oh deffinetly... but it was was darn good one arm.

it gave him a controversial silver medal in korea

curry, jackson, kalumbay, toney and harding shows that mccallum was great and i agree greater then hill. hill had some pretty good fighters that he beat too, czyz, tate, tiozzo, maske and many thought he beat marmeck in the rematch (when he was 42yrs old).

[GPater11093]

I myself think the way past his prime McCallum that went the distance twice with Jones (although Jones' respect may have been some of the cause for that) would probably beat Hill, especially when you consider McCallum was such a fantastic body puncher.

i thought he only fought Jones once but teh fight was very very close IMO. McCallum gave Jones ALOT of problems and if he could have thrown hi overhand right with some power would have KD'd Jones afew times

[My dinner with Conteh]

it gave him a controversial silver medal in korea.

Christ, you're blaming the Koreans for that too. :yep

[Holmes' Jab]

McCallum, by a distance.

[Boro chris]

Whats going on?:huh Why are people voting for Hill?
He was a decent operator but not in Mcallums class.

[good right hand]

Christ, you're blaming the Koreans for that too. :yep


haha, well it was controversial to hill if anybody.

[JohnThomas1]

i thought he only fought Jones once but teh fight was very very close IMO. McCallum gave Jones ALOT of problems and if he could have thrown hi overhand right with some power would have KD'd Jones afew times

Very close? Jones won by the scores of 120-107, 120-107, 120-107 :hey

He was just cruising and it was well known he had, and showed in the fight, his great respect for Mike and his standing in boxing. I'd go so far as to say Jones at full gallop would have put some real pressure on McCallum to last the distance. Not that it is a big deal. Hell, Mike was an old man by then in his second last career fight. Even at his best Jones style is all wrong for him IMO.

[purplestuff]

this is not even close. McCallum by a country mile. hill was a merely a good, oppertunitstic, fighter. Mike is an atg who gives anyone all they can handle at 154-160. hill is just a good fighter maybe HOFer

[leverage]

The "jamaican sensation" was one of the all-time greats and his record proves it. He clearly leaves hill in the dust, fighting and defeating a far superior class of competition. Hill was a good fighter but not a great one and his title defenses were mostly among decent fighters and stiffs.

[Bad_Intentions]

McCallum all the way.

[GPater11093]

Very close? Jones won by the scores of 120-107, 120-107, 120-107 :hey

He was just cruising and it was well known he had, and showed in the fight, his great respect for Mike and his standing in boxing. I'd go so far as to say Jones at full gallop would have put some real pressure on McCallum to last the distance. Not that it is a big deal. Hell, Mike was an old man by then in his second last career fight. Even at his best Jones style is all wrong for him IMO.

it was closer than the scorecards and Jones was coasting but McCallum gave him some problems though

[Cobra33]

Mccallum had the better OVERALL skills but if matched up at lightheavy Hill would easily have beaten Mccallum.Alot of people sleep on Hill and thats a shame.In addition to having a great jab he had outstanding movement and always came into his fights in top shape.I remember a shot Hill giving Mormeck HELL both times and if not for a knockdown Hill would have held Mormeck to a draw in the second bout.
One armed fighter?If that is the case why did Hill stay on top for so long?
Hill turned his weakness into his strength.He knew he wasn't a puncher so he never tried to be.He ALWAYS followed his game plan for the most part.
I just watched his bout with Arslan and was amazed that someone that age could still move like that.

[brownpimp88]

mccallum

[headhunter]

Mike McCallum and it isn't even close

[MRBILL]

I'll say this: "Hill was the better / greater 175 pounder." Hill looked ripped and lean at 175, while McCallum looked soft and bloated at 175 pounds....... Hill kept his tone even at 190 pounds....... McCallum didn't add weight as well as Hill did...... Peace...

MR.BILL

[Sweet Pea]

it was closer than the scorecards and Jones was coasting but McCallum gave him some problems though

C'mon man, you have to give better arguments than this.

[GPater11093]

C'mon man, you have to give better arguments than this.

i know, you always bring me up on this

McCallum was trying to pressure Jones and was having some sucess with body shots and over hand rights, its been a while since i ahve wathced it and cant find my scorecard so cant remember what rounds i gave to Mike.

[JohnThomas1]

C'mon man, you have to give better arguments than this.

It's gone from a close fight to closer than a complete shutout. That's with Jones in cruise control.

[MRBILL]

i know, you always bring me up on this

McCallum was trying to pressure Jones and was having some sucess with body shots and over hand rights, its been a while since i ahve wathced it and cant find my scorecard so cant remember what rounds i gave to Mike.

I have the "Jones-McCallum" bout from 1996 on tape.... A good scrape..... BUT!! Jones was like a peak 27, while McCallum was friggin 39 yrs old..... A 12 year gap is critical in sports / boxing..... Jones was just too fast for McCallum in 1996.......

That fight of 1996 was similar to what a young Chaddy Dawson did to an aged Tony Tarver last Oct....... And, it'll happen again next week as well...

MR.BILL:deal

[TheGreatA]

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[GPater11093]

It's gone from a close fight to closer than a complete shutout. That's with Jones in cruise control.

i know i mucked up to start with

i meant to say it was closer tahn the score cards by 1 or 2 rounds

[Cobra33]

Im not a Jones fan but he could have taken Mccallum out at anytime he wanted to.He toyed with Mccallum.

[JohnThomas1]

i know i mucked up to start with

i meant to say it was closer tahn the score cards by 1 or 2 rounds

So you had it 11-1 or at worst 10-2 Jones. And as Cobra said, that's with Jones taking it easy. I've seen it written he didn't want to stop Mike at any rate.

[GPater11093]

So you had it 11-1 or at worst 10-2 Jones. And as Cobra said, that's with Jones taking it easy. I've seen it written he didn't want to stop Mike at any rate.

yes i had it i think 10-2

i know full well Jones took it easy but if i was taking it easy i wouldnt like to be hit so much with an overhand right.

[JohnThomas1]

yes i had it i think 10-2

i know full well Jones took it easy but if i was taking it easy i wouldnt like to be hit so much with an overhand right.


Well McCallum was a very decent puncher, Jones chin must have been pretty good with Mike landing all those right hands.

[GPater11093]

Jones did a good job of negating the power from the overhand right but it didnt seem to have alot of power in it in the first place. But McCallum did consistently land it but not enough to do serious damge