Tony Zale vs. Mike McCallum

[dpw417]

Middleweights. 15 rounds.

[Russell]

McCallum.

Simply more refined, a smoother fighter. Fought unbelievably well under pressure, which Zale would bring.

Even if Zale nearly had McCallum out of there he was composed and intelligent enough in the ring to survive after almost being put down by Julian Jackson.

[the cobra]

McCallum would take a hard fought but clear decision.

[Russell]

I think McCallum could stop him with consistent punishment if it was a 15 round right, honestly.

Zale was extremely tough, but wasn't indestructable. He was stopped five times over the course of his career.

[Raging B(_)LL]

The man of steel Tony Zale was the bigger banger and actually the better and more dedicated body puncher of the two, and he was just as tough as Mike was and could take a punch as well as anyone. As good as Mike was I`m not convinced he would have won against a motivated Zale at his peak, that Zale was one dangerous fighter and I wonder how Mike would have reacted if he were on the receiving end of a comitted body attack by Zale as the fight wears on. Mike could punch but he wasn`t that hard of a banger really, and I don`t see him putting enough hurt on Zale to discourage him from coming in and getting his pound of flesh. I`ll go against the grain and pick Zale via decision in a highly competitive and close bout.

[Russell]

The man of steel Tony Zale was the bigger banger and actually the better and more dedicated body puncher of the two, and he was just as tough as Mike was and could take a punch as well as anyone. As good as Mike was I`m not convinced he would have won against a motivated Zale at his peak, that Zale was one dangerous fighter and I wonder how Mike would have reacted if he were on the receiving end of a comitted body attack by Zale as the fight wears on. Mike could punch but he wasn`t that hard of a banger really, and I don`t see him putting enough hurt on Zale to discourage him from coming in and getting his pound of flesh. I`ll go against the grain and pick Zale via decision in a highly competitive and close bout.

McCallum was never stopped.

How can Zale be unquestionably tougher then Mike when the bodysnatcher took everything Julian Jackson and Donald Curry threw at him.

[Raging B(_)LL]

McCallum was never stopped.

How can Zale be unquestionably tougher then Mike when the bodysnatcher took everything Julian Jackson and Donald Curry threw at him.

I didnt say he was gonna get stopped Russell, and all I said was that Zale was just as tough as Mike when the going got tough. Zale could take a hell of a punch, this cannot be denied even if you believe that McCallum had the better whiskers between the two of them. I just think that Mike could wilt under the constant barrage of blows to his midsection which Zale will undoubtebly subject him to, and if he slows down considerably by the later rounds I think Zale can overcome him down the stretch and win enough of the later rounds to pull out a close win on points. This scenario is not all that unlikely in my opinion.

[JohnThomas1]

The man of steel Tony Zale was the bigger banger and actually the better and more dedicated body puncher of the two, and he was just as tough as Mike was and could take a punch as well as anyone. As good as Mike was I`m not convinced he would have won against a motivated Zale at his peak, that Zale was one dangerous fighter and I wonder how Mike would have reacted if he were on the receiving end of a comitted body attack by Zale as the fight wears on. Mike could punch but he wasn`t that hard of a banger really, and I don`t see him putting enough hurt on Zale to discourage him from coming in and getting his pound of flesh. I`ll go against the grain and pick Zale via decision in a highly competitive and close bout.

I'll tentatively agree.