Legendary Jamaican boxer Mike McCallum, known as “The Bodysnatcher,” died May 31 in Las Vegas at age 68. The three-division world champion and International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee was found unresponsive after falling ill while driving to the gym.
According to the Jamaica Observer, McCallum became ill while driving to the gym and pulled off the road. Police found him unresponsive, and he was later pronounced dead. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department reported that nothing suspicious was found at the scene, and no official cause of death has been confirmed by the Clark County Coroner’s Office.
McCallum, a Kingston, Jamaica native, made boxing history in 1984 when he became the first Jamaican-born boxer to win a world championship. He defeated Sean Mannion for the WBA super welterweight title at Madison Square Garden in New York City, launching a distinguished career that spanned 16 years.
The boxer earned his intimidating nickname through his devastating body punches, which became his signature technique throughout his professional career. McCallum represented Jamaica at the 1976 Summer Olympic Games before turning professional in 1981, beginning his career with an impressive streak of 32 consecutive victories, 29 of which came by knockout.
Throughout his career, McCallum captured world championships in three different weight divisions. He held the WBA super welterweight title from 1984 to 1988, the WBA middleweight title from 1989 to 1991, and the WBC light heavyweight title from 1994 to 1995. His professional record stood at 49 wins, five losses, and one draw across 55 fights, with 36 victories coming by knockout.
Among his most notable opponents were Michael Watson, Steve Collins, James Toney, and Roy Jones Jr. McCallum’s trilogy of fights against Toney became legendary in boxing circles, with their first encounter ending in a split-decision draw and the second resulting in a majority-decision loss for McCallum. His career concluded with losses to Jones Jr. and Toney, the latter fight taking place at cruiserweight.
McCallum was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003, cementing his legacy as one of boxing’s most accomplished champions. In 2011, Ring Magazine recognized his excellence by including him on their list of the 10 best middleweight titleholders of the last 50 years.
Edward Brophy, executive director of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, released a statement honoring McCallum’s contributions to the sport. He described McCallum as a national hero in Jamaica and noted that his incredible skills thrilled fans around the world. The Hall of Fame extended condolences to the McCallum family and joined the boxing world in mourning his passing.
Jamaica’s Sports Minister Olivia Grange expressed her grief through an Instagram post, stating: “It is with utter and complete sadness that I learned of the death of Jamaica’s three-time World Boxing Champion Michael McKenzie McCallum.” She extended personal condolences to his mother, siblings, and children on behalf of the Ministry of Sport.
Before his professional boxing career, McCallum achieved success as an amateur boxer. In 1978, he won gold medals in welterweight classes at both the Commonwealth Games and the Central American and Caribbean Games, showcasing the talent that would later make him a professional champion.
Rich Marotta, founder of the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame, paid tribute to McCallum on social media, describing him as a lovely and humble person who was always willing to participate in boxing events, regardless of their size. Marotta noted that McCallum was an inaugural year inductee of the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame and praised his nickname as the greatest in boxing.
The World Boxing Association also issued a tribute, acknowledging McCallum as one of the most technically gifted fighters of his era and thanking him for his contributions to the sport through his fights, lessons, and greatness.
After retiring from professional boxing in 1997, McCallum relocated to Las Vegas, where he worked as a trainer, passing on his knowledge and expertise to the next generation of fighters. His death marks the end of an era for Jamaican boxing and removes one of the sport’s most respected champions from the boxing community.
