Ring Observer Boxing by Scoop Malinowski
By Scoop Malinowski
The former WBC Heavyweight champion kindly discusses a range of topics from his career including why he knew he’d KO Lennox Lewis in their first fight in London, England on September 24, 1994; Who hit him the hardest; how much Tyson paid him to spar per week and more…
Scoop Malinowski: I always remember your first Lewis fight when you were crying coming to the ring. Why were you crying?
Oliver McCall: “I knew what I was about to do. I usually cry when I go to the ring anyway. So I can pump myself up emotionally. So I can really inflict what I need to inflict on my opponent. That’s my only way of really pumping myself up other than him actually hitting me.”
SM: How did you know you were going to win that fight? When you came out of that dressing room with that fire in your eyes, I thought to myself Wow this guy actually looks like he can win this thing…
Oliver McCall: “Well I felt I was gonna win that fight off the sparring, off the condition I was in. And I was sparring with Tony TNT Tucker who went the distance with Lennox Lewis. And the way I was boxing him, I just knew that Lennox couldn’t last. And so Tony Tucker he came and worked with me. And the boxing that we had, I had the confidence that it was just a matter of time – soon as I hit Lennox – he was gonna go.”
SM: Are you surprised at how Lennox Lewis went on to great success after that? It seemed like your KO of him kind of helped him become a better fighter…
Oliver McCall: “Somewhat. But Lennox Lewis did become a great fighter. Lennox Lewis still did not – I was not impressed with Lennox for one reason – because with his height, with his ability, he still didn’t put the best that he could have been. He fought a little too cautious. He could have been – not just a great fighter – but he could have been one amongst the greatest of fighters. I really think that he could have been – if he would have put his all into it.”
SM: He never showed his very best? His full potential?
Oliver McCall: “Well he showed his best of what he’s capable of. But his heart – as far as taking a risk – was nothing like the other great champions like Joe Louis, Ali and those guys. Even Larry Holmes. I will really rate Lennox Lewis a couple of notches less than Larry Holmes. Back when Larry Holmes was reigning as heavyweight champion – for 7 1/2 years – because the guts of Larry Holmes – plus the opposition was about the same – but the guts was just a little bit more than Lennox Lewis. He was good frontrunner. But when he was in trouble, he held a lot and things like that.”
SM: You are renowned for being able to take a big punch. Who was the hardest puncher you faced?
Oliver McCall: “Bert Cooper. Left hook. That was the hardest punch that I ever felt and that I had to overcome. It felt like a truck had hit me. I never got hit by a truck but it felt like if a truck would have hit me.”
SM: Who else was up there? Lennox?
Oliver McCall: “No, Lennox wasn’t one of the hardest punchers that I – Buster Douglas hit me harder than Lennox did. Right hand.”
SM: How about Tyson? He has to be up there?
Oliver McCall: “Tyson’s right there too. Lennox would probably be about fifth.”
SM: You sparred hundreds of rounds with Tyson, right?
Oliver McCall: “I guess I sparred more than 300 rounds with Tyson and he never knocked me down once. But I put him down once. We had a hell of a battle every time. That’s why he paid me $2,000 a week.”
SM: You’ve never been knocked down, is this true or boxing myth?
Oliver McCall: “I’ve never been down sparring or in a fight, amateur or pro. In fact, I’ve never been shook up. I can take a helluva shot.”
Born on April 21, 1965 in Chicago, IL, Oliver McCall turned pro in 1985 and won the WBC World Heavyweight title in September 1994 by a second round knockout of Lennox Lewis. He lost the title on points to Frank Bruno. His last fight was a TKO 2 win in Mexico in 2019 vs Hugo Lomeli. The Atomic Bull’s final pro ring record stands at 59-15 38 KOs.
