McCallum LOS ANGELES, CMC:
JAMAICA'S FORMER three-time world champion Mike McCallum was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame on Saturday night with three other big names in the fight game.
McCallum, now 46 years old, ex-heavyweight champion George Foreman, and the legendary Mexicans Miguel Canto and Lupe Pintor were inducted as 'The Class of 2002' in a glittering ceremony at the new Crowne Plaza and Commerce Casino.
"It was a fantastic experience, it was beautiful, I was so overwhelmed because there were a lot of fighters there, a lot of fight people in a really huge ceremony," McCallum told CMC Sport.
The inductees were decided after 180 ballots were sent out across the world, and in the expanded category (which includes trainers, commentators, managers), trainer and ex-fighter Freddie Roach, HBO commentator Larry Merchant, and publicist Bill Caplan, were also enshrined.
All seven individuals had their career highlights shown on large screens as all in attendance saw the rise of each person in their respective field.
At the beginning of the induction ceremony, American welterweight king Vernon Forrest was presented with the 'Fighter-of-the-year' award.
McCallum, who fought at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, held world titles at junior middleweight, middleweight, and light heavyweight and secured an induction in his first year of eligibility.
Boxers have to be retired five years before they can be considered for the Hall of Fame.
"I was voted unanimously in my first (eligible) year and it was a wonderful feeling, and to be put alongside George Foreman, Lupe Pintor and Miguel Canto, who were all great fighters in their time like myself," said McCallum, who - with other inductees -- signed autographs and took pictures with fans after the ceremony.
Ironically, McCallum's big night Saturday also came on the 18th anniversary of his historic win over Sean Mannion for the World Boxing Association (WBA) junior middleweight title to become Jamaica's first ever world champion.
McCallum, labelled 'The Bodysnatcher' in his fighting days because of his impressive body-punching ability, had six successful defences of his WBA junior middleweight belt, including victories over the big-punching Donald Curry and Julian Jackson, before relinquishing the belt.
He moved up to middleweight where he lost a title bid in Italy to Sumbu Kalambay, a result he would reverse in Monaco three years.
McCallum won the WBA middleweight belt in May 1989 over Britain's Herol Graham, and claimed the World Boxing Council (WBC) light heavyweight crown in July 1994, beating Australian Jeff Harding.
He ended his outstanding career in 1997 -- after a points loss to James Toney -- boasting a ring record of 49 wins with 36 knockouts, against five losses and one draw.
