The Bodysnatcher, Three Division World Champion Mike McCallum, Dies in Vegas at 68
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Las Vegas, NV (June 2nd, 2025)– Former National Golden Gloves champion, Super Welterweight, Middleweight and Light Heavyweight World champion Mike ‘The Body Snatcher’ McCallum, who after retirement became a boxing trainer in Las Vegas, died Saturday, May 31, 2025, in Las Vegas at age 68.
McCallum was driving to a gym, when he felt ill and pulled over to the side of the road and passed away. No official cause of death has been cited, pending an autopsy.
A native Jamaican, McCallum competed at welterweight in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, before coming to the United States and winning Golden Gloves National titles in 1977 and 1979.
After losing in the New York Golden Gloves final to Alex Ramos, McCallum turned pro on January 14, 1981, with a fourth-round stoppage of Rigoberto Lopez in Las Vegas. On December 19, 1984, McCallum won the World Boxing Association World Super Welterweight title with a 15-round decision over Sean Mannion at Madison Square Garden. In May 1989, McCallum won a 12-round split decision over Herol Graham to win the vacant World Boxing Association World Middleweight title. In 1994, McCallum won the World Boxing Council World Light Heavyweight title with a 12-round decision over Jeff Harding in Bismarck, North Dakota.
His final two comeback attempts, a 12-round decision loss to Roy Jones Jr. for the WBC Light Heavyweight title in 1996 at age 40, and a 12-round decision loss to James Toney for the vacant WBU World Cruiserweight title in 1997 at age 40, were unsuccessful. His final pro record was 49-5-1 with 36 knockouts.
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