Mike McCallum dead at 68: Boxing legend dubbed ‘The Bodysnatcher’ dies after falling ill and pulling car off the road
BOXING icon Mike McCallum has died at the age of 68.
Known as “The Bodysnatcher,” McCallum won world title belts across three different weight categories.
The Jamaican fighting legend passed away suddenly in Las Vegas, United States, on Saturday.
According to the Jamaica Observer, McCallum fell ill while travelling to the gym and was forced to pull off the road.
He was then found to be unresponsive and later pronounced dead.
Jamaica’s sports minister, Olivia Grange, confirmed the sad news.
Grange said: “It is with utter and complete sadness that I learned of the death of Jamaica’s three-time world boxing champion Michael McKenzie McCallum.
“I express my personal condolences to his mother, siblings and his children.
“On behalf of the Ministry of Sports, I take this opportunity to extend our sympathies to the family and friends of this legendary Jamaican.”
McCallum ended his professional boxing career with an impressive record of 55 fights, 49 wins, 36 by KO, five losses and one draw.
He held the WBA light middleweight, the WBA middleweight and the WBC light heavyweight belts across his career.
On top of this he was also a gold medal winner at the 1978 Commonwealth Games and 1978 Central American and Caribbean Games – both at welterweight.
McCallum was the 18th fighter in men’s boxing history to become a triple champion and the first-ever Jamaican to become a world champion in boxing.
He was most known in the ring for his devastating body punches, which earned him his “Bodysnatcher” nickname.