It was a big night of boxing in a number of countries last night, yet flying somewhat under the radar was a card that took place in Poland. In action was former WBC heavyweight champion Oliver McCall – a fighter and a man who has been through just about as many ups and downs as can be imagined during his 48-years – and the old “Atomic Bull” proved his is amazingly not quite finished yet.
Facing the much younger and unbeaten, 12-0(10) coming in, Marcin Rekowswki, McCall dropped his man in the 3rd-round and ultimately won an eight-round split decision (77-75 twice, with the loser getting a 76-75 nod on the third card) – this after the result was initially and erroneously announced as a win for the Pole. McCall, in improving his astonishing record to 57-13(37) boxed his 70th pro fight. An added bonus for the tough old geezer (McCall has never been close to hitting the mat, in the ring or in the gym and has never been legitimately stopped in almost 30-years of paid fighting) came in the form of revenge, as Rekowski had previously beaten Oliver’s fighting son, Elijah.
The word now is McCall will box again in Poland, against the far more dangerous Andrzej Wawrzyk, 28-1(14) who won in easy fashion on last night’s card, hammering what is left of Britain’s Danny Williams for a 1st-round victory. Let’s not even think about what could happen if McCall were to defeat the Pole who has lost only to Alexander Povetkin.
Fans and experts felt, a long time ago, that Oliver McCall would not enjoy a pretty ending; either in the ring or in life – yet the old warrior is keeping himself in shape and is doing very nicely, thank you. Last night, the iron-chinned slugger who once smashed Lennox Lewis to defeat inside two-rounds tipped-in at a svelte 240-pounds. How much more does this crazier-than-fiction real life boxing story have to give before it’s finally done!
