Mike McCallum passed away at 68

[mozfonky]

Heh, I can attest to this. Although he was from St Thomas not Jamaica as I lived down there a long time and knew his son Julius. All the locals would play up the whole Bob Marley "Jah Rastafari, One Love" to the Hordes of daily tourists who soaked it up waddling Main Street like fat cattle, and after they passed by maybe giving a dollar for entertaiment "yaMuddahScunty meh put meh foootupYaAhss".

Once they got to know you as a regular they warmed up to you but they definitely have a contempt for the tourists who run the economy "how many ships cmin in t'Day Bhass???"

I don't blame them really.

I think it's normal as is the "warmed up" thing, people naturally are hostile to outsiders.

 

[Sinister]

Heh, I can attest to this. Although he was from St Thomas not Jamaica as I lived down there a long time and knew his son Julius. All the locals would play up the whole Bob Marley "Jah Rastafari, One Love" to the Hordes of daily tourists who soaked it up waddling Main Street like fat cattle, and after they passed by maybe giving a dollar for entertaiment "yaMuddahScunty meh put meh foootupYaAhss".

Once they got to know you as a regular they warmed up to you but they definitely have a contempt for the tourists who run the economy "how many ships cmin in t'Day Bhass???"

Who was from St. Thomas?

 

[froggyluv]

Who was from St. Thomas?

Apologies - major old man brain fart I was thinking of Julian Jackson. My bad (

 

[Sinister]

Here is another anecdote. Mike had said he was very lackluster and unmotivated after the 2nd fight with Toney. He said at one point Eddie Futch got so frustrated with him he sent Mike home from the gym. He said Eddie told him he was too concerned with whatever the next fight was going to pay and was regarding boxing like it was a job and nothing more. He said Eddie told him:

"You remember why you first ever went to a boxing gym and why you stayed around? Come back when you feel that again."

Mike said it took a week or two before he just kinda mindlessly got up, put his gym clothes on, grabbed his bag, and went to the gym. He said Eddie kinda left him to his own devices, letting him just feel the vibe of being there, then someone asked him if he could spar with a guy who had an upcoming fight. He agreed, after a couple weeks of that he became one of the go-to veteran sparring partners for everyone to work with. After a couple months Eddie got a call for a fight at LHW. Mike asked what Eddie thought and Eddie said "Well you're in good shape, you been training every day and sparring." What Eddie realized was that this fight was for the other guy, who had a potential title shot should he beat Mike. That was Randall Yonker, and this is how that fight turned out:

 

[borntoloseNOT]

Here is another anecdote. Mike had said he was very lackluster and unmotivated after the 2nd fight with Toney. He said at one point Eddie Futch got so frustrated with him he sent Mike home from the gym. He said Eddie told him he was too concerned with whatever the next fight was going to pay and was regarding boxing like it was a job and nothing more. He said Eddie told him:

"You remember why you first ever went to a boxing gym and why you stayed around? Come back when you feel that again."

Mike said it took a week or two before he just kinda mindlessly got up, put his gym clothes on, grabbed his bag, and went to the gym. He said Eddie kinda left him to his own devices, letting him just feel the vibe of being there, then someone asked him if he could spar with a guy who had an upcoming fight. He agreed, after a couple weeks of that he became one of the go-to veteran sparring partners for everyone to work with. After a couple months Eddie got a call for a fight at LHW. Mike asked what Eddie thought and Eddie said "Well you're in good shape, you been training every day and sparring." What Eddie realized was that this fight was for the other guy, who had a potential title shot should he beat Mike. That was Randall Yonker, and this is how that fight turned out:

No surprise: Yonker murdered by work to the body

 

[Sinister]

No surprise: Yonker murdered by work to the body

Mike said it was the best he had felt going into a fight in quite a while. Probably why that fight looks more like a fun workout for Mike, and a life re-evaluation for Yonker

 

[mozfonky]

Here is another anecdote. Mike had said he was very lackluster and unmotivated after the 2nd fight with Toney. He said at one point Eddie Futch got so frustrated with him he sent Mike home from the gym. He said Eddie told him he was too concerned with whatever the next fight was going to pay and was regarding boxing like it was a job and nothing more. He said Eddie told him:

"You remember why you first ever went to a boxing gym and why you stayed around? Come back when you feel that again."

Mike said it took a week or two before he just kinda mindlessly got up, put his gym clothes on, grabbed his bag, and went to the gym. He said Eddie kinda left him to his own devices, letting him just feel the vibe of being there, then someone asked him if he could spar with a guy who had an upcoming fight. He agreed, after a couple weeks of that he became one of the go-to veteran sparring partners for everyone to work with. After a couple months Eddie got a call for a fight at LHW. Mike asked what Eddie thought and Eddie said "Well you're in good shape, you been training every day and sparring." What Eddie realized was that this fight was for the other guy, who had a potential title shot should he beat Mike. That was Randall Yonker, and this is how that fight turned out:

great story, beautiful feints.