McCall Wins at 61 in Nashville; Referee Rules Drop a Slip

Former world heavyweight champion Oliver McCall fought 54-year-old Jeremiah Williams in Nashville, Tennessee, on Tuesday night. McCall emerged victorious when the contest was stopped in the fifth round due to a cut above Williams’ left eye.

McCall hit the canvas at age 61 during the bout, but the referee ruled the incident a slip. The ruling preserved McCall’s record of never being dropped in 77 bouts.

The exchange with Williams that prompted the referee’s ruling took place in the fourth round. There was an argument that Williams had scored a legitimate knockdown on McCall. The referee ended the contest at 2:55 of round five, giving McCall another professional victory.

McCall’s professional career began in 1985. He is a former WBC champion who famously knocked out Lennox Lewis in 1994.

McCall survived decades against punchers including Lennox Lewis, Larry Holmes, and Frank Bruno without being officially floored. Williams lost his first eight professional fights.

Lou DiBella called the matchup “immoral, dangerous and just sad.”

McCall weighed in at his lightest in almost 22 years for the fight against Williams.

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