Jamaican Boxing Legend Mike “The Bodysnatcher” McCallum Died at 69

Boxing legend Mike “The Bodysnatcher” McCallum has passed away in Las Vegas. He was the first Jamaican to win a world boxing title and a champion in three weight classes—super-welterweight, middleweight, and light-heavyweight.

Jamaican boxing legend Mike McCallum has passed away

Jamaican boxing legend Mike McCallum, affectionately known as “The Bodysnatcher,” passed away on May 31, 2025, in Las Vegas at the age of 69. The three-time world champion reportedly fell ill while en route to the gym and was found unresponsive after pulling his car off the road.

Born in Kingston, McCallum rose from the amateur ranks with an outstanding record of 240–10. He represented Jamaica at the 1976 Olympics and captured gold at the 1978 Commonwealth Games and the Central American and Caribbean Games.

McCallum turned professional in 1981 and built a legacy with his devastating body punches, capturing world titles in three weight divisions—light middleweight, middleweight, and light heavyweight. He retired in 1997 with a professional record of 49-5-1 and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003.

Jamaica’s Minister of Sports, Olivia Grange, expressed deep condolences: “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 extend our sympathies to the entire sporting fraternity."

Mike McCallum is remembered not only as one of Jamaica’s greatest fighters but as one of the most underappreciated legends in boxing history.