"Big Time" Ready, Looking to Take Brock Down April 23rd
by
Julius Stecker
3/25 - Top Rated Heavyweight Contender,
Jameel McCline, 31-4-3, has been a guy who has always given his best, going back to the first first time I saw him fight live.
Fans will remember when McCline shocked a lot of the boxing world in July of 2001. On that hot summer night in Las Vegas, "Big Time" destroyed Michael Grant in a brutal 1st round knockout. From that moment, McCline went from a solid pro, to a bonafide contender. He has since racked up wins over solid contenders Lance Whitaker, Shannon Briggs, Charles Shufford and Cedric Boswell.
This past November, the Clifton, NJ native stepped in the ring for a shot at the IBF title against long-time friend Chris Byrd. The fight ended in a controversial split decision, that didn’t fall McCline’s way. Now on April 23rd as part of an action packed ESPN PPV fight card, McCline is at a cross-roads type fight and will be taking on young, undefeated contender and former Olympian Calvin Brock.
TalkingBoxing.com caught up Jameel to get his take on
the fight and much more.
“I know he is strong, and that he is undefeated. I
understand that he is going to try to do what I did
against Michael Grant. But that is not going to
happen. All I can say is that I am ready,” explained McCline.
The 6’6” McCline is 270 pounds of pure muscle and has
improved each and every fight out since that July, 2001 win. And even though he is
34 years old, he seems to be just entering his prime.
He will be looking to demonstrate to Brock why he is a
legitimate top-10 heavyweight fighter.
A lot of fight fans feel that this fight should be
McCline’s first title defense, but the judges thought
otherwise this past November. And while McCline was
disappointed that he didn’t get the decision against
Chris Byrd, he remains focused.
“I am not going to say I am not upset, because of
course I was a little upset with the decision. But it
was my fight; I can only blame myself, because I ran
out of gas towards the end there. But I am not one to
look back.”
If you tuned in a few weeks back to "Friday Night
Fights", you will have noticed Jameel doing some
broadcast work and according to McCline that is
something he may look at when his career is over.
“I got a lot of positive feedback about that. And it
is something I might have to look at when my career is
over,” said McCline.
But broadcasting and fight calling are going to have
to wait. McCline will be looking to show the boxing
world something, and according to him Calvin Brock
better beware.
"He is rolling the dice by
taking this fight"
“You are going to see a new and improved Jameel
McCline. I really don’t want to talk about it,
because I am not a big talker. But everybody knows I
am big, strong, and fast. He is rolling the dice by
taking this fight. And I am going to show him, that I
am in a completely different class of fighter then he
is.”
April 23rd promises to be an excellent evening of
prize fighting, and fight fans chip in your $29.95.
Jameel McCline promises not to let you down.
Discuss this at our Boxing Forum
