A Ghost from the Last Century: Oliver McCall is Back in Action at Age 61

Former heavyweight world champion Oliver McCall will get back in the ring tonight some 32 years after losing his WBC title to Frank Bruno in 1995. And it's an astonishing 41 years since McCall's pro debut against Lou Bailey in 1985.

People ask how on earth a 61 year-old man can get a licence to box? Well, in an age of equal opportunities, to deny him a licence due to his age, if he's passed the required medical tests, would be considered ageist. 

But it's also true that some jurisdictions are more permissive than others. Oliver will be boxing in Nashville, Tennessee this evening.

Unlike Mike Tyson, who has also trudged into the ring decades after his heyday, McCall will not be appearing on Netflix and sitting on chat show sofas to discuss his fight. Despite being a former world champion, Oliver fights in backwaters in almost total obscurity.

His opponent is Jeremiah Williams, who at 19/14, with 2 draws, has slightly more wins than losses on his record. His career is unusual in that he compiled his winning record after losing his first eight fights. So it could perhaps be argued that he's getting better.

Veteran promoter Lou DiBella described the match as "immoral, dangerous and just sad." He also said it was an indictment of the current state of boxing. 

I suppose if you had to pick one boxer who would still be tough enough to survive the boxing ring at 61, it would be Oliver McCall. McCall has the distinction of never having been floored in 78 fights.

There is a stoppage on his record though, but not a conventional one. In his rematch with Lennox Lewis, whom he'd sensationally knocked out to seize the title, he stopped throwing punches and started crying. When it was clear that he had no intention of boxing, referee Mills Lane was forced to wave the fight off.

McCall had serious mental health problems, and they were laid bare that night on the biggest stage imaginable.

I do however think that if McCall had been allowed to continue to absorb the flush bombs that Lennox was landing, even his iron chin would finally have cracked.

It's not clear why he's continuing. Is he desperate for money? Or is he still trying to do the one thing that gives his life meaning? Perhaps he feels that if he can string a few wins together, he might be able to drum up some interest in a big fight with another former champion, perhaps even Tyson himself? McCall allegedly dropped a peak Tyson in sparring in the 80s, so perhaps he could get some mileage out of that story?

If McCall has such a dream, then beating Williams tonight will keep it alive.,