Jameel McCline

Jameel McCline (born May 20, 1970) is an American former professional boxer. He challenged for the world heavyweight title on an unprecedented four occasions, losing all four attempts to Wladimir Klitschko, Chris Byrd, Nikolai Valuev and Samuel Peter. Despite never winning a world title, McCline did defeat former champions and top contenders in Michael Grant, Lance Whitaker, Al Cole, and Shannon Briggs. McCline retired in 2012 at the age of 42.

Championship titles held

• WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Champion (2001)
• WBO Heavyweight Champion (2006)
• NABO Heavyweight Champion (2006)

Life before boxing

McCline grew up in Harlem, New York City, living in group homes, foster homes, and orphanages where he learned to live independently. Graduating from Comsewogue High School in Port Jefferson Station, New York

McCline spent five years in prison for gun running prior to becoming a professional fighter.^[2]

Professional career

Starting at the late age of 25 years and having no amateur experience, McCline took straight to the pro ranks taken part in four world Heavyweight title clashes with Chris Byrd, Wladimir Klitschko, Nikolai Valuev and Samuel Peter, losing all four times. Uniquely, each of these title bouts was for a different version of the world title. He has captured several wins against notable fighters, including Alfred Cole, Michael Grant, Lance Whitaker, Shannon Briggs, Charles Shufford, Cedric Boswell, and Terry Smith but has been unable to replicate these performances in title fight situations, although the loss to Chris Byrd was by only one point in a very controversial split decision. Also losing a championship fight in which he had the champion (Sam Peter) down three times during the fight. In addition to the aforementioned title fight losses, he has lost to Greg Pickrom, Calvin Brock and was upset by the underdog Zuri Lawrence in 2005. After which, he went on a six fight win streak that led him back to a World Title fight yet another two times.

On January 20, 2007 McCline challenged WBA heavyweight title holder Nikolai Valuev, in what was the first ever heavyweight title fight on Swiss soil. The fight was also reportedly the "biggest" championship fight in history, with the two fighters having a combined weight of approximately 600 pounds (270 kilograms) on fight night. Valuev was declared the winner by TKO when McCline suffered a patellar tendon rupture of his left knee at the end of the third round while throwing a punch and was unable to continue. At the time of the stoppage McCline was behind on only 1 of the judges scorecards.

Jimmy Lennon, Jr. making the fighter introductions before the Samuel Peter fight at the Madison Square Garden in October 2007.

McCline was most recently set to face Vitali Klitschko, in the latter's first fight back since retiring from the ring in 2005, but due to an injury Klitschko was forced to pull out, and instead McCline fought Samuel Peter on 6 October 2007 for Peter's WBC Interim title. Despite managing to put Peter on the canvas 3 times in the early rounds of the fight (the first knockdowns of Peter's career) McCline would go on to lose to a controversial unanimous decision on the judges scorecards.

On March 8, 2008 McCline faced former two-time WBA heavyweight title holder John Ruiz in Mexico. McCline lost a unanimous decision in a 12 round scheduled bout.

In McCline's most recent bout he defeated Mike Mollo by unanimous decision on November 7, 2008.

He fought Chris Arreola on April 11, 2009 on the undercard of the Paul Williams vs. Winky Wright bout but lost the fight by 4th round knockout.

He made a comeback on December 3, 2011, where he defeated Dennis McKinney by TKO in the 4th round. The venue for the fight was Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina.

Steroid allegations

Just prior to his bout with Peter, it was reported by the New York Daily News that McCline had received more than $12,000 of drugs including the steroids stanozolol and nandrolone, along with human growth hormone, testosterone and tamoxifen from Signature Pharmacy in 2005 and 2006. However, in post-fight drug tests – a requirement for all world title bouts – he never tested positive for steroid use.

Professional boxing record

41 Wins (24 knockouts), 13 Losses, 3 Draws
Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Rounds	Date	Location	Notes
Loss	41-13-3	Magomed Abdusalamov	TKO	2 (10)	08/09/2012	Olympic Indoor Arena, Moscow, Russia	For vacant WBC United States (USNBC) heavyweight title. Abdusalamov down in round 1.
Loss	41-12-3	Artur Szpilka	UD	10	30/06/2012	Atlas Arena, Łódź, Poland
Win	41-11-3	Livin Castillo	SD	8	31/03/2012	Hamilton Manor, Hamilton Township, New Jersey
Loss	40-11-3	Harold Sconiers	MD	8	04/02/2012	Guilford Convention Center, Greensboro, North Carolina
Win	40-10-3	Dennis McKinney	TKO	4 (10)	03/12/2011	Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina
Loss	39-10-3	Chris Arreola	KO	4 (12)	11/04/2009	Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas	For NABF & WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight titles. McCline knocked out by an overhand right to the jaw. He attempted to rise from the canvas, but was unable to beat the count.
Win	39-9-3	Mike Mollo	UD	12	07/11/2008	Sichuan Gymnasium, Chengdu, China	WBC Heavyweight title eliminator.
Loss	38-9-3	John Ruiz	UD	12	08/03/2008	Plaza de Toros, Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico	WBC Heavyweight title eliminator.
Loss	38-8-3	Samuel Peter	UD	12	06/10/2007	Madison Square Garden, New York City	For interim WBC Heavyweight title. Peter was down once in the 2nd round, and twice in the 3rd round.
Loss	38-7-3	Nikolai Valuev	RTD	3 (12)	20/01/2007	St. Jakob Halle, Basel, Switzerland	For WBA World Heavyweight title. McCline suffered a knee injury and couldn't continue to fight.
Win	38-6-3	Terry Smith	UD	10	21/07/2006	Million Dollar Elm Casino, Tulsa, Oklahoma	Won vacant WBO NABO Heavyweight title. McCline would relinquish the NABO title to pursue a WBA world title fight against Valuev in January 2007.
Win	37-6-3	Marcus Rhode	KO	2 (10)	02/06/2006	Miccosukee Indian Gaming Resort, Miami, Florida
Win	36-6-3	Rob Calloway	UD	10	26/04/2006	Buffalo Run Casino, Miami, Oklahoma
Win	35-6-3	Marcus McGee	UD	10	24/03/2006	Miccosukee Indian Gaming Resort, Miami, Florida
Win	34-6-3	Dan Ward	KO	1 (10)	27/01/2006	Miccosukee Indian Gaming Resort, Miami, Florida
Win	33-6-3	Andy Sample	KO	1 (10)	26/11/2005	Convention Center, Fort Smith, Arkansas
Loss	32-6-3	Zuri Lawrence	UD	10	21/10/2005	Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood, Hollywood, Florida
Win	32-5-3	Steve Pannell	KO	3 (10)	26/08/2005	Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood, Hollywood, Florida
Loss	31-5-3	Calvin Brock	UD	10	23/04/2005	Caesars Palace, Las Vegas	Brock cut over left eye in round 1 and down in round 7.
Loss	31-4-3	Chris Byrd	SD	12	13/11/2004	Madison Square Garden, New York	For IBF Heavyweight title. Byrd was down in the 2nd round.
Win	31-3-3	Wayne Llewellyn	TKO	1 (10)	15/04/2004	Hammerstein Ballroom, New York
Win	30-3-3	Cedric Boswell	TKO	10 (10)	03/10/2003	Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas
Win	29-3-3	Charles Shufford	TKO	3 (10)	09/05/2003	Bally's Park Place Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Loss	28-3-3	Wladimir Klitschko	RTD	10 (12)	07/12/2002	Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas	For WBO Heavyweight title. McCline down in 10th. McCline's corner stops the bout after 10th.
Win	28-2-3	Shannon Briggs	UD	10	27/04/2002	Madison Square Garden, New York	Briggs down in round 6.
Win	27-2-3	Lance Whitaker	UD	12	01/12/2001	Jacob Javits Center, New York	Won WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight title.
Win	26-2-3	Michael Grant	TKO	1 (10)	21/07/2001	Caesars Palace, Las Vegas	Grant down from first punch of the fight. Referee stops the fight after Grant says his ankle might be broken.
Win	25-2-3	Alfred Cole	UD	10	25/05/2001	Norfolk, Virginia	Cole down in round 8.
Win	24-2-3	King Ipitan	TKO	1 (10)	24/01/2001	Las Vegas
Win	23-2-3	Reynaldo Minus	UD	8	14/09/2000	New York
Win	22-2-3	Sedreck Fields	UD	10	27/07/2000	Hammerstein Ballroom, New York
Draw	21-2-3	Sherman Williams	PTS	10	29/06/2000	Hammerstein Ballroom, New York
Win	21-2-2	Eddie Richardson	UD	8	31/03/2000	Hammerstein Ballroom, New York
Draw	20-2-2	Ron Guerrero	PTS	8	27/01/2000	Hammerstein Ballroom, New York
Win	20-2-1	Jimmy Haynes	TKO	3 (10)	14/09/1999	Yonkers Raceway, Yonkers, New York
Win	19-2-1	Harry Daniels	PTS	6	24/06/1999	Atlanta
Win	18-2-1	Garing Lane	PTS	8	27/03/1999	Jai Alai Fronton, Miami, Florida
Win	17-2-1	Bryant Smith	SD	8	04/12/1998	Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina
Win	16-2-1	Mike Dixon	TKO	1 (?)	04/12/1998	Virginia Beach, Virginia
Win	15-2-1	Guy Sonnenberg	TKO	5 (?)	24/09/1998	Atlanta
Win	14-2-1	Kimmuel Odum	KO	4 (?)	27/08/1998	Atlanta
Win	13-2-1	Shane Hykes	KO	2 (?)	30/07/1998	Atlanta
Win	12-2-1	Carlton Davis	KO	1 (?)	25/06/1998	Atlanta
Win	11-2-1	Floyd Womack	TKO	2 (6)	04/04/1998	Sons Of Italy, Lake Worth, Florida
Win	10-2-1	Robert Colay	TKO	5 (6)	21/03/1998	National Guard Armory, Charlotte, North Carolina
Win	9-2-1	Marcus Harden	UD	4	25/02/1998	The Ritz, Raleigh, North Carolina
Win	8-2-1	Frankie Hines	KO	1 (?)	29/01/1998	Richmond, Virginia
Win	7-2-1	Rowyan Wallace	KO	2 (?)	01/11/1997	Apollo Theater, New York
Win	6-2-1	Charles Cue	PTS	6	27/09/1997	Shepherd's Gym, West Palm Beach, Florida
Win	5-2-1	Curt Paige	PTS	4	15/07/1997	Riverside Convention Center, Rochester, New York
Win	4-2-1	Mark Whittaker	TKO	3 (4)	05/05/1997	Harrah's Marina Hotel Casin, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win	3-2-1	Charlie Brazell	KO	1 (?)	21/08/1996	The Ritz, Raleigh, North Carolina
Loss	2-2-1	Greg Pickrom	UD	8	12/04/1996	Fernwood Resort, Bushkill, Pennsylvania
Draw	2-1-1	Albert Williams	PTS	4	15/03/1996	Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win	2–1	Dwayne Evans	KO	1 (4)	09/02/1996	Tropworld Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Loss	1–1	Gary Bell	KO	1 (?)	18/11/1995	Tropworld Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win	1–0	Brian Nix	TKO	1 (?)	10/10/1995	Rochester, New York	Cut lip stoppage.

References

External links

• Professional boxing record for Jameel McCline from BoxRec