# 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, Cedric Boswell and Shannon Briggs. McCline retired in 2012 at the age of 42.

## Championship titles held

* WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Champion (2001)
* WBO-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.

## 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, 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.
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.
McCline 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.

## Professional boxing record

| 57 fights | 41 wins | 13 losses |
| By knockout | 24 | 5 |
| By decision | 17 | 8 |
| Draws | 3 | 3 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 57 | Loss | 41-13-3 | Magomed Abdusalamov | TKO | 2 (10), 1:57 | Sep 8, 2013 | Olympic Stadium, Moscow, Russia | For vacant WBC–USNBC heavyweight title |
| 56 | Loss | 41-12-3 | Artur Szpilka | UD | 10 | Jun 30, 2012 | Atlas Arena, Łódź, Poland | |
| 55 | Win | 41-11-3 | Livin Castillo | SD | 8 | Mar 31, 2012 | Hamilton Manor, Hamilton Township, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 54 | Loss | 40-11-3 | Harold Sconiers | MD | 8 | Feb 3, 2012 | Guilford Convention Center, Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S. | |
| 53 | Win | 40-10-3 | Dennis McKinney | TKO | 4 (10), 1:45 | Dec 3, 2011 | Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S. | |
| 52 | Loss | 39-10-3 | Chris Arreola | KO | 4 (12), 2:01 | Apr 11, 2009 | Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | For WBC-NABF and WBC Continental Americas heavyweight titles |
| 51 | Win | 39-9-3 | Mike Mollo | UD | 12 | Nov 7, 2008 | Sichuan Gymnasium, Chengdu, China | |
| 50 | Loss | 38-9-3 | John Ruiz | UD | 12 | Mar 8, 2008 | Plaza de Toros, Cancún, Mexico | |
| 49 | Loss | 38-8-3 | Samuel Peter | UD | 12 | Oct 6, 2007 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | For vacant WBC interim heavyweight title |
| 48 | Loss | 38-7-3 | Nikolai Valuev | RTD | 3 (12), 3:00 | Jan 27, 2007 | St. Jakobshalle, Basel, Switzerland | For WBA heavyweight title |
| 47 | Win | 38-6-3 | Terry Smith | UD | 10 | Jul 21, 2006 | Million Dollar Elm Casino, Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. | Won vacant WBO-NABO heavyweight title |
| 46 | Win | 37-6-3 | Marcus Rhode | KO | 2 (10), 2:40 | Jun 2, 2006 | Miccosukee Indian Gaming Resort, Miami, Florida, U.S. | |
| 45 | Win | 36-6-3 | Rob Calloway | UD | 10 | Apr 26, 2006 | Buffalo Run Casino, Miami, Florida, U.S. | |
| 44 | Win | 35-6-3 | Marcus McGee | UD | 10 | Mar 24, 2006 | Miccosukee Indian Gaming Resort, Miami, Florida, U.S. | |
| 43 | Win | 34-6-3 | Dan Ward | KO | 1 (10), 2:03 | Jan 27, 2006 | Miccosukee Indian Gaming Resort, Miami, Florida, U.S. | |
| 42 | Win | 33-6-3 | Andy Sample | KO | 1 (10), 1:08 | Nov 26, 2005 | Convention Center, Fort Smith, Arkansas, U.S. | |
| 41 | Loss | 32-6-3 | Zuri Lawrence | UD | 10 | Oct 21, 2005 | Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Hollywood, Florida, U.S. | |
| 40 | Win | 32-5-3 | Steve Pannell | KO | 3 (10), 2:36 | Aug 26, 2005 | Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Hollywood, Florida, U.S. | |
| 39 | Loss | 31-5-3 | Calvin Brock | UD | 10 | Apr 15, 2005 | Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 38 | Loss | 31-4-3 | Chris Byrd | SD | 12 | Nov 13, 2004 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | For IBF heavyweight title |
| 37 | Win | 31-3-3 | Wayne Llewellyn | TKO | 1 (10), 2:46 | Apr 15, 2004 | Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 36 | Win | 30-3-3 | Cedric Boswell | TKO | 10 (10), 2:07 | Oct 3, 2003 | Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 35 | Win | 29-3-3 | Charles Shufford | TKO | 3 (10), 2:39 | May 9, 2003 | Bally's Park Place Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 34 | Loss | 28-3-3 | Wladimir Klitschko | RTD | 10 (12), 3:00 | Dec 7, 2002 | Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | For WBO heavyweight title |
| 33 | Win | 28-2-3 | Shannon Briggs | UD | 10 | Apr 27, 2002 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 32 | Win | 27-2-3 | Lance Whitaker | UD | 12 | Dec 1, 2001 | Jacob Javits Center, New York City, New York, U.S. | Won WBC Continental Americas heavyweight title |
| 31 | Win | 26-2-3 | Michael Grant | TKO | 1 (10), 0:43 | Jul 21, 2001 | Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 30 | Win | 25-2-3 | Alfred Cole | UD | 10 | Jun 25, 2001 | Scope Arena, Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. | |
| 29 | Win | 24-2-3 | King Ipitan | TKO | 1 (10), 2:59 | Jan 24, 2001 | Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 28 | Win | 23-2-3 | Reynaldo Minus | UD | 8 | Sep 14, 2000 | Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 27 | Win | 22-2-3 | Sedreck Fields | UD | 10 | Jul 27, 2000 | Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 26 | Draw | 21-2-3 | Sherman Williams | MD | 10 | Jun 29, 2000 | Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 25 | Win | 21-2-2 | Eddie Richardson | UD | 8 | Mar 31, 2000 | Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 24 | Draw | 20-2-2 | Ron Guerrero | SD | 8 | Jan 27, 2000 | Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 23 | Win | 20-2-1 | Jimmy Haynes | TKO | 3 (10) | Sep 14, 1999 | Yonkers Raceway, Yonkers, New York, U.S. | |
| 22 | Win | 19-2-1 | Harry Daniels | PTS | 6 | Jun 24, 1999 | Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. | |
| 21 | Win | 18-2-1 | Garing Lane | UD | 8 | Mar 27, 1999 | Jai Alai Fronton, Miami, Florida, U.S. | |
| 20 | Win | 17-2-1 | Bryant Smith | SD | 8 | Dec 4, 1998 | Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S. | |
| 19 | Win | 16-2-1 | Mike Dixon | TKO | 1 (?) | Nov 4, 1998 | Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S. | |
| 18 | Win | 15-2-1 | Guy Sonnenberg | TKO | 5 (6) | Sep 24, 1998 | Roxy Theater, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. | |
| 17 | Win | 14-2-1 | Kimmuel Odum | KO | 4 (?) | Aug 27, 1998 | Roxy Theater, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. | |
| 16 | Win | 13-2-1 | Shane Hykes | KO | 2 (?) | Jul 30, 1998 | Roxy Theater, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. | |
| 15 | Win | 12-2-1 | Carlton Davis | KO | 1 (6) | Jun 25, 1998 | Roxy Theater, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. | |
| 14 | Win | 11-2-1 | Floyd Womack | TKO | 2 (6), 2:51 | Apr 4, 1998 | Sons Of Italy, Lake Worth, Florida, U.S. | |
| 13 | Win | 10-2-1 | Robert Colay | TKO | 5 (6), 0:59 | Mar 21, 1998 | National Guard Armory, Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. | |
| 12 | Win | 9-2-1 | Marcus Harden | UD | 4 | Feb 25, 1998 | The Ritz, Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S. | |
| 11 | Win | 8-2-1 | Frankie Hines | KO | 1 (?) | Jan 29, 1998 | Richmond, Virginia, U.S. | |
| 10 | Win | 7-2-1 | Rowyan Wallace | KO | 2 (?) | Nov 1, 1997 | Apollo Theater, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 9 | Win | 6-2-1 | Charles Cue | UD | 6 | Sep 27, 1997 | Steve Shepherd Boxing Gym, Riviera Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 8 | Win | 5-2-1 | Curt Paige | UD | 4 | Jul 15, 1997 | Riverside Convention Center, Rochester, New York, U.S. | |
| 7 | Win | 4-2-1 | Mark Whittaker | TKO | 3 (4) | May 5, 1997 | Harrah's Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 6 | Win | 3-2-1 | Charlie Brazell | KO | 1 (?), 1:10 | Aug 21, 1996 | The Ritz, Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S. | |
| 5 | Loss | 2-2-1 | Greg Pickrom | SD | 8 | Apr 12, 1996 | Fernwood Resort, Bushkill, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 4 | Draw | 2-1-1 | Albert Williams | MD | 4 | Mar 15, 1996 | Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 3 | Win | 2–1 | Dwayne Evans | KO | 1 (4), 1:48 | Feb 9, 1996 | Tropworld Casino and Entertainment Resort, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 2 | Loss | 1–1 | Gary Bell | KO | 1 (?) | Nov 18, 1995 | Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Brian Nix | TKO | 1 (?), 2:41 | Oct 10, 1995 | Blue Cross Arena, Rochester, New York, U.S. | |