JAMEEL "BIG TIME" McCLINE

Former WBC Americas and NABO Heavyweight Champion

Born in New York, N.Y., on May 20, 1970, now living in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Height: 6' 6"  Weight:  Heavyweight (268)

Record: 38-7-3, 23 KOs

Who would have thought, when Jameel McCline first laced up a pair of boxing gloves in 1995 that he would be fighting professionally just months later?  With his collegiate education and natty attire, one would never know McCline is a professional boxer by looking at him or speaking with him.  He just doesn't fit the typical mold of a prizefighter.

Boxing was one of the furthest things from McCline's mind when he was growing up. A three-sport star at Comsewogue High School in Port Jefferson, N.Y., his primary interest was basketball, and as a board-crashing power forward he won the opportunity to play at Oneonta State University and then at Potsdam State.

"Because I got a late start in boxing, I really thought it would be advantageous to work right away with the best," McCline said. "I learned a great deal in a very short period of time, especially because some of the top guys tried to be abusive in the ring. I held my own."
 

An obvious natural athlete, McCline took to boxing rather quickly, going into sparring sessions with big-name professionals from the start. He considered it to be an essential ingredient to his career advancement. (Jameel sparred early in his career with a veritable "Who's Who" of the heavyweight division, including Lennox Lewis, Tim Witherspoon, Ray Mercer, Andrew Golota, Zeljko Mavrovic, Michael Grant, and Kirk Johnson.)

He participated in his first professional boxing match in 1995.  Nobody knew what lay ahead when his professional record stood at 2-2-1.  Who would have guessed this very raw heavyweight named "Big Time" McCline would soon develop into a top contender?
 

McCline didn't lose a match in his next 28 appearances.

His first big splash in the heavyweight pond came on July 21, 2001, when he faced Michael Grant, an undefeated comer the year before (31-1) whom Lennox Lewis stopped.   Trying to get back on the winning track, Grant was knocked down by McCline's first punch and the referee waved off the action in the first minute.

On Dec. 1, 2001, determined to prove that the Grant victory was no fluke, McCline challenged fifth-ranked heavyweight Lance "Mount" Whitaker (23-1) for the WBC Continental Americas title.  Once again a heavy underdog, McCline dominated Whitaker throughout 12 rounds to win a unanimous decision.

McCline continued to impress, making his Madison Square Garden debut against former heavyweight champion Shannon Briggs (36-3-1) on April 27, 2002.  McCline demonstrated spectacular hand speed and dropped Briggs in the round six with a devastating combination. All three judges scored the bout 99-90 in favor of McCline after 10 rounds.

McCline earned his first heavyweight world title shot against then-WBO champion Wladimir Klitschko (39-1) at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas on Dec. 7, 2002.  The Ukrainian giant proved too much for McCline on this night.  After being knocked down in the 10^th round, McCline's corner refused to answer the bell in round 11.

McCline acknowledged that he was "over-trained" for that bout, but he learned a great deal from fighting for his first world heavyweight title.

"Looking back, I realize that I could have easily have beaten him. He didn't beat me, I beat myself and that will never happen again."

On May 9, 2003, Jameel returned to the ring as the main event on an ESPN2 Friday Night Fights card opposing heavyweight contender Charles Shufford (19-3). Shufford held impressive wins against WBO No. 1 contender Lamon Brewster (24-1) and Elieser Castillo (23-2-2). Despite a slow start, McCline shook off some rust and scored an impressive third round knockout over the game challenger.

Jameel fought top prospect Cedric Boswell (21-0 16KOs) in Las Vegas on Oct. 3, 2003. McCline proved he could come back from behind in a fight. Trailing on all three judges' scorecards going into the final round, Jameel scored a spectacular 10^th-round knockout over the previously undefeated challenger.

Don King invited McCline to be a part of his heavyweight Rendezvous with Destiny: Battle for Supremacy on Nov. 13, 2004, at Madison Square Garden where McCline got a second chance at a world title against International Boxing Federation champion Chris Byrd.

"This is a huge card," McCline said while joining Byrd, John Ruiz, Andrew Golota, Evander Holyfield, Larry Donald, Hasim Rahman and Kali Meehan at a Garden press conference.

"When I was a kid, I used to run the streets of New York City.  Now I am fighting for a world title at the Garden.  It's a dream come true."

McCline stunned Byrd with a staggering right hand that floored the champion early in the second round, which almost ended the fight.  Byrd amazingly finished the round and the fight, and McCline ended up on the losing end of a razor-thin split decision.

"This was just about business," McCline said after the fight about his friend Byrd.  "It was not like I imagined it would be because I expected to walk out with the title.  I trained really hard.  I thought I hit him perfect.  I was surprised when he got up.  It looked like I fell apart a little at the end and it cost me.  He has fast hands and took me out of my game plan.  That was the difference."

Byrd admitted that McCline almost finished him.

"I can't believe it happened," Byrd said of the knockdown.  "He hit me right behind the ear.  It was a perfect shot.  He came at me really hard.  I got my eyes back in the third round.  The way I fought back showed I am a true champion.  I had to dig down deep."

Following the loss to Byrd, and stumbling blocks against Calvin Brock and Zuri Lawrence, McCline put together another string of six wins.

On July 21, 2006, Jameel proved he was back among the heavyweight elite, defeating Terry Smith (28-1-1 with 18KOs) for the WBC USNBC and WBO NABO titles.

The win over Smith earned McCline another shot at world heavyweight championship, this time against then-WBA champion Nikolai "Russian Giant" Valuev.  At a weight of over 590 pounds, it was the heaviest combined weight for a title belt in history. 

The bout took place in Basel, Switzerland, on Jan. 20, 2007.  McCline fought well before suffering a twisted knee just as the bell sounded to end the third round.  The freak injury left him unable to continue in the bout.
 

Besides working with the sports top boxers, Jameel has worked with its top trainers as well, including Don Turner, Tommy Brooks, Yoel Judah, Buddy McGirt, and Diego Rosario and Jimmy Glenn.

He is currently trained by Mathew Drayton, managed by Scott Hirsch and promoted by Don King.  Mike Borao is Jameel's longtime attorney.