Date: 13th December 1991
Venue: Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Title: IBF World Middleweight Title
Promoter: Top Rank
Referee: Steve Smoger
Tv: TVKO
James Toney
(
28
-
0
-
1
)
Weight: 159 lbs
Mike McCallum
(
42
-
1
-
0
)
Weight: 157¾ lbs
In a closely contested bout at the Convention Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, James Toney and Mike McCallum fought to a split decision draw in an initially announced unification match for the IBF and WBA middleweight titles.
Toney, making his third defence of the IBF title, faced off against McCallum, a seasoned veteran, in a fight that saw both boxers showcase their skills over twelve rounds. The match was marred by pre-fight controversies, with McCallum being stripped of his WBA title due to a dispute over sanctioning fees and a step-aside payment, setting the stage for a purely IBF title contest.
The judges delivered mixed scores, reflecting the evenly matched nature of the fight, with one judge scoring in favour of Toney, another for McCallum, and the third declared it a draw.
This encounter began a memorable trilogy between Toney and McCallum, with their subsequent meetings further cementing their places in boxing history.
The card also featured notable bouts, including Charles Murray's unanimous decision victory over former WBA World Lightweight champion Livingston Bramble and future boxing legend Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins securing a unanimous decision win against Willie Kemp.
Additionally, the event saw Riddick Bowe in a rematch against Elijah Tillery following their controversial first fight, adding to the night's atmosphere of high stakes and intense rivalries.
The Toney-McCallum fight, in particular, left fans and analysts debating the outcome, eager for the subsequent rematches that would eventually tilt in favour of the younger Toney despite the draw in their first meeting.