McCall Wants McNeeley

Champ to take on New England prospect in first title defense

By John Nelson
ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK — Oliver McCall says he wants to be a people's champion, and he'd like one of those people, a 25-year-old third generation fighter from Boston named Peter McNeeley, to be his first challenger.

HEAVYWEIGHT PRESS — (left to right) Champion Oliver McCall, Don King, contender Peter McNeeley, and Peter's father Tom, who fought for the title in 1961.

"Peter's a tough kid, but I'm willing to give him a shot. I'm actually looking forward to a good, hard fight," McCall said yesterday at a luncheon in New York to introduce him to the United States as new heavyweight champion.

"I'm taking one week off and I'm getting back in the ring," he said. "I'm taking no one lightly. I won't be a Riddick Bowe. I won't be sitting around, 300 pounds, saying, 'Hey, what's happening, man.' "

In a major upset Saturday night in London, McCall, a former sparring partner, stopped Lennox Lewis in the second round to win the World Boxing Council championship.

There has been a lot of buzz that McNeeley, a young up-and-comer with a big punch and a string of KO's, will get the first crack at McCall's new belt. Significantly, McNeeley was at the luncheon as well, although McCall's promoter, Don King, said nothing was definite. If the two do fight, it would probably be in December in Boston Garden, which is due to close shortly thereafter.

"I'd like it to be Peter McNeeley. I like Peter and I'd like to give him a chance like I gave Oliver...but nothing is decided yet," King said.

The charismatic McNeeley would clearly be a very marketable commodity in the fight game. He is handsome and articulate, and appeared very relaxed and comfortable while under the scrutiny of the gathered media. He's also an increasingly rare breed in the most brutal of all sports — a white heavyweight.

McNeeley's grandfather, Tom McNeeley Sr., fought on the card that opened Boston Garden on Nov. 17, 1929. In the main event that night, Andre Routis of France, the world featherweight champion, lost a 10-round non-title fight to Dick "Honey Boy" Finnegan.

Peter's father, Tom Jr., fought Floyd Patterson for the heavyweight title on Dec. 4, 1961 in Toronto, getting stopped in the fourth round. That fight was supposed to have been at Boston Garden, too, but the state athletic commission wouldn't allow Patterson to bring his own referee, McNeeley said.

"I was knocked down 13 times, he was knocked down once," the father said. "Some people say I was only knocked down nine or ten times, but I say, hey, give the man his due. His speed was unbelievable. I thought the referee was sneaking in a couple punches. That was Jersey Joe Walcott.

"But, hey, I ruined Patterson. In his next fight, he lost to Sonny Liston. He was worn out from knocking me down."

Peter McNeeley has a compiled an impressive ring record of 30-1 in his three year career with 24 knockouts, 17 of which were scored in the first round. His explosive style has attracted an enthusiastic fan following, particulary in the New England area where most of his fights have taken place.

If Peter gets his shot, that would make him and his dad only the second father-son tandem to fight for the world heavyweight championship. Joe and Marvis Frazier were the first.

McNeeley would also be the first white man to fight for the title since September 6, 1986, when European champion Steffen Tangstad of Norway was knocked out by Michael Spinks.

Peter McNeeley Photo Shoot

Heavyweight boxer makes splash at press conference

NEW YORK — At the request of photographers on hand to cover the press conference for newly crowned WBC champ Oliver McCall, heavyweight boxer Peter McNeeley took off his shirt - and, in the process, sparked an impromptu photo shoot in the lobby outside of the Rainbow Room.

(Click on image to display at full size)
IN THE EYE OF THE HURRICANE — Heavyweight contender "Hurricane" Peter McNeeley poses for photographers yesterday afternoon after a press conference in the Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center.

Boxing insiders predict that McNeeley, an up-and-comer with a big punch and a string of KO's, will be first in line to get a shot at McCall's title. Consequently, sports reporters and camera crews in attendance were particularly anxious to get footage of the young prospect.

Though still relatively unknown outside of New England, the Boston-based McNeeley has compiled an impressive record of 30-1 with 24 knockouts (17 in the first round!) in his three years as a pro and is beginning to attract some serious attention in the fight game.

Related articles:
Peter McNeeley: NYC Photo Shoot   [The New York Post]
Big Bout For McNeeley - Garden Date With McCall   [The Middlesex News]
McNeeley Hoping For Sure Shot Against McCall   [Metro-West Daily News]
McNeeley Gets Shot At Title   [The Milford Daily News]