Former Heavyweight Champion Oliver McCall busted for crack, AGAIN! Zuri Lawrence fight Scratched!

Oliver ….not again! Boxing suffers another ugly black eye. Former World Heavyweight Champion Oliver “The Atomic Bull” McCall is currently sitting in the Broward County Jail after being arrested on February 13th for POSSESSION OF COCAINE, POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA, and PROBATION VIOLATION. McCall was schedule to fight Zuri Lawernce February 16th, no replacement has been found and the fight has been scratched. I spoke with a representative from the Heavyweight Factory, the promotion company handling the event, and they assured us the show will go and there will still be fireworks at the Hard Rock Live in Hollywood FL.

The 44 year old McCall is best known for winning the WBC Heavyweight Championship 1994 after scoring an upset knockout victory over Lennox Lewis, in Lewis’ home town of London, England. This was only to be followed by his infamous, in-ring meltdown in the rematch with Lewis.

McCall’s career has often been mottled by several stints in drug rehabilitation facilities and arrests for disorderly behavior. In January, 2006 he was arrested by police in Nashville, Tennessee, who say they had to use a Taser on McCall after he tried running away from officers trying to arrest him for trespassing in a public housing development. Police told reporters that McCall had in his possession a glass pipe and a five-dollar bill containing a small amount of cocaine. They say the 40-year-old McCall later spat at an officer and threatened to kill him. He was held on $299,000 bond and charged with criminal trespass, resisting arrest, assaulting police officers, threatening to kill an officer, and being a fugitive from justice on charges in his home state of Virginia. He was released on 8 May 2006. McCall was arrested for possession of crack in September of 2007 in which he is currently still on probation for. He was scheduled for release of probation in April.

On a recent comeback trail McCall defeated Australian John Hopoate by 2nd round T.K.O on the 22nd of May, 2009 for the vacant IBA Intercontinental heavyweight belt. McCall dominated the fight and knocked Hopoate down twice. He defended his IBA continental belt against Franklin Lawrence by a ten round unanimous decision on the 21st of August 2009 at the Orleans Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas. On the 23rd October 2009, He defended his IBA continental Title again by a ten round unanimous decision against 6?8 Lance Whitaker.

This story pains me to write. This is an absolute disrespect to the sport of boxing and to the champions before and after him. Oliver, in my opinion you should have to forfeit the title of champion due to this selfless act! You are a disgrace to the sport and the young kids who look up to the hard fought champions for hope and inspiration.