Jameel McCline: It's Time For Big Time

The forgotten man in the heavyweight picture is ready to again assert himself among the division's elite.

Jameel “Big Time” McCline has survived the ever changing landscape of the heavyweight scene. He is again in a position to challenge for world title honors. The question now is, will he get that chance ?

He is the I.B.F.'s mandatory challenger but that organization may allow their titleholder Chris Byrd to meet Andrew Golota in a return go. Sorry Jameel, you may have to wait.

McCline has had one title shot. That was a losing effort to then highly regarded W.B.O. champion Wladimir Klitschko. For that loss Jameel simply stated that he overtrained. He did look somewhat lethargic in that bout. Since his loss to Wladimir he has put together a modest win streak. A proposed battle with James Toney fell through when Toney got hurt. With Lennox and Corrie Sanders retiring, Vitali Klitschko is now the top dog. Kayo losses to Sanders and Lamon Brewster have taken Wladimir Klitschko out of the picture. John Ruiz and Chris Byrd hold title belts but they get little respect. Mike Tyson is just hanging on. Joe Mesi and Dominick Guinn have been exposed as being overrated. Re-enter Jameel.

Leo Durocher was supposed to have said ” Nice guys finish last”. In Jameel's case, I hope that this is not true. He is a family man who helps train youngsters in his free time. He feels that he is destined to become a world champion. You could not ask for a better role model.

Jameel had only one fight before turning pro. He started training at the Catskill Boxing Club in Catskill, N.Y. He is a big, powerful and agile man who has been learning his trade as he goes. He has learned well.

Hopefully one day Jameel McCline will be standing at ring center. Someone will be wrapping a champioship belt around his waist. It couldn't happen to a nicer guy.