McCall's durability in the ring is legendary. He won the WBC heavyweight title in 1994 by knocking out Lennox Lewis in the second round, a result that sent shockwaves through the boxing world. The new champ went on to defend his title successfully against Larry Holmes in April 1995, but lost it to Frank Bruno later that year at Wembley Stadium in London.
Despite facing many hard hitters, McCall singled out Lewis as the one who came closest to putting him down. He recalled a specific moment from their rematch:
"When that man hit me I was going to retaliate, and I broke down. The overhand right that hit me sent me reeling into the ropes, and as I came back I could have just held him if I hadn't broken down. I thought, 'Wow.' I just shut down."
The punch McCall referred to landed in the third round, almost sending him into Lewis's arms. Surprisingly, this powerful shot led to an emotional breakdown for McCall rather than a physical knockdown.
The rematch ended with a TKO win for Lewis, but not because McCall hit the canvas. Instead, referee Mills Lane stopped the fight when McCall refused to engage, seemingly having a mental breakdown in the ring. Even in defeat, McCall's chin held up, maintaining his record of never being knocked down in a professional fight.
Lewis went on to become the undisputed heavyweight champion two years later, beating Evander Holyfield after their controversial draw eight months earlier. McCall, for his part, recovered from the setback and continued his career. He's still competing today, a decision that's drawn some controversy given his age and the length of his career.
The fact that McCall, with his iron chin, points to Lewis as the hardest puncher he faced speaks volumes about Lewis's power. It's a testament to both fighters - Lewis for his devastating punch, and McCall for his ability to withstand it and never hit the canvas in his long career.