Oliver McCall, 61, won in round five when the referee stopped his Country Box 45 fight with Jeremiah Williams over a cut; a round-four slip call also drew debate.
From 12 reports by 5 outletsLatest McCall wins at 2:55 of round five as the cut stoppage is confirmed; round-four 'slip' draws debate 5 updates 5 outlets
What we know
- Oliver McCall, 61, fought Jeremiah Williams on Nov. 3 at Country Box 45 at Plaza Mariachi in Nashville, Tennessee, over six three-minute rounds.
- McCall won when the referee stopped the fight at 2:55 of round five over a cut on Williams's eye, said to be from an accidental headbutt; Bloody Elbow calls the finish controversial and World Boxing News says a McCall right hand worsened the cut.
- Williams put McCall down in round four, but the referee ruled it a slip, so McCall keeps his record of never being officially knocked down; World Boxing News says there was an argument it was a legitimate knockdown. Williams is now 19-15-2.
- McCall weighed 234.5 lb for the fight, his lowest recorded weight since 233 lb in November 2004; Williams also made weight.
- Promoter Lou DiBella wrote on X that the fight is 'immoral, dangerous, and just sad'; some fans replied that the decision is up to the fighter.
Reported, not confirmed
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Prizefighting.tv cancelled Ibeabuchi vs. McCall on Oct. 5 after advance pay-per-view sales missed its 12,500-purchase target at $9.95 each, promising refunds, and said both fighters faced financial hardship and needed the purses.
World Boxing News
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Ibeabuchi lost to Kabiru Towolawi on Christmas Eve 2025 in Lagos, his first professional defeat; Williams lost his first eight pro fights before his first win in January 2012.
World Boxing News
- McCall named Hasim Rahman, Shannon Briggs and Jake Paul as possible future fights. Bloody Elbow
Oliver McCall, 61, beat Jeremiah Williams in the fifth round of their scheduled six-round fight at Country Box 45 in Nashville on Nov. 3, according to Bloody Elbow. It was his 77th professional fight.
The referee stopped the bout because of a cut over Williams's eye caused by an accidental headbutt. Bloody Elbow says Williams was bleeding but the cut was not deep enough to warrant a stoppage, and calls the finish relatively controversial.
In round four Williams put McCall down, but the referee ruled it a slip, so it was not counted. Bloody Elbow notes McCall has never been officially knocked down. Williams fell to 19-15-2.
McCall named Hasim Rahman, Shannon Briggs and Jake Paul as possible future opponents. Before the fight, promoter Lou DiBella wrote on X that it was 'immoral, dangerous, and just sad'.
The referee stopped the bout because of a cut over Williams's eye caused by an accidental headbutt. Bloody Elbow says Williams was bleeding but the cut was not deep enough to warrant a stoppage, and calls the finish relatively controversial.
In round four Williams put McCall down, but the referee ruled it a slip, so it was not counted. Bloody Elbow notes McCall has never been officially knocked down. Williams fell to 19-15-2.
McCall named Hasim Rahman, Shannon Briggs and Jake Paul as possible future opponents. Before the fight, promoter Lou DiBella wrote on X that it was 'immoral, dangerous, and just sad'.
- Summary
- Oliver McCall, 61, won in round five when the referee stopped his Country Box 45 fight with Jeremiah Williams over a cut; a round-four slip call also drew debate.
- Key points (one per line)
- Bloody Elbow and World Boxing News report McCall won when the referee stopped the fight at 2:55 of round five over a cut on Williams's eye.
The referee ruled a round-four knockdown a slip; World Boxing News says there was an argument it was a legitimate knockdown.
Promoter Lou DiBella called the fight 'immoral, dangerous, and just sad' beforehand.
- Also reported by (Name | URL per line)
- World Boxing News | https://www.worldboxingnews.com/ike-ibeabuchi-26-year-comeback-ppv-flop/
World Boxing News | https://www.worldboxingnews.com/oliver-mccall-61-heavyweight-eight-fights/
World Boxing News | https://www.worldboxingnews.com/oliver-mccall-lightest-weight-22-years/
Bloody Elbow | https://bloodyelbow.com/2026/11/03/former-heavyweight-boxing-champion-who-beat-lennox-lewis-makes-weight-ahead-of-return-at-61-years-old/
Boxing News | https://boxingnewsonline.net/news/lewis-and-holmes-opp-mccall-weighs-in/
Combat Sports UK | https://combatsportsuk.com/news/c8cdcde4-0da4-4c29-a260-36f741932b5b/oliver-mccall-61-return-jeremiah-williams-nashville-234-5lbs
Bloody Elbow | https://bloodyelbow.com/2026/11/03/61-year-old-former-heavyweight-boxing-champions-return-branded-immoral-by-hall-of-fame-promoter/
MiddleEasy | https://middleeasy.com/boxing/lou-dibella-oliver-mccall-return-61-immoral/
Combat Sports UK | https://combatsportsuk.com/news/c669ac3d-5c2e-4a08-8f40-020585f2c82a/lou-dibella-oliver-mccall-61-immoral-dangerous-sad-jeremiah-williams
Bloody Elbow | https://bloodyelbow.com/2026/11/04/former-heavyweight-boxing-champion-scores-controversial-tko-win-at-61-years-old/
World Boxing News | https://www.worldboxingnews.com/oliver-mccall-knockdown-referee-slip/
Combat Sports UK | https://combatsportsuk.com/news/25d3dc88-f538-42f3-9c74-9deaf68cdd68/oliver-mccall-61-beats-jeremiah-williams-cut-stoppage-round-five-nashville
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Fan poll
Was cancelling Ibeabuchi vs. McCall the right outcome?
What they're saying
14-2) tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/wQ6pVdQFQm
— Grey Johnson@BoxrecGreyIn the story
61 year old Oliver McCall (61-14-1), former WBC Champion of the world, weighed in at 234.5lb for his fight against 54 year old Jeremiah Williams (19-14-2) tomorrow.
Nov 3 · View on X
Lou DiBella🥊@loudibellaIn the story
This is immoral, dangerous, and just sad. Take #boxing these days … I can't anymore with the whole damn thing. There's something I smh about every fucking day. Used to be the guilty pleasure of sports. Now it's just guilty.
Nov 3 · View on X
Jamel Herring@JamelHerringIn the story
I’m honestly surprised they get cleared for medicals to begin with… I wonder what state they’re competing in.
Nov 3 · View on X
Fighters in this story
Oliver McCallMore photos
How the story developed
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Result McCall wins at 2:55 of round five as the cut stoppage is confirmed; round-four 'slip' draws debateWorld Boxing News
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Result McCall, 61, wins by fifth-round stoppage over Williams after a cut; Bloody Elbow calls it controversial
Bloody Elbow
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DiBella calls McCall, 61, fighting Williams 'immoral, dangerous, and just sad'Bloody Elbow
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Bout added McCall, 61, fights Jeremiah Williams on Nov. 3 in Nashville after Ibeabuchi bout collapsedWorld Boxing News
Sources
Combat Sports UK
MiddleEasySummarized with AI from the sources above. Read the originals for the full story.
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