Ex-champ McCall, 44, faces next step in comeback

As first steps in comebacks go, Oliver McCall was pleased with his second-round knockout of John Hopoate on May 22 at The Orleans.

McCall, a 44-year-old former WBC heavyweight champion, hopes to duplicate what George Foreman did at age 45: win back the title.

Step two in that process comes tonight when McCall defends his recently acquired IBA heavyweight belt in a 10-round bout against Franklin Lawrence in the main event at The Orleans. First bell for the seven-bout card is at 7 p.m.

"When I beat (Hopoate), it was a sign that I was meant to be here," McCall said. "It's given me incentive to train even harder for this fight, and I believe in my heart I can be a world champion again."

McCall (52-9, 37 knockouts), said he's a better fighter now than he was in 1994 when he beat Lennox Lewis and won the WBC belt. Now he just has to prove it to a skeptical public.

"I know I have to show the fans and the boxing media that I have what it takes to win the title," McCall said. "That's why I'm training so hard. My muscle tone is better. I can use both my arms again. I'm spending more time on my conditioning because when you're 44 years old, you have to work harder to get into shape.

"But I'm telling you, I am better now than I was when I fought Lennox Lewis. I don't care what anyone says."

Lawrence, a former IBA champion who is 13-1 with seven KOs, knows McCall well. The two worked out together and sparred when McCall fought Juan Carlos Gomez in 2007. Lawrence said he, too, has improved since then.

"I've packed on a few pounds, and I'm a better fighter," he said. "I've sparred with McCall so I know him."

McCall said he's not the same fighter today that sparred with Lawrence in Kentucky in 2007.

"I still had the shoulder injury and I was a one-armed fighter when we sparred," he said. "Now, I'm completely healthy and have the use of both my arms. In fact, if I had fought Gomez the way I am now, I would have been the heavyweight champion of the world again. Franklin is going to see me at my best."

McCall said he hopes to position himself for a title shot in early 2010 with one of the Klitschko brothers. He doesn't care if it's Wladimir, the IBF, WBO and IBO champ, or Vitali, the WBC champ, who defends his title Sept. 26 in Los Angeles against Chris Arreola.

"After this fight, I'm going to fight in October and again in November," McCall said. "By then, I'm hoping one of the Klitschkos will fight me. It's time to bring the belts back home (to the United States)."

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.