Jameel McCline (born May 20, 1970) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1995 to 2012. He challenged for the world heavyweight championship four times; for the WBO title in 2002, IBF title in 2004, and WBA and WBC interim titles in 2007. He holds notable wins over former world champions Al Cole and Shannon Briggs.

Early life McCline grew up in Harlem, New York City, living in group homes, foster homes, and orphanages where he learned to live independently. Graduating from Comsewogue High School in Port Jefferson Station, New York, McCline spent five years in prison for gun running prior to becoming a professional fighter. Big Time Beckons

Professional career Starting at the late age of 25 years and having no amateur experience, McCline took straight to the pro ranks taken part in four world Heavyweight title clashes with Chris Byrd, Wladimir Klitschko, Nikolai Valuev and Samuel Peter, losing all four times. Uniquely, each of these title bouts was for a different version of the world title. He has captured several wins against notable fighters, including Alfred Cole, Michael Grant, Lance Whitaker, Shannon Briggs, Charles Shufford, Cedric Boswell, but has been unable to replicate these performances in title fight situations, although the loss to Chris Byrd was by only one point in a very controversial split decision. Also losing a championship fight in which he had the champion (Sam Peter) down three times during the fight. In addition to the aforementioned title fight losses, he has lost to Greg Pickrom, Calvin Brock and was upset by the underdog Zuri Lawrence in 2005. After which, he went on a six fight win streak that led him back to a World Title fight yet another two times.

On January 20, 2007 McCline challenged WBA heavyweight title holder Nikolai Valuev, in what was the first ever heavyweight title fight on Swiss soil. The fight was also reportedly the "biggest" championship fight in history, with the two fighters having a combined weight of approximately 600 pounds (270 kilograms) on fight night. Valuev was declared the winner by TKO when McCline suffered a patellar tendon rupture of his left knee at the end of the third round while throwing a punch and was unable to continue. At the time of the stoppage McCline was behind on only 1 of the judges scorecards.

McCline was most recently set to face Vitali Klitschko, in the latter's first fight back since retiring from the ring in 2005, but due to an injury Klitschko was forced to pull out, and instead McCline fought Samuel Peter on 6 October 2007 for Peter's WBC Interim title. Despite managing to put Peter on the canvas 3 times in the early rounds of the fight (the first knockdowns of Peter's career) McCline would go on to lose to a controversial unanimous decision on the judges scorecards.

On March 8, 2008 McCline faced former two-time WBA heavyweight title holder John Ruiz in Mexico. McCline lost a unanimous decision in a 12-round scheduled bout.

McCline defeated Mike Mollo by unanimous decision on November 7, 2008.

He fought Chris Arreola on April 11, 2009 on the undercard of the Paul Williams vs. Winky Wright bout but lost the fight by 4th-round knockout.

He made a comeback on December 3, 2011, where he defeated Dennis McKinney by TKO in the 4th round. The venue for the fight was Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina.

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes57Loss41-13-3Magomed AbdusalamovTKO2 (10), Sep 8, 201256Loss41-12-3Artur SzpilkaUD10Jun 30, 201255Win41-11-3Livin CastilloSD8Mar 31, 201254Loss40-11-3Harold SconiersMD8Feb 3, 201253Win40-10-3Dennis McKinneyTKO4 (10), Dec 3, 201152Loss39-10-3Chris ArreolaKO4 (12), Apr 11, 200951Win39-9-3Mike MolloUD12Nov 7, 200850Loss38-9-3John RuizUD12Mar 8, 200849Loss38-8-3Samuel PeterUD12Oct 6, 200748Loss38-7-3Nikolai ValuevRTD3 (12), Jan 27, 200747Win38-6-3Terry SmithUD10Jul 21, 200646Win37-6-3Marcus RhodeKO2 (10), Jun 2, 200645Win36-6-3Rob CallowayUD10Apr 26, 200644Win35-6-3Marcus McGeeUD10Mar 24, 200643Win34-6-3Dan WardKO1 (10), Jan 27, 200642Win33-6-3Andy SampleKO1 (10), Nov 26, 200541Loss32-6-3Zuri LawrenceUD10Oct 21, 200540Win32-5-3Steve PannellKO3 (10), Aug 26, 200539Loss31-5-3Calvin BrockUD10Apr 15, 200538Loss31-4-3Chris ByrdSD12Nov 13, 200437Win31-3-3Wayne LlewellynTKO1 (10), Apr 15, 200436Win30-3-3Cedric BoswellTKO10 (10), Oct 3, 200335Win29-3-3Charles ShuffordTKO3 (10), May 9, 200334Loss28-3-3Wladimir Klitschko10 (12), Dec 7, 200233Win28-2-3Shannon BriggsUD10Apr 27, 200232Win27-2-3Lance WhitakerUD12Dec 1, 200131Win26-2-3Michael GrantTKO1 (10), Jul 21, 200130Win25-2-3Alfred ColeUD10Jun 25, 200129Win24-2-3King IpitanTKO1 (10), Jan 24, 200128Win23-2-3Reynaldo MinusUD8Sep 14, 200027Win22-2-3Sedreck FieldsUD10Jul 27, 200026Draw21-2-3Sherman WilliamsMD10Jun 29, 200025Win21-2-2Eddie RichardsonUD8Mar 31, 200024Draw20-2-2Ron GuerreroSD8Jan 27, 200023Win20-2-1Jimmy HaynesTKO3 (10)Sep 14, 199922Win19-2-1Harry DanielsPTS6Jun 24, 199921Win18-2-1Garing LaneUD8Mar 27, 199920Win17-2-1Bryant SmithSD8Dec 4, 199819Win16-2-1Mike DixonTKO1 (?)Nov 4, 199818Win15-2-1Guy SonnenbergTKO5 (6)Sep 24, 199817Win14-2-1Kimmuel OdumKO4 (?)Aug 27, 199816Win13-2-1Shane HykesKO2 (?)Jul 30, 199815Win12-2-1Carlton DavisKO1 (6)Jun 25, 199814Win11-2-1Floyd WomackTKO2 (6), Apr 4, 199813Win10-2-1Robert ColayTKO5 (6), Mar 21, 199812Win9-2-1Marcus HardenUD4Feb 25, 199811Win8-2-1Frankie HinesKO1 (?)Jan 29, 199810Win7-2-1Rowyan WallaceKO2 (?)Nov 1, 19979Win6-2-1Charles CueUD6Sep 27, 19978Win5-2-1Curt Paige4Jul 15, 19977Win4-2-1Mark WhittakerTKO3 (4)May 5, 19976Win3-2-1Charlie BrazellKO1 (?), Aug 21, 19965Loss2-2-1Greg Pickrom8Apr 12, 19964Draw2-1-1Albert Williams4Mar 15, 19963Win2–1Dwayne EvansKO1 (4), Feb 9, 19962Loss1–1Gary Bell1 (?)Nov 18, 19951Win1–0Brian Nix1 (?), Oct 10, 1995

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