Former WBC heavyweight champion Oliver McCall returned to the ring on a special evening which would feature his unbeaten heavyweight prospect and son Elijah McCall in a chief support bout along with an array of local talent promoted by Frank Luca and the Orleans Hotel by way of Crown Boxing.

Oliver McCall has seen his fair share of top drawer action over the years and is no stranger to upsetting the odds at the highest level. In 1989, while undertaking one of boxing's most thankless tasks as Mike Tyson's day to day sparring partner Oliver began making noises of his own. As rank outsider Oliver would travel into unbeaten contender Bruce Seldon's backyard to derail Seldon in 9 rounds in front of his hometown supporters in New Jersey.

In 1993 Oliver would again appear as an underdog against former WBO Champion and only once beaten Francesco Damiani in Memphis and once again would pull off the upset of the remarkably tough Italian by TKO after breaking Damiani’s nose and forcing the stoppage. That victory earned McCall some well deserved recognition and it would culminate in him challenging the newly crowned WBC Champion Lennox Lewis. Once again the opponent's hometown and once again the underdog McCall would achieve the unthinkable in arresting the WBC heavyweight title from an overconfident Lewis by TKO in the second round.. McCall would return to the ring in 1995 to join a very elite club of fighters by beating Larry Holmes in Las Vegas retaining the championship he won from the unbeaten Lewis the previous year.

McCall would lose his title to Bruno and along with personal problems lose in a rematch to a remarkably improved Lewis shortly after. One thing Oliver would never lose though was his appetite for a challenge. In the following ten years Oliver McCall would create more upsets globally. He would take on only once beaten 6 ft 10 former WBO heavyweight champion Henry Akinwande and again come from behind and knockout the Nigerian in the last round in Las Vegas, and later travel to Europe and damage Premeslaw Saleta’s unbeaten streak and highly regarded Turk Sinan Samil Sam's victory roll more than 12 years after holding the WBC Championship. Now in 2009, 20 years since his win over Bruce Seldon, Oliver is regarded as somewhat of a dinosaur amongst the new crop of heavyweights. Yet, on this surreal night in Las Vegas, an opportunity has knocked and the McCall appetite for a challenge has once again surfaced, and along with his 21 year old son Elijah he was given the chance to challenge for the IBA championship belt against another heavy-handed challenger, the Australian based knockout artist and controversial Rugby star John Hopoate. Hopoate brought a winning streak all by knockout which when matched with Oliver's tough resolve -having never tasted a knockdown or knockout through his whole boxing life- made for very interesting viewing.

McCall would be very cordial towards Hopoate as the pair met in the Orleans Hotel’s Bourbon Street Lounge for a press meeting two days prior to the event, but after the pleasantries were exchanged between all concerned McCall put his feelings about the fight into a very clear perspective. Oliver congratulated Hopoate for stepping up to the plate but explained that whilst he himself adored basketball he was an absolute novice at it. He explained how he would act like he was Michael Jordan and play with all the passion in the world but it wasn’t really truly his game. Oliver then compared it to Hopoate’s game saying how he had remarkable admiration for him as a great rugby player and how it takes a certain kind of man to enter such a tough sport and how no one could take away from Hopoate. Oliver said that “John is great at rugby because it is what he was born to do .. It's what he does.. He may enjoy his new found passion for boxing , but rugby is what he does!” McCall explained, “I enjoy basketball like John enjoys boxing, but John has to remember one thing here,“ said a stern McCall, “boxing is what I DO!!! It's what I do best and I am damn good at it… Good enough to have beaten both Lennox Lewis and Larry Holmes.. Two of the greatest heavyweights to ever lace on gloves."

This was to have served as a strong warning for what McCall would have in store for Hopoate two days later.

Oliver didn’t waste any time in making it known who the boss was in this fight. He only once allowed John the luxury of landing cleanly with a great solid right hand. It was truly pea shooter and the tank stuff, and while crowding out Hopoate's best chance of victory, he landed a warning shot at the end of the first stanza, Hopoate was shaken, and with very wide eyes he went back to his corner having tasted the same poison Lewis had sipped 14 years ago. Cornerman Justin Fortune (also a Lennox Lewis victim) offered good advice by telling John to close the space down and not let McCall let his hands go. But early in round 2 Oliver found the range to land a long overhand right, followed by a barrage of hooks that just couldn’t miss the stumbling inept Hopoate, who slumped onto all four; less than 15 seconds later via TKO it was all over, the class void too great and McCall had returned to winning ways.

Previously his well groomed son Elijah showed how good genetics and natural power could carry this 21 year old promising heavyweight along the same path as his father given the right direction and schooling. Elijah got rid of a solid looking Chad Davis at 2:49 of the 1^st round with very well practiced body attacks. Elijah,  who fights out of Bassett Va, is in my opinion someone to look out for, he never once put a foot wrong and listened to exactly what he was told by a very capable corner outfit.

Father and son McCall made a historic evening complete all in all and although Hopoate was purely an academic opponent as Australian champion , he did have a puncher's chance and the desire to travel across the globe to trade blows with such a proven banger as McCall.. For his troubles, a very well chiseled McCall had earned himself the IBA championship and at 44 years of age, he may have something left in the tank for many younger pretenders.

Oliver's parting words at the press conference were poignant indeed, he spoke about continuing along a winning path towards an eventual meeting with what he described as a minefield of European giants (Klitschko et al) considering himself the only true last capable American heavyweight at world level, saying that it would be truly a Goliath task he added in true God fearing spirit, he would need his secret weapon… Making a slingshot motion above his head, he uttered, “I’ll sling one last rock for the brothers.”

Oliver indeed is the first former heavyweight champion to feature in a championship bout alongside his son on the same card. Thanks to Frank Luca, Crown boxing, Elijah and Oliver McCall for being such class people in allowing us access to this event, along with Oliver and Elijah's trainers and management team, Mister Rick Fisler , Frank McCall and Elijah Thomas. It's never a dull moment with The Atomic Bull in town.