NEW YORK, Dec. 1 -- Shortly after being released from prison, where he served five years for gun-running, Jameel McCline arrived in training camp in Rangley, Maine, almost exactly seven years ago today. The temperature then was about twenty degrees below zero, recalled his advisor Johnny Bos, and he didn't even have a coat. McCline reached into his pocket and handed his driver a pack of cigarettes.

"I guess I won't be needing these anymore," he said.

Now on an almost summer-like day in early December, Jameel "Big Time" McCline not only has a coat, but also a green championship belt signifying that he is the WBC Continental Americas heavyweight champion.

Such regional titles usually merit little attention, but this time is different. This time, the belt represents a validation of the talent and a vindication for the persistence of a fighter who less than two years ago was getting draws with Ron Guerrero and Sherman Williams on "Heavyweight Explosion" cards.

Now, after his decisive victory over the fighter formerly known as Lance Whitaker, GOOFi, Jameel McCline is regarded as a legitimate top ten heavyweight and, according to many in attendance at the Jacob Javits Center tonight, one of the most, if not THE most improved fighter of 2001. And this fight proved his one-punch knockout of former No. 1 contender Michael Grant in July was far from a fluke.

"I have to be considered one of the most improved fighters of the year," Jameel said in his dressing room as trainer Jimmy Glenn worked on his sore ankle. "And I think the key to that is my will, my determination, and most of all, I worked for one of the best farm teams in boxing, the 'Heavyweight Explosion.' That's without a doubt one of the best systems..."

Cedric Kushner, both Jameel's promoter and the head honcho of the "Heavyweight Explosion" series, interjected here, telling Jameel, "Here's that two hundred," as all in the dressing room laughed. But Jameel continued, "to develop heavyweights. It really is. I mean, CKP has all the right fighters for a guy to come out and -- I mean, he just throws them all in there, and if you come out, that's because you want to come out."

McCline has been learning on the job since that frigid day in Maine, embarking on a pro career after a grand total of one amateur fight. His growth as a fighter in the past two years is marveling those who watched him labor through those "Heavyweight Explosion" shows.

"We work specifically on speed and combinations because I have it; so we try to hone it, bring it out," he said. McCline looked faster and more accurate than ever before, which he credits to his strict regimen of yoga, swimming, gyrotonics, a good diet, and following the mandates of his strength and conditioning coach and his "head coach, one of the best in the world in Jimmy Glenn."

Yet he also is objective about his own level of development. "I want to be the best in the world," he said, but he knows he is not yet there. "I just want to continue to paint the picture. We've been painting the picture for five and a-half, nearly six years. And I just want to continue to paint, to work on my canvas. And that canvas, when it's done, will be the big picture. And that big picture will be the title."

He does not give a date or deadline either, except to promise, "We will finish the picture before I retire."

McCline is realistic in evaluating the fight, and his best round, the 10th, where it looked like he could have really made Whitaker GOOFi and finished him off, but didn't. "I could have been a little more professional," he analyzed. "It comes with time and it comes with rounds. I had him going and I definitely could have finished him. The next time I get someone in a position like that, I'll definitely finish him. I tried to sit back and look, but I was a little too excited, got myself just a little winded there, and I needed a couple of seconds to regroup. And by the time I was regrouped, he was regrouped, and we were back at square one."

Nonetheless, and despite the clear-cut decision, Jameel remained respectful of GOOFi's ability. "He never hurt me but I knew he had power. I felt his power, there was no doubt about that. There is no doubt in my mind that he was big and strong, which was why I was under his shots, grabbing on, holding on to him."

But there were plenty in the media who were not respectful of Jameel's ability prior to the fight. "Today was the first day I looked back, and I said, 'You know, wow, every press conference, the weigh-in, everything, all the reporters were around him,'" he said. "Today I noticed it. While it was happening I didn't notice it, because I was more focused on the show."

Still, this was not a major issue for him. "And I was fine with that. It didn't bother me. I understood, he's number five in the world, and he changed his name to GOOFi, so it was a big deal, and he had a great mouthpiece in Rock Newman."

But he did caution the media not to underestimate the many rising heavyweights.

"Everybody in the media pays attention to who's who. There are some great fighters out there that people don't pay attention to, like myself, Willie Palms, Attila Levin. These guys are really good fighters. It's not just the guys who everyone 'knows.'"

And he pled his case as to how and why he has excelled despite this lack of attention. "A year and a-half ago no one gave me a shot. But I knew. I was on a mission. I was working on my canvas." He soon found the key. "I just had to get a little bit more serious with myself, and a little more introverted, which is what I did." Plus, of course, he felt he had the talent. "I'm big, I'm strong, I'm bigger than these guys. I weigh more than these guys. and I'm faster and I move better." Tonight few would argue with him.

As for his next foes, Jameel said, "I want the big guys. I do well against the big guys." While not specific who his next opponent will be, he is not worried if some fighters will duck him.

"The guys who do step up, they'll be worthy opponents," he said. "Now I got the number five spot in the world. That's amazing. If they run, that's OK, because we're in the business of fighting, so somebody's going to step up if they want to get paid -- as long as it's not Chris Byrd."

Say what?

"I'm not afraid of Chris Byrd. I'm not going to fight Chris Byrd unless it's a title elimination or a title shot," he continued. "He's one of my idols, only because he fights everybody," mentioning along the way both Klitschkos, Ike Ibeabuchi, David Tua, and Mo Harris.

Of course, there is a personal reason for not wanting to fight Chris Byrd. "He's a good friend of mine," Jameel explained. Byrd was at this fight, rooting for his pal. "He was out there screaming. I'm trying to listen to it. 'You ain't tired. You ain't tired, Jameel. What's wrong with ya? Use that jab!' Am I serious? Yeah, yeah. Good fighter. I'll stay away from him for now."

Next up is a three-week vacation. But as Jimmy Glenn was wrapping his sore feet, Jameel said he wouldn't partake of the beverages at his trainer's legendary bar, Jimmy's Corner. "No, man, I don't drink."

That disciplined choice didn't prevent McCline and his close associates, friends, and family from celebrating at another nightspot, Hurley's Saloon, established 1892. There he wore that green belt over his shirt as well-wishers posed for photographs with him and everyone devoured the endless plates of tasty finger food. Johnny Bos managed to talk a waiter into providing him with three steaks, so he was full (you non-subscribers to Maxboxing.com get the Johnny Bos stories for free today since Michael Katz wasn't at this fight). And there the whole bunch partied until it was time for a few of us to go to, well, Jimmy's Corner (from where Kurt Emhoff e-mailed his story into Maxboxing, really).

We learned there that Jim Lampley had mentioned on the HBO broadcast that, "I'll bet there will be free beers" at Jimmy's Corner, and that Emanuel Steward had said he might pass by. Neither statement turned out to be true, as, we were informed, "he should know there are no free beers at Jimmy's." Maybe that's why no one from HBO showed up at either place.

I asked Jimmy which night was the best night to drink there. "Every night." I asked again, but he wouldn't change his answer. I see I'm going to have to find out for myself.

And that is how it usually is in New York. You have to do it for yourself. Bernard Hopkins did it here against Tito Trinidad, and now he is being justly showered with "Fighter of the Year" awards. Jameel McCline did it here, and now he is a favorite for "Most Improved Fighter" for 2001. Not bad for a town where boxing is supposedly dead, eh?

While we all felt bad for a guy who tried to package himself as GOOFi and ended up losing with a national spotlight on him, we couldn't completely avoid snide remarks. A "I Killed GOOFi" T-shirt was proposed for Jameel, unbeknownst to him, with a picture of a beheaded cartoon character. I'll let you figure out who came up with that one.

So don't count out the next fighter you see lumbering along on some card somewhere. Don't underestimate the potential of these warriors. They may or may not rise from obscurity to the prominence Jameel McCline has achieved. And Jameel McCline may rise to the top, or no further at all.

The lesson is, you never know -- unless, maybe, you're the guy in the ring.