AKA Big Time
Getting knocked down throughout life is inevitable, but how you get up and move onward, eventually defines and illuminates a person’s soul. Jameel McCline knows a thing or two about stumbling, yet his soldier-on attitude radiates every single time he stands back up.
Calling an orphanage home since the age of seven, McCline credits the Port Jefferson, New York living quarters for a quality education, keeping him clothed, and providing life’s basic necessities.
“In Harlem, we were extremely poor, but when you’re that young you don’t realize it. I wound up in numerous foster residences but always kept in touch with my biological family who all live in South Florida today. When I aged out of the system, I found myself not knowing where to turn and ended up on the wrong side of the law. A variety of people in the community extended their hands to help me back, which truly shaped me into the humanitarian I strive to be.”
McCline has prioritized philanthropy, joining organizations such as Parkland Cares and Safe Harbor which are platforms that supply supplemental life guidance and assistance for those in need. Jameel additionally structured an outreach to bring laptops into a Del-ray Beach community center.
“I was raised by the collective. As you grow up dependent on the kindness of strangers, that’s who’s furnishing your existence. When I visited one of the local Delray centers and saw how run-down and dated the computers were, I got a couple of my friends together and explained how we really needed to help the community out by providing, instead of just talking about it. This experience also motivated me to try my hand at politics so I could reach a wider audience.”
in more forgotten areas, I felt compelled to be a force for positive reshaping. Although I did not gain a seat in Congress, the process afforded me a great deal of new wisdom.”
Rewind a few decades, and you would find Jameel spending his days at workout gyms in the New York City area, when ultimately an individual approached him and asked if he was interested in training to become a boxer.
“He gave me his card and said, ‘give me a call so we can discuss your new career.’ After we spoke, he convinced me to move into his home and begin training. I was twenty-five years old before I ever put a pair of gloves on, and six years later I was fighting for the heavyweight championship of the world at Mandalay Bay in Vegas on HBO… that’s unheard of. Boxing is a beautiful sport. It’s brutal but beautiful… and when you’re amongst the best in the world it’s not just fighting, but an engaging chess match in the ring.”
McCline’s natural abilities and enigmatic determination led him to a career-winning record of 41-13-3 including 24 knockouts.
With no amateur background, he held a steady top ten ranking for the majority of his pugilist career, including fighting four times for the world title, and was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2019. A certain amount of notoriety comes with reaching the upper echelon of the boxing world, and in 2009 Jameel was invited to train in Russia with one of their best, Alexander Povetkin. McCline would return to that country three years later for his last professional fight. But what happens when you hang up the gloves
up for the last time?
In 2014, McCline threw his name in the hat to represent Florida’s 20th district as a Democratic congressional candidate running against the late incumbent Alcee Hastings.
“I thought it was time for a change, and wanted to see real action on the ground for real people. When I witnessed a number of injustices some of the population dealt with
in more forgotten areas, I felt compelled to be a force for positive reshaping. Although I did not gain a seat in Congress, the process afforded me a great deal of new wisdom.”
Rewind a few decades, and you would find Jameel spending his days at workout gyms in the New York City area, when ultimately an individual approached him and asked if he was interested in training to become a boxer.
“He gave me his card and said, ‘give me a call so we can discuss your new career.’ After we spoke, he convinced me to move into his home and begin training. I was twenty-five years old before I ever put a pair of gloves on, and six years later I was fighting for the heavyweight championship of the world at Mandalay Bay in Vegas on HBO… that’s unheard of. Boxing is a beautiful sport. It’s brutal, but beautiful… and when you’re amongst the best in the world it’s not just fighting, but an engaging chess match in the ring.”
McCline’s natural abilities and enigmatic determination led him to a career-winning record of 41-13-3 including 24 knockouts.
With no amateur background, he held a steady top ten ranking for the majority of his pugilist career, including fighting four times for the world title, and was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2019. A certain amount of notoriety comes with reaching the upper echelon of the boxing world, and in 2009 Jameel was invited to train in Russia with one of their best, Alexander Povetkin. McCline would return to that country three years later for his last professional fight. But what happens when you hang up the gloves
up for the last time?
“I don’t distinguish myself simply as a fighter… I just happened to be really good at it. Lots of boxers just identify as such, but I used my skills to move laterally in business. My best career moment to date, was when I liquidated my position at a consulting firm in the laboratory industry, as it signified to me what I always wanted to achieve.”
Jameel prides himself in becoming highly involved in his community since moving to South Florida. Pulling from his roots, Mc-Cline is connected with the Delray Beach Boxing Club located in East Delray. He has brought some of the best fighters and trainers in the world here to utilize the facilities. He was also a member of the Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce for several years. McCline is additionally currently involved with Vocodia, which is an automated call center that eliminates human consequences. As he described it, there is no calling in late or sick and the AI can answer every question thoroughly.
“The future is definitely in artificial intelligence. You’ve probably spoken to one without even knowing because it sounds so real. This truly is a fascinating product, and the technology is so top-notch that we have built an entire platform for this company along with a very strong team to revolutionize the contact call center industry.”
Where an average person may find complacency, Jameel encapsulates ambition. “I’m always thinking what’s next… what can I do next to stand out and be great? My company Big Time Innovations has launched our entertainment division which includes branding, marketing, spokesperson brand ambassadors, and business development in the artificial intelligence and NFT space. I still partake in speaking engagements focusing on emerging future markets. When I give a speech, I dispense a small portion of my background for inspiration, but those that come to listen to me are already motivated… the inventive thinkers. Sometimes it’s just how to put that motivation in a disciplined format, varying from what they’ve done.”
Jameel cultivated his indomitable spirit every time he fought back from defeat or went against the grain.
“There are many ways to move around between the ropes, but in life there’s only one way… and that’s forward.”
