Why did Joe Mesi give up?

he's better off retired

In 2006, Joe Mesi began his comeback to boxing after a two year medical suspension due to a brain injury sustained during a boxing match. Mesi would fight 7 times in a 1 1/2 year stretch in what seemed like a good comeback effort that would lead to bigger and better things. A series of injuries sidelined him and force him out of several "step up" fights.... A year later he was running for a seat in the New York state senate but was defeated and ever since he's been quite. What happened? Why did Joe seemingly give up? He may have faced licensing issues in the U.S. but he probably could have fought in Europe. I guess we'll never know what could have been... Anybody heard anything? the big 3 states wouldn't licence him.ny,Nevada,California,so why bother.he could draw 20000 in buffalo & that's where he had his heart set on fighting.I think he just gave up.I got alot of his fights,he had good skill set with great handspeed for a 235 pound man.weak chin was his only flaw but hey he was top 20 when he boxed.

Well, to be fair, it's probably a bit hard to fight when most states don't want you to. Then, when you'd have to take your chances abroad, not just with licensing, but with hometown decisions and the travel and financial aspect of it, it probably didn't seem worth it. He was fighting the licensing bodies in court and I think he would have eventually been allowed to fight. As for fighting in Europe, yeah, the cards may have been stacked up against him but the heavyweight division is very healthy and fortunes are there for the taking (as we all saw last sat)..

He wasn't shot, he was just 'ring rusty.' I kinda dissappointed that he gave up... Brain injuries ain't no joke, and in his comeback he was lookin awful against nondescript fighters. I don't think he really had it anymore, at least not enuf to get back to the contender level.

Dude was shot. Jirov and that layoff ruined him. He wasn't shot, he was just 'ring rusty.' I kinda dissappointed that he gave up...

Well, to be fair, it's probably a bit hard to fight when most states don't want you to. Then, when you'd have to take your chances abroad, not just with licensing, but with hometown decisions and the travel and financial aspect of it, it probably didn't seem worth it.

Dude was shot. Jirov and that layoff ruined him.