What Comeback's Tarnished A Reputation The Most?

[max baer]

This is something that I think about most these days.
We in the boxing world always think of Marciano as so brilliant because he was undefeated. I often wonder if he had made a comeback and lost would men like me many years later still be speaking of him highly.
People love a great comeback. When Fury got back up in Wilder 1 last round we all loved it as it was like rocky and we all (cept queeny!) cheered his comeback.
But what comebacks really destroyed a man's reputation?
What is the worst decision to come back?
Who should have stayed retired with all that admiration they had rather than comeback and look terrible?
What were the worst decisions to make a comeback?

[Tatabanya]

When fighters who were adored come back and get humiliated, the tarnishing of their reputation is short-lived. People will always remember their best days after they quit for good, and will forget the worst.

But if I have to put a single name out, I'd say Matthew Saad Muhammad. His wars became legendary; when he came back following the two defeats against Dwight Qawi, his career's end was absolutely miserable, as he kept collecting losses against C-level opponents and tomato cans. Not to mention the brain damage accumulated in the process.

[Willow The Wisp]

The unbeaten and unbeatable James J. Jeffries is the gold standard for ill-advised comebacks and their effects on one's legacy.

[max baer]

The unbeaten and unbeatable James J. Jeffries is the gold standard for ill-advised comebacks and their effects on one's legacy.

Was it the case james was around 300 pounds and did no proper training?
He was ideally 230 pounds.
Was this just the money pure and simple.

[BKM-]

I don't think it was in Larry's best interest to come back. He almost broke Louis and Marciano's biggest records, had many people in the boxing world believing he won both fights against Spinks and was on his last legs as a fighter. So being technically unbeaten and with those accolades he was in quite the position legacy wise.

Not only did he have an ill advised comeback against a brute like Tyson but he was arrogant enough to show up not in his best physical shape too. Got his first KO loss, had a great showing against Mercer and did honorably against the Real Deal, but ultimately hung on for years as a journeyman.

It took years for people to forget the Tyson and Butterbean fights and rank him higher again.

[Willow The Wisp]

Was it the case james was around 300 pounds and did no proper training?
He was ideally 230 pounds.
Was this just the money pure and simple.

So much has been written about this comback. Books and books.
Jeffries retired in late 1904 as the first reigning champion and undefeated champion to do so, after having done a great job cleaning out the division.
His level of fame and legend was unsurpassed in the era.



A broad shouldered guy with big bones, he did indeed have no trouble blowing up beyond 300, even while performing hard farm work. But he gave in to the constant pleading and pressure from the whole white world, from New York to London to Paris to Melbourne; and finally, Jeffries gave in.
In early 1909, Big Jeff made a conditional agreement that if he could whittle down to 227 pounds and get his timing back, he would face Johnson for the world championship the Galveston man had earned during his long absence.

Upon his decision, he set out for the mineral baths of Carlsbad in Bohemia (now the Czech Republic).
There, he assembled a medical staff, to take off weight before beginning heavy training back in the States.
King Edward VII of England was a frequent patron of Carlsbad, and once in town Jeffries encountered the King taking his usual walk. When the two met up, the King was overjoyed.
“Hello there, Jim Jeffries!” said the genial monarch, excited to meet the former champion. “Going to fight the black fellow, eh? Jolly good! I say it’s great luck to meet you!".

The world was watching, and soon enough the doctors informed Jeffries that he could safely reduce to ring weight within a year.


17489004219015095406569186800800.jpg


Once back home, Jeffries began hard training, and after some months; his chiseled form returned, and he worked on regaining the sharpness, strength and stamina that had made him great.


17489006797423595076441645710589.jpg



When he was fully ready, he signed to fight the new black champion, Jack Johnson.

His condition was superb, and he looked better than most heavyweights look today; but his sharpness was gone, and he proved no match for the prime Jack Johnson.

Jeffries was paid $137,000 for the fight.
60% of a $101,000 purse, a 10k signing bonus, and 67k for the movie rights.
That equates to approximately $6 million.

[max baer]

So much has been written about this comback. Books and books.
Jeffries retired in late 1904 as the first reigning champion and undefeated champion to do so, after having done a great job cleaning out the division.
His level of fame and legend was unsurpassed in the era.



A broad shouldered guy with big bones, he did indeed have no trouble blowing up beyond 300, even while performing hard farm work. But he gave in to the constant pleading and pressure from the whole white world, from New York to London to Paris to Melbourne; and finally, Jeffries gave in.
In early 1909, Big Jeff made a conditional agreement that if he could whittle down to 227 pounds and get his timing back, he would face Johnson for the world championship the Galveston man had earned during his long absence.

Upon his decision, he set out for the mineral baths of Carlsbad in Bohemia (now the Czech Republic).
There, he assembled a medical staff, to take off weight before beginning heavy training back in the States.
King Edward VII of England was a frequent patron of Carlsbad, and once in town Jeffries encountered the King taking his usual walk. When the two met up, the King was overjoyed.
“Hello there, Jim Jeffries!” said the genial monarch, excited to meet the former champion. “Going to fight the black fellow, eh? Jolly good! I say it’s great luck to meet you!".

The world was watching, and soon enough the doctors informed Jeffries that he could safely reduce to ring weight within a year.


17489004219015095406569186800800.jpg


Once back home, Jeffries began hard training, and after some months; his chiseled form returned, and he worked on regaining the sharpness, strength and stamina that had made him great.


17489006797423595076441645710589.jpg



When he was fully ready, he signed to fight the new black champion, Jack Johnson.

His condition was superb, and he looked better than most heavyweights look today; but his sharpness was gone, and he proved no match for the prime Jack Johnson.

Jeffries was paid $137,000 for the fight.
60% of a $101,000 purse, a 10k signing bonus, and 67k for the movie rights.
That equates to approximately $6 million.

Brilliant post!
I only knew the bare well known facts.
Thanks Willow.
Was it really simply an age thing.
Reflexes gone.
This is what Fury needs to worry about if he fights Dubois.

[Willow The Wisp]

Brilliant post!
I only knew the bare well known facts.
Thanks Willow.
Was it really simply an age thing.
Reflexes gone.
This is what Fury needs to worry about if he fights Dubois.

Thanks Max, I aim to please.
I venture that JJ Jeffries faced a whole lot more pressure to return than Fury does; but it's a safe bet that Tyson Fury would be unlikely to recapture the abilities that he displayed in defeating Klitschko and Wilder, no matter how trim and fit he might appear.

[GhostofDempsey]

I’m not sure if Jeffries stands out as the worst, everyone knows he was coming off a six year retirement and lost nearly 100 pounds to get into shape. I don’t think a loss under those conditions tarnishes his legacy. Same way Louis’ fight with Marciano after his comeback doesn’t take away from his legacy. He was washed up and up against a prime Rocky.

Despite Holmes dreadful loss to a prime Tyson in his comeback, he secured a record of 24-3 in his comeback with a couple of decent wins and going the distance with Holyfield and McCall.

Leonard’s comeback is probably the least impressive when you consider he fought a weight-drained Lalonde, got a gift draw against Hearns and suffered humiliating losses to Camacho and Norris.

I feel like Pacquiao is going to suffer a one-sided loss to Barrios. This is a bad choice for a comeback opponent. Barrios is strong at 147 and in his prime now. Manny should have ended his career fighting Mikey Garcia. He could have gone out with a solid win. I don’t think it will hurt his legacy as he has secured it with titles in 8 weight classes, but it’s a bad fight for him.

[QueensburyRules]

- - I'd also say Jeffries. He was considered unbeatable, but if someone offered me what Rickard offer Jeff, ***B00Msky)))

I'd be all over it. Blubber never had a reputation to tarnish.

Ray Leonard lost a lot of fans when he came back like me, his biggest. Tubby Lar just extended his career as a terribly insecure Bore. ButterBean sure put him in his appropriate place in his last moment of boxing.

Big George and Vitali the top comebacks forever.

Otherwise, too negative of a topic to spend much time on.