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Boxing News and Views- ESB
PART I
Las Vegas (September 8) - It’s the year of the sports comeback with Tiger Woods, Pedro Martinez, Roger Federer, and Tom Brady all coming back to their respective sports in attempts to reclaim their places in sports history. Joining the roster is Floyd “Money” Mayweather, already a six-time world championship in five weight divisions, coming back to the sweet science, after a nearly two-year layoff against five-time world champion in three weight divisions Juan Manuel “Dinamita” Marquez on Saturday, September 19 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The bout will be produced and distributed live on HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT..
Historically, boxing has a long list of notable fighters who have made comeback attempts including Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard and George Foreman. Mayweather instantly joins these ranks with his fight against Marquez. Below is a list (in alphabetical order) of some of the legendary fighters who attempted, successfully or unsuccessfully, to make career comebacks.
Also, legendary trainers Angelo Dundee, Emanuel Steward, Freddie Roach, Buddy McGirt and Mayweather’s own trainer Roger Mayweather weigh-in on comebacks and Mayweather’s return.
BOXING’S GREATEST (AND NOT SO GREAT) COMEBACK ATTEMPTS
Muhammad Ali—Exiled from ring from 1967-1970, Ali returned to reclaim the heavyweight title twice in both 1974 and 1978, winning the last fight of his career against Leon Spinks.
Alexis Arguello—Following his retirement 1986, Arguello came back for two bouts, beating Jorge Palomares in 1994 and Scott Walker 1995.
Rid**** Bowe—Bowe retired in 1996 following his second win (DSQ) over Andrew Golota. He returned to the ring for three unimpressive wins between 2004-2008.
George Foreman—Retired in 1977 following his loss to Jimmy Young. Foreman returned in 1987 and seven years later, in 1994, captured the heavyweight title via a tenth round KO over Michael Moorer, in what is widely revered as one of the greatest performances by an athlete over the age of 40. Foreman officially retired in 1997 following a decision loss to Shannon Briggs.
Thomas “Hitman” Hearns—Following a loss in 2000 via TKO against Uriah Grant, Hearns did not fight again until five years later, going 2-0 against John Long and Shannon Landberg, both by TKO.
Benny Leonard—Retired in 1924, but returned to the ring in 1931 and won 18 of his 20 comeback fights before retiring for good after fighting 16 times in 1932, losing only his final bout that year.
Sugar Ray Leonard—Leonard retired following detached retina surgery in 1982, but came back in 1984 to defeat Kevin Howard only to retired again. Returning in 1987, Leonard fought middleweight champion Marvelous Marvin Hagler and won via a 12-round split decision. After his retirement following a 1991 loss to Terry Norris, he came back for one more bout against Hector Camacho, losing by TKO in the 5th round of their 1997 bout.
Joe Louis—Retired in 1948 after stopping Jersey Joe Walcott in 11 rounds. Two years later, Louis came back and lost to Ezzard Charles over 15 rounds in a world title fight, but went on to win eight in a row before losing to Rocky Marciano in 1951 and retiring for good.
Sugar Ray Robinson—Retired following his 1952 light heavyweight title loss to Joey Maxim. He then became an entertainer, lost all of his money and came back in 1955 to regain the middleweight title three more times before retiring for good in 1965.
Max Schmeling—Retired in 1939 after beating Adolf Hauser, but came back in 1947, fighting five fights and going 3-2.
Mike Tyson—Inactive from 1991 to 1995, Tyson returned to the ring in 1995 and regained WBC and WBA versions of heavyweight title in 1996 against Frank Bruno and Bruce Sheldon respectively. He retired for good in 2005 following a sixth round TKO loss to Kevin McBride.
Tony Zale—Following a loss to Billy Conn in 1942, Zale went into the service. He came back in 1946, fighting six times before engaging in an epic trilogy with Hall Of Fame fighter Rocky Graziano over two years in which he won, lost and then regained the middleweight title. Zale retired for good in 1948 following a loss to Marcel Cerden.
PART I
Las Vegas (September 8) - It’s the year of the sports comeback with Tiger Woods, Pedro Martinez, Roger Federer, and Tom Brady all coming back to their respective sports in attempts to reclaim their places in sports history. Joining the roster is Floyd “Money” Mayweather, already a six-time world championship in five weight divisions, coming back to the sweet science, after a nearly two-year layoff against five-time world champion in three weight divisions Juan Manuel “Dinamita” Marquez on Saturday, September 19 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The bout will be produced and distributed live on HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT..
Historically, boxing has a long list of notable fighters who have made comeback attempts including Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard and George Foreman. Mayweather instantly joins these ranks with his fight against Marquez. Below is a list (in alphabetical order) of some of the legendary fighters who attempted, successfully or unsuccessfully, to make career comebacks.
Also, legendary trainers Angelo Dundee, Emanuel Steward, Freddie Roach, Buddy McGirt and Mayweather’s own trainer Roger Mayweather weigh-in on comebacks and Mayweather’s return.
BOXING’S GREATEST (AND NOT SO GREAT) COMEBACK ATTEMPTS
Muhammad Ali—Exiled from ring from 1967-1970, Ali returned to reclaim the heavyweight title twice in both 1974 and 1978, winning the last fight of his career against Leon Spinks.
Alexis Arguello—Following his retirement 1986, Arguello came back for two bouts, beating Jorge Palomares in 1994 and Scott Walker 1995.
Rid**** Bowe—Bowe retired in 1996 following his second win (DSQ) over Andrew Golota. He returned to the ring for three unimpressive wins between 2004-2008.
George Foreman—Retired in 1977 following his loss to Jimmy Young. Foreman returned in 1987 and seven years later, in 1994, captured the heavyweight title via a tenth round KO over Michael Moorer, in what is widely revered as one of the greatest performances by an athlete over the age of 40. Foreman officially retired in 1997 following a decision loss to Shannon Briggs.
Thomas “Hitman” Hearns—Following a loss in 2000 via TKO against Uriah Grant, Hearns did not fight again until five years later, going 2-0 against John Long and Shannon Landberg, both by TKO.
Benny Leonard—Retired in 1924, but returned to the ring in 1931 and won 18 of his 20 comeback fights before retiring for good after fighting 16 times in 1932, losing only his final bout that year.
Sugar Ray Leonard—Leonard retired following detached retina surgery in 1982, but came back in 1984 to defeat Kevin Howard only to retired again. Returning in 1987, Leonard fought middleweight champion Marvelous Marvin Hagler and won via a 12-round split decision. After his retirement following a 1991 loss to Terry Norris, he came back for one more bout against Hector Camacho, losing by TKO in the 5th round of their 1997 bout.
Joe Louis—Retired in 1948 after stopping Jersey Joe Walcott in 11 rounds. Two years later, Louis came back and lost to Ezzard Charles over 15 rounds in a world title fight, but went on to win eight in a row before losing to Rocky Marciano in 1951 and retiring for good.
Sugar Ray Robinson—Retired following his 1952 light heavyweight title loss to Joey Maxim. He then became an entertainer, lost all of his money and came back in 1955 to regain the middleweight title three more times before retiring for good in 1965.
Max Schmeling—Retired in 1939 after beating Adolf Hauser, but came back in 1947, fighting five fights and going 3-2.
Mike Tyson—Inactive from 1991 to 1995, Tyson returned to the ring in 1995 and regained WBC and WBA versions of heavyweight title in 1996 against Frank Bruno and Bruce Sheldon respectively. He retired for good in 2005 following a sixth round TKO loss to Kevin McBride.
Tony Zale—Following a loss to Billy Conn in 1942, Zale went into the service. He came back in 1946, fighting six times before engaging in an epic trilogy with Hall Of Fame fighter Rocky Graziano over two years in which he won, lost and then regained the middleweight title. Zale retired for good in 1948 following a loss to Marcel Cerden.
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