Who are the Boxers Who Came Back to Fight Again After Retirement?

Boxing icons Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. are slated to make their comebacks to the sport. The two will fight on November 28th, in an exhibition fight that will also feature a star-studded under-card.

However, the fight has faced some serious criticisms over the past few months, with many suggesting that the two should not be making a comeback at such an age.

So ahead of their comebacks, let’s look at some of the most famous fighters to make a comeback to the sport.

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Most famous of all was one of the greatest of all time, Muhammad Ali. The legend initially retired in 1978 after his win over Leon Spinks. However, he returned in 1980, only to retire again after his loss to Larry Holmes. Thus, it is safe to say his comeback was not ideal.

Ricky Hatton was another famous fighter whose comeback didn’t go to plan. The Englishman initially retired in 2009, following devastating loss to Manny Pacquiao.

However, he returned 3 years later in 2012 to fight Vyacheslav Senchenko. Despite still possessing the talent, he lost and retired soon after.

Jim Jefferies was one of the first-ever boxers to come out of retirement. The American called it quits in 1904, only to return in 1910 to face Jack Johnson. This was a move influenced by society, but it did not go well as Jefferies suffered an embarrassing loss.

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Boxing Comebacks don’t always end badly

Despite the many occasions where fighters’ comebacks result in further defeat, there are many who have made successful comebacks.

One such is Evander Holyfield. The former Heavyweight World Champion initially retired in 1994. However, he came back and left a greater mark in the sport. His most famous fight against Mike Tyson was after his comeback. He was fighting until the 2000s and enjoyed a fairly successful period.

Vitali Klitschko is another fighter who made a very successful return to heavyweight boxing. He retired in 2004, but came back in 2008 and fought for another five years. He amassed an impressive 10-0 record over the course of this period.

There are many other fighters who came out of retirement; so much so it is now almost comical when a fighter retires. Fans will be eager to see how the boxing comeback of Tyson and Jones goes.

Despite it not being an official boxing fight, this will still be a highly scrutinized event. Do you think these icons should have returned the sport?