In the course of the pandemic, heavyweight boxing legends eager to battle at forty years of age and above grew to become an everyday function.
World Boxing Information requested in 2011, ‘Will it soon be normal to see boxers fighting in their 50s‘.
The article has since taken a sinister tone of realism.
Heavyweight legends
Evander Holyfield, Bernard Hopkins, Roy Jones Jr., and James Toney had been plying their commerce nicely into their late thirties and early forties.
Regardless of some holding lower than spectacular data later of their respective careers, nothing transpired to intervene in opposition to any of these legendary boxers.
I assume it got here with the territory of previous accomplishments. It led to an “when you’re sufficiently old, you’re ok” mentality.
Inform that to Ernie Shavers, although. The previous world heavyweight challenger severed an eight-year retirement in 1995 to present it yet one more shot at 51.
A majority resolution victory over 20-loss no-hoper Brian Morgan over eight rounds could have given the big-punching ‘Black Destroyer’ a false sense of safety.
All of it unraveled two months later in opposition to Brian Yates, a journeyman with 5 wins and sixteen defeats.
Yates recorded simply the second stoppage of his profession. However it was definitely nothing to have a good time. The entire promotion was in poor style, utilizing Shavers for his title solely.
Fortunately, Shavers retired instantly, by no means to return.
Oliver McCall
There are arguments about some previous champions returning and doing okay. You may use Oliver McCall on this bracket.
However after 5 losses in eight bouts approaching his ‘first retirement’ whereas approaching 50, McCall had no enterprise coming again 4 years later.
At 53, McCall – as with most who make a comeback – was capitalizing on his title. Nevertheless, two wins over shockingly mediocre opposition led McCall to Jamal Woods in 2018.
Amazingly, ‘The Atomic Bull’ – wanting significantly like a grandpa who must be at dwelling together with his pipe and slippers – went via all of the pre-fight formalities earlier than ducking out of the battle after the weigh-in.
His opponent then spoke solely to WBN to disclose what he noticed taking place.
D.M. Productions
“Oliver McCall didn’t present to the battle. He was scared on the weigh-in,” Woods solely informed World Boxing Information. “Oliver McCall is a has-been.
“He didn’t pay me for making a twelve-hour journey to the battle.”
With 42 losses on his C.V. and seventeen triumphs, Woods should have been a scary man at that weigh-in for McCall to exit stage left as he did.
Tyson vs Jones
We now had Mike Tyson, Roy Jones Jr., and Evander Holyfield competing of their first bouts at fifty-plus to contrasting fortunes.
Whereas Tyson and Jones broke the exhibition Pay Per View report, Holyfield was humbled in a single spherical by MMA star Vitor Belfort.
Even the nice Jack Johnson may have informed a story or two, perhaps fired a warning to the trio concerning the perils of doubtless ruining a legacy.
Johnson suffered three of his eleven losses into his 50s and will have left boxing with single-digit defeats had he not been enticed again.
So, heavyweight greats Tyson, Jones, and Holyfield could have a story to inform? – However was it actually value it?
If different legends return, it will likely be like a multi-car pile-up on the freeway. You received’t be capable of assist however look.
WBN Editor Phil has over ten years of boxing information expertise. Observe WBN on Fb @officialworldboxingnews and Twitter @worldboxingnews.
