Which Fighters Retired Too Early?

[keithmoonhangover]

Jemal Hinton for starters.

[allworld80]

I don't think there is such a thing as retiring "too early" in boxing.

[keithmoonhangover]

I don't think there is such a thing as retiring "too early" in boxing.

Hinton retired unbeaten, without ever reaching his potential.

[raylawpc]

From whose perspective? The fighters or yours? Unless the fighter was somehow forced to retire (aka Ali in 1967 or Leroy Jones due to a detached retina), from the fighter's perspective most never retired "too early."

[keithmoonhangover]

From whose perspective? The fighters or yours? Unless the fighter was somehow forced to retire (aka Ali in 1967 or Leroy Jones due to a detached retina), from the fighter's perspective most never retired "too early."

Jemal Hinton
won 22 (KO 17) + lost 0 (KO 0) + drawn 0

He retired on religious grounds.

[Darling]

Terry Marsh

[keithmoonhangover]

Terry Marsh

Amen to that. My Mrs has developed epilepsy in the last few years, so I know how hard it is.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I wouldn't say any fighter that never fought again retired too early. But I will say that Carlos Zarate took way too long off since he did come back.

[Goodnight, Irene]

From whose perspective? The fighters or yours? Unless the fighter was somehow forced to retire (aka Ali in 1967 or Leroy Jones due to a detached retina), from the fighter's perspective most never retired "too early."

Ali didn't retire until '70.

[oliverfennell]

What does everyone think about Naz?

On the one hand, he'd already had a long reign and captured all the major belts at the weight. And even though still shy of 30, he'd probably already peaked. But there was a definite sense of "unfinished business" about his career.

He does lose points for not attempting to rematch Barrera, but then again if he had rematched him and lost again, his legacy may have suffered further.

[Darling]

What does everyone think about Naz?

On the one hand, he'd already had a long reign and captured all the major belts at the weight. And even though still shy of 30, he'd probably already peaked. But there was a definite sense of "unfinished business" about his career.

He does lose points for not attempting to rematch Barrera, but then again if he had rematched him and lost again, his legacy may have suffered further.

He came back, at a lower level, but I think he immediately found the desire was no longer there.

Same with McGuigan. He came back but the intensity was no longer there. The cut eye loss to Jim McDonnell didn't have to be the end but it seemed to remove any lingering ambition he might have had as a professional boxer.

Both guys provided me with plenty thrills and spills and I'm glad they got out with health and wealth intact.

[ben geoghegan]

Calazghe
Jeffries

[tanibanana]

Ben Villaflor..

[raylawpc]

From whose perspective? The fighters or yours? Unless the fighter was somehow forced to retire (aka Ali in 1967 or Leroy Jones due to a detached retina), from the fighter's perspective most never retired "too early."

Ali didn't retire until '70.

Semantics. He was effectively retired after the Folley fight when he refused induction.

[Goodnight, Irene]

^^^Only in hindsight. There was confusion & uncertainty at the time, & his retirement didn't come, nonetheless, until three years later.

[JC]

Calazghe

I'd say Calzaghe retired at exactly the right time for him. 36 years old off the back of two massive paydays, which he came through with his record and health in tact. Why would he want to carry on with smaller paydays until he lost?

[raylawpc]

^^^Only in hindsight. There was confusion & uncertainty at the time, & his retirement didn't come, nonetheless, until three years later.

Oh, I disagree. For those of us who were alive in 1967, it was pretty clear that Muhammad Ali was screwed, and wasn't going to fight again (if ever) for a long, long time. And if public support for the Vietnam War had not gone sideways, he might never have fought again, much less come back after "only" four years.

[jaclem2]

..i agree with those who have said no boxer ever retired too early. given the premise, though, i'm surprised nobody has said gene tunney. i think he retired at exactly the right time, but the fans would have liked to have seen him against sharkey....or schmeling...

[JMac]

From whose perspective? The fighters or yours? Unless the fighter was somehow forced to retire (aka Ali in 1967 or Leroy Jones due to a detached retina), from the fighter's perspective most never retired "too early."

Jemal Hinton
won 22 (KO 17) + lost 0 (KO 0) + drawn 0

He retired on religious grounds.

Hinton's father told me that Jemal is in jail. I think he killed somebody which him coming from Wash DC....it happens all too often.

[keithmoonhangover]

From whose perspective? The fighters or yours? Unless the fighter was somehow forced to retire (aka Ali in 1967 or Leroy Jones due to a detached retina), from the fighter's perspective most never retired "too early."

Jemal Hinton
won 22 (KO 17) + lost 0 (KO 0) + drawn 0

He retired on religious grounds.

Hinton's father told me that Jemal is in jail. I think he killed somebody which him coming from Wash DC....it happens all too often.

i'm sure that he stopped fighting on religious grounds, it's a shame that he is now in prison, a damn shame.

[sweetsci]

Leo Randolph, 1976 Olympic Medalist and brief Jr. Feather champ, retired after losing the title at a very young age.

70's heavyweight Howard Smith made it into the top 10, was KO'd by Shavers in early 1977, fought once more in August 1977, and disappeared. He was supposed to be Larry Holmes' opponent on the televised "Night Of The Heavyweights" card (with Norton, Young, Lyle, Jones); Holmes of course fought Fred "Young Sanford" Houpe instead.

'84 Silver medalist Francesco Damiani, who looked great against a young Ray Mercer before getting caught with one shot, retired after a few more wins and a loss to Oliver McCall.

I don't know if they retired too early... we all have to live with our choices and decide for ourselves whether our efforts in any given area were good enough.

[Duran Fan]

Lennox Lewis should of had a rematch with Vitaly. He was still fresh at 37.