BoxRec

Some times fighters go out in a blaze of glory in their last outing as a pro, while for the most part, it ends in disaster. The last round, the last hurrah, call it what you will. Name your favorite fighters last bout, and how it ended.

One of my favorite boxers was Archie Moore. His last match was against 'Southern Heavyweight' wrestling champion 'Iron' Mike DiBiase (step-father to the 'Million Dollar Man' Ted DiBiase). It wasn't the first time Moore battled with wrestlers in the ring, as he knocked out such men as 'Professor' Roy Shire and Sterling Davis. Moore, at one time, was also scheduled to take on 'The Man of Steel' himself, George Reeves, but tragically the television star was found dead, presumably by his own hands.

In Pheonix, Arizona, Moore showed flashes of his former glories, beating the much larger DiBiase from pillar to post, before it was stopped in the 3rd round. Moore was alleged to be 50 years old or more on that night. Not too long before this encounter, he lost on TKO in the 4th round to his old protege Cassius Clay.

Joe Frazier came back at 37 years of age and struggled to a draw against Jumbo Cummings.

Correction, Frazier was given a gift draw against Cummings.

Gerrie Coetzee, made a last chance effort at making waves in the HW division, when he was matched up against Iran Barkley. Coetzee, emulating George Foreman (so much to the point of standing in between rounds), announced that age was just a number and that the fighters of his time and prior were superior. Barkley, who was also passed his best, gave the former HW champ all he could handle. It was eight sloppy, wildly entertaining rounds and unfortunately 'The Bionic Hand' (Coetzee) just couldnt pull the trigger quick enough on his younger opponent.

Oscar De La Hoya, also apparently unable to pull the trigger, sleep-walked through an eight-round pummeling at the hands of Manny Pacquiao

De La Hoya hasn't officially retired, though. Isnt there still talks of him facing Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr?

HomicideHenry wrote:De La Hoya hasn't officially retired, though. Isnt there still talks of him facing Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr?

All I know is I switched on the news one morning, & saw him say he's retired. I haven't looked any further into it than that, but I saw him say it was over.

What's emerged since?

De lahoya has done enough. He has fought tough fights, trained
all to hard when he no longer needed to. He is a very real business
man who does not need to risk it all any more.

I hope he enjoys his retirement and makes himself and his family
some more money.

I wonder how many of these fighters knew it was going to be their
last hurah leading up to it.

Im curious to see the Barkley-Coetzee fight.