BoxRec

In boxing, there have been many a comeback, by many a boxer, but which one do you think stands out as the most anticipated?

The opponent doesn't matter; titles don't matter either; also, the subsequent result is also irrelevant.

I picked a random selection I can think of off the top of my head, but feel free to choose 'OTHER COMEBACK' & nominate a fighter & year.

Ali in 1970 or Tyson in 1995. No doubt about it

James J Jeffries

Boxing Writer wrote: ↑29 Jan 2018, 19:30 Ali in 1970 or Tyson in 1995. No doubt about it

Agree with that
Also, Jeffries comeback was highly anticipated by the general public at the time.

Was George Foreman's comeback not hyped?

I think the answer is Ali after his 3 year exile.. then Tyson after his 3 year stint in Prison.

I suppose Ali & Tyson are the two biggest in terms of history & the general public.

For me it's two of Leonards comebacks. The return against Hagler & then 18 months later the return against Lalonde. I know this wasn't as big to everyone else but it was huge to me & I was tingling (yes tingling) with excitement from the day it was announced

Foremans comeback was actually considered a bit of a joke by many up until 1990 when he beat Cooney & Rodriguez. Even then 'experts' were expecting a battering against Holyfield.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑30 Jan 2018, 12:11 Was George Foreman's comeback not hyped?

I think the answer is Ali after his 3 year exile.. then Tyson after his 3 year stint in Prison.

I thought about Foreman, but I don't remember too much hype about his return; it was more laughter that this fat bald bloke who bore little resemblance to the afro haired human wrecking ball of the 70s thought he could come back after a decade out.

Where is George Foreman?

littlepug wrote: ↑29 Jan 2018, 19:37 James J Jeffries

Yep. I don't think it can be overstated how much the Public was invested in the outcome of this one. Riots and Murders took place as a result of this bouts outcome all over the country.

As anticipated as Ali or Tyson's comebacks were. This fight represented more to people than just a prizefight. It's mostly an ugly thing what it represented to them frankly, but it can't be denied how much the people of the time were wrapped up in it.

Syntax Error wrote: ↑30 Jan 2018, 12:34

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑30 Jan 2018, 12:11 Was George Foreman's comeback not hyped?

I think the answer is Ali after his 3 year exile.. then Tyson after his 3 year stint in Prison.

I thought about Foreman, but I don't remember too much hype about his return; it was more laughter that this fat bald bloke who bore little resemblance to the afro haired human wrecking ball of the 70s thought he could come back after a decade out.

That's how I remembered it as well. There was virtually no hype at all about Foreman's comeback. I don't think his first fight back was even televised at all. Hardly anyone thought it would amount to much. He was fighting tomato cans for quite a while after coming back after being off for 10 years. Many of his fights were on the USA network and ESPN. He started to get some sideshow attention with these fights and with jokes about his weight and how bad his opponents were. It was a gradual thing. He finally started fighting fringe contenders types. The Cooney fight was actually on Pay Per View. It got a bit of hype.

Foreman's comeback made news, but it was ridiculed rather than hyped. Nobody thought it would be successful back in 1987,

One of my Navy buddies knew one of Foreman's early comeback opponents and said that his friend ought to be ashamed of being knocked out by "that old man."

For my money the most anticipated comeback was Jim Jeffries coming out of retirement to take back the crown from Jack Johnson. Ali's comeback in 1970 was newsworthy, but not in the way Johnson-Jeffries was., Though after Ali had knocked off the top two contenders the anticipation for the Fight of the Century against Frazier was huge. I'd say Tyson's 1995 comeback was more anticipated than Ali's in 1970, despite Ali coming back against a MUCH better opponent.

All I know is did Tyson or Jeffries land on the cover of the then esteemed Life Magazine when they returned to the ring?

October 23 1970. I still have it.

Emblazoned on the front is a picture of a defiant Ali, shirtless with hands on hips, glowering at the camera.

"Look Out---He's Back" reads the caption. "A Different Muhammad Ali Returns to the Ring."

The Greatest comeback of all was about to begin.

Tyson for me, that introduction in his 1st comeback fight after being in jail, beats anything before or since incredible.

In strictly a boxing sense, Tyson's return pales to Ali.

Tyson faced a very safe opponent in McNeely. Wide open, slow and not remotely a top 10 guy.

The result was a foregone conclusion.

Ali jumped in with one of the best heavyweights in the world in Quarry. No soft touch. I believe Quarry was ranked #3 at the time.

Throw in the side story that Black Muslim Ali (still a big deal at the time) was facing a white heavyweight (not a coincidence) in America's racially charged Deep South, and the drama couldn't be surpassed.

And on a social level, the return of the divisive, draft refusing Ali struck a chord within the fabric of the US, still reeling from the Vietnam War.

You didn't need to be a fight fan to take an interest in the outcome of Ali's enormously anticipated return to the ring after his 3 1/2 year odyssey to regain his license.

It's a cliche but it's true---the world was watching.

Interesting, SenorPipino, and good to know. Thinking about it, I have to admit that I wasn't "there" - I was 3 - for Ali-Quarry and thus everything I know is from hindsight; though I have read several primary source documents (newspapers, magazines) from the time. Having lived through an event, and having paid attention when it was happening, leads to a far deeper understanding of what actually happened. So thanks for your response to my post.

For me it was definitely Foreman. I was a big fan of his in the 1970s and I was one of the few people cheering him on in Toronto and against Frazier 2. I liked his bad guy image better truthfully.

His comeback was considered a joke. The boxing writers were amazed that he even won his first fight against Steve Zouski.

Tony1244 wrote: ↑03 Feb 2018, 11:01 For me it was definitely Foreman. I was a big fan of his in the 1970s and I was one of the few people cheering him on in Toronto and against Frazier 2. I liked his bad guy image better truthfully.

His comeback was considered a joke. The boxing writers were amazed that he even won his first fight against Steve Zouski.

His comeback is one of a kind though. There's not another boxer in Boxing history that I can think of that came back after such a lengthy comeback to accomplish what he did. For most men it'd be impossible.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑03 Feb 2018, 11:33

Tony1244 wrote: ↑03 Feb 2018, 11:01 For me it was definitely Foreman. I was a big fan of his in the 1970s and I was one of the few people cheering him on in Toronto and against Frazier 2. I liked his bad guy image better truthfully.

His comeback was considered a joke. The boxing writers were amazed that he even won his first fight against Steve Zouski.

His comeback is one of a kind though. There's not another boxer in Boxing history that I can think of that came back after such a lengthy comeback to accomplish what he did. For most men it'd be impossible.

I remember being really Up for GF's comeback as I said, but deep down I was probably skeptical. I was always a sucker for a Foreman or Quarry comeback.

After Zaire, he kind of had his second comeback in 1976. In those days, a 14 month layoff was considered significant.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑30 Jan 2018, 15:37

littlepug wrote: ↑29 Jan 2018, 19:37 James J Jeffries

Yep. I don't think it can be overstated how much the Public was invested in the outcome of this one. Riots and Murders took place as a result of this bouts outcome all over the country.

As anticipated as Ali or Tyson's comebacks were. This fight represented more to people than just a prizefight. It's mostly an ugly thing what it represented to them frankly, but it can't be denied how much the people of the time were wrapped up in it.

Yes, but only in USA. Ali's and Tyson's combacks were highly anticipated around the world.

Boxing Writer wrote: ↑03 Feb 2018, 11:41

gilgamesh wrote: ↑30 Jan 2018, 15:37

littlepug wrote: ↑29 Jan 2018, 19:37 James J Jeffries

Yep. I don't think it can be overstated how much the Public was invested in the outcome of this one. Riots and Murders took place as a result of this bouts outcome all over the country.

As anticipated as Ali or Tyson's comebacks were. This fight represented more to people than just a prizefight. It's mostly an ugly thing what it represented to them frankly, but it can't be denied how much the people of the time were wrapped up in it.

Yes, but only in USA. Ali's and Tyson's combacks were highly anticipated around the world.

That's a good point

It didn't happen but there was a lot of anticipation for a Marciano comeback.

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑03 Feb 2018, 20:16 It didn't happen but there was a lot of anticipation for a Marciano comeback.

Some speculate that Marciano was apprehensive of eventually having to face the rising Liston and got out of boxing to avoid it.

Interesting fight. The Big Bear vs. The Rock.

SenorPipino wrote: ↑04 Feb 2018, 15:05

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑03 Feb 2018, 20:16 It didn't happen but there was a lot of anticipation for a Marciano comeback.

Some speculate that Marciano was apprehensive of eventually having to face the rising Liston and got out of boxing to avoid it.

Interesting fight. The Big Bear vs. The Rock.

I was always led to believe that he was concerned by Patterson's hand speed.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑03 Feb 2018, 11:42

Boxing Writer wrote: ↑03 Feb 2018, 11:41

gilgamesh wrote: ↑30 Jan 2018, 15:37

Yep. I don't think it can be overstated how much the Public was invested in the outcome of this one. Riots and Murders took place as a result of this bouts outcome all over the country.

As anticipated as Ali or Tyson's comebacks were. This fight represented more to people than just a prizefight. It's mostly an ugly thing what it represented to them frankly, but it can't be denied how much the people of the time were wrapped up in it.

Yes, but only in USA. Ali's and Tyson's combacks were highly anticipated around the world.

That's a good point

Ive always assumed the Johnson/Jeffries saga was of worldwide interest back then ?

I guess it's how you look at things.
The Jeffries-Johnson fight was hugely anticipated. I guess it's how you look at things. Many fans (primarily white) just wanted to see Johnson lose. Many thought that Jeffries had the best chance (at least of any white fighter to beat Johnson). However, it's doubtful that many people would have been that excited to see Jeffries come back if Johnson was not in the picture.

Obviously having Joe Frazier as the champion made Ali's return greatly anticipated. However, even Frazier was not in the picture, Ali's comeback would still have been hugely anticipated.