Sometimes I think about the boxers, who had been past prime and had been losing to the fighters, to whom they would have never lost being in good conditions. But they did that again and again because of money or just love for boxing, or something else, this doesn't matter now. So I look on their records and try to imagine, how beautiful those records could have been, if they were shorter.
Some examples:
Evander Holyfied - I think, he should have retired after Ruiz trilogy with a record 37–5–2. First Ruiz fight was significant for Evander, as he became HW champ for the 4th time. The fight had left some questions, so I'm not against another 2 fights vs Ruiz, although they had been absolutely boring. They had just proved once and for all, that Evander was done. After that he had 7-5, 1 NC, what was absolutely unnecessary.
Roberto Duran - in my opinion, he should have retired after the 3rd Leonard fight with a record 85–8. After that he was done, he wasn't able to provide another comeback, he was fat, he lost to the guys he would had never lost in prime.
So, there are many such examples. Roy Jones, James Toney, Joe Louis. And not so long unnecessary career endings like Ali, Tyson and Leonard had. What's your opinion about different fighters' late careers, write where you feel their careers should have been over instead of what actually happened.
Proper retirements
Re: Proper retirements
I think Danny Williams should have retired after the bout with Vitali Klitschko and Erik Morales should have retired after the 3rd bout with Pacquiao.
Re: Proper retirements
So, for Roy Jones it was better to retire after Glenn Johnson with a record 49–3. After that he had more wins, than losses, but he generally lost the big fights and some of losses were by a KO, so that was unnecessary run, even despite the fact that some performances, like against Trinidad or Lacy, were relatively impressive.
James Toney should have reired after John Ruiz with a record 68–4–2 (1). After that he had 9-6-1 (1) with no big victories.
Joe Louis was better to stay retired after the 2nd Walcott fight.
Sugar Ray Leonard didn't have to come back for Camacho fight.
Mike Tyson should have retired after Lewis. It was pretty clear then, that Mike had been done. After that he had an unnecassary attempt to come back adding 1-2 to his record.
With Ali the situation is more questionable. The best for Muhammad and his health it was to retire after Manila, as his doctor Ferdie Pacheco had suggested. The deadline in this sence was the 3rd Norton fight, where Ali had very unconvincing performance. After that he even picked lower class opponents for his defences. Shavers fight was really exciting though. The absolute deadline was after Spinks rematch. Holmes and Berbick fights were completely unnecessary.
James Toney should have reired after John Ruiz with a record 68–4–2 (1). After that he had 9-6-1 (1) with no big victories.
Joe Louis was better to stay retired after the 2nd Walcott fight.
Sugar Ray Leonard didn't have to come back for Camacho fight.
Mike Tyson should have retired after Lewis. It was pretty clear then, that Mike had been done. After that he had an unnecassary attempt to come back adding 1-2 to his record.
With Ali the situation is more questionable. The best for Muhammad and his health it was to retire after Manila, as his doctor Ferdie Pacheco had suggested. The deadline in this sence was the 3rd Norton fight, where Ali had very unconvincing performance. After that he even picked lower class opponents for his defences. Shavers fight was really exciting though. The absolute deadline was after Spinks rematch. Holmes and Berbick fights were completely unnecessary.