The Come Back of Mike Tyson
Posted: 20 Aug 2006, 14:57
In recent news some rumors have been spilling that 2x HW champion Mike Tyson will be returning to the ring, not as an active boxer, but in a series of exhibition bouts over the course of the next few months.
This brings me to recollect many memories and historical facts of boxers, who did exactly what Tyson is planning on now, some after some 'success' in exhibitions attempted to make a legit come-back, others did not.
Here is a list of some legendary fighters who did exhibitions after they had retired:
Joe Louis- After he retired as champion back in 1949 after defending his title for the 25th time against Jersey Joe Walcott, The Brown Bomber found himself in deep debt [ironically the same predicament as Tyson] and decided to do a series of exhibitions to pay back Uncle Sam. Louis fought nearly 80 men between 1949 and 1950. He defeated such men as Nino Valdes, Rex Layne, Curtis Sheppard, Elmer Ray, Jimmy Bivins, Pat Valentino, among several others. Louis eventually returned to active competition and went 8-2 (3) losing to Charles and Marciano.
Jack Dempsey- After his retirement in 1927 Dempsey made a return to the ring in 1930 fighting in exhibition matches until 1940. He had considered making an official return to the ring until dancing HW King Levinsky out worked Dempsey in a four round exhibition. Before the Levinsky bout Dempsey had faced the likes of Meyer 'KO' Christner, Alvin Babe Hunt, Ed Bearcat Wright, Big Bill Hartwell and several others, knocking out many of them.
Bob Fitzsimmons- Long after he was champion at Middleweight, Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight, Fitzsimmons fought a few exhibitions and tried to make a comeback, only to be held back by Athletic Commisions of the times. He was originally squared off to face Alfred 'Soldier' Kearns, only to face Bob Sweeney, Jersey Bellew, Kid Wagner and later 'Young' Bob Fitzsimmons.
Jack Johnson- After losing the crown in 1915, Johnson served a year in jail in Leavenworth fighting exhibitions and when he was released he fought a series of exhibitions and actual bouts. From 1921 to 1945 he faced such men as Luis Firpo, Philadelphia Jack O'Brien, Battling Siki, in exhibitions. He did try to get a fight with then reigning champion Jack Dempsey and later on Joe Louis, to be turned down both times.
Jess Willard- After his loss to Dempsey the 6'6" 245 pound Willard did many exhibitions from 1922 to 1926. Joe Bonds, Frank Farmer and Tom Kennedy were the best of his exhibition opponents. He made two unsuccessful attempts at title contention, the most memorable being his loss to fellow big man Luis Angel Firpo in a bout that was billed as 'The Battle of the Giants'.
James J. Jefferies- After retiring as the undefeated HW champion in 1905 'The Iron Man' made a series of exhibitions, even against contenders Jack Root and Joe Choynski and was scheduled to face Billy Squires, the man who would later face Tommy Burns for the title. Jefferies would later come out of retirement, but not to his own desire, but by public demand against Jack Johnson---losing over 100 pounds for the fight, and was knocked down and knocked out for the first time in his illustrious career.
Looking at these few examples, it is against Tyson if he was to make an actual return to the ring as an active competitor, even if he does remarkably well in exhibitions. The lone exception was Joe Louis, and possibly Dempsey, had he been matched right, if he made a true comeback.
This brings me to recollect many memories and historical facts of boxers, who did exactly what Tyson is planning on now, some after some 'success' in exhibitions attempted to make a legit come-back, others did not.
Here is a list of some legendary fighters who did exhibitions after they had retired:
Joe Louis- After he retired as champion back in 1949 after defending his title for the 25th time against Jersey Joe Walcott, The Brown Bomber found himself in deep debt [ironically the same predicament as Tyson] and decided to do a series of exhibitions to pay back Uncle Sam. Louis fought nearly 80 men between 1949 and 1950. He defeated such men as Nino Valdes, Rex Layne, Curtis Sheppard, Elmer Ray, Jimmy Bivins, Pat Valentino, among several others. Louis eventually returned to active competition and went 8-2 (3) losing to Charles and Marciano.
Jack Dempsey- After his retirement in 1927 Dempsey made a return to the ring in 1930 fighting in exhibition matches until 1940. He had considered making an official return to the ring until dancing HW King Levinsky out worked Dempsey in a four round exhibition. Before the Levinsky bout Dempsey had faced the likes of Meyer 'KO' Christner, Alvin Babe Hunt, Ed Bearcat Wright, Big Bill Hartwell and several others, knocking out many of them.
Bob Fitzsimmons- Long after he was champion at Middleweight, Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight, Fitzsimmons fought a few exhibitions and tried to make a comeback, only to be held back by Athletic Commisions of the times. He was originally squared off to face Alfred 'Soldier' Kearns, only to face Bob Sweeney, Jersey Bellew, Kid Wagner and later 'Young' Bob Fitzsimmons.
Jack Johnson- After losing the crown in 1915, Johnson served a year in jail in Leavenworth fighting exhibitions and when he was released he fought a series of exhibitions and actual bouts. From 1921 to 1945 he faced such men as Luis Firpo, Philadelphia Jack O'Brien, Battling Siki, in exhibitions. He did try to get a fight with then reigning champion Jack Dempsey and later on Joe Louis, to be turned down both times.
Jess Willard- After his loss to Dempsey the 6'6" 245 pound Willard did many exhibitions from 1922 to 1926. Joe Bonds, Frank Farmer and Tom Kennedy were the best of his exhibition opponents. He made two unsuccessful attempts at title contention, the most memorable being his loss to fellow big man Luis Angel Firpo in a bout that was billed as 'The Battle of the Giants'.
James J. Jefferies- After retiring as the undefeated HW champion in 1905 'The Iron Man' made a series of exhibitions, even against contenders Jack Root and Joe Choynski and was scheduled to face Billy Squires, the man who would later face Tommy Burns for the title. Jefferies would later come out of retirement, but not to his own desire, but by public demand against Jack Johnson---losing over 100 pounds for the fight, and was knocked down and knocked out for the first time in his illustrious career.
Looking at these few examples, it is against Tyson if he was to make an actual return to the ring as an active competitor, even if he does remarkably well in exhibitions. The lone exception was Joe Louis, and possibly Dempsey, had he been matched right, if he made a true comeback.