BoxRec

In a link to my post regarding ALI's lost years, which other boxer after 4 years absence from a ring would fight a top ten ranked fighter for his initial comeback fight?

OK, he wasn't coming back from a loss, but there have been a few VERY weak opponents for comebacking fighters.

Tyson was out for 3 years and he fought Peter McNeeley.

Can anybody think of TOP "initial choices of opponent" or TERRIBLE choices of "initial choices of opponent"

Phil

Our own Frank Bruno came back and fought John Emmen.......tut tut..!!

For a top choice how's this? After a 6 year retirement Jim Jeffries first opponent was Jack Johnson. After a 4 year abscense Joe Louis' first fight was with Billy Conn.

For an easy comeback, after 8 years away Max Schmeling first opponent was Werner Vollmer.

Leonard fighting Hagler

After retiring as featherweight champ, Vicente Saldivar came back 2 years later to fight top contender Jose Legra.

Willie Pep came back after 6 years off to fight unknown Hal McKeever. George Foreman's first fight in his comeback was the not too dangerous Steve Zouski.

You can reverse the Louis-Conn comeback by saying Louis took on a formidable opponent in Conn without having a tune up.Also. though it was only two years, and he did knock over a bunch of guys in so-called exhibitions,Louis' comeback after retirement in his first regulation fight was against Ezzard Charles. Most people forget or never knew that Louis was the betting favorite in that fight, and not just the sentimental one. Gamblers don't bet from the heart. Charles was, as usual, highly under rated. Still, there were alot of easier guys Ali could have taken on instead of Quarry.

Ray Robinson came back from a 3 year retirement in 1955 and faced sturdy but fading Joe Rindone. Michael Moorer took the easy route in his 2000 comeback fight. He took on journeyman Lorenzo Boyd.

Oops..apologies,Tomato Can.You DID have Louis facing Conn after the long layoff.Somehow I reversed it in my mind. Actiually, although Conn did fight between the two Louis fights, you could credit him with a tough comeback after four years since his own last fight. Could have had a tune up first, but a loss or bad showing would have damaged the anticipation of the two meeting again, so that's probably why he didn't.