BoxRec

....walked away from the money and didn't come back.
Those who had unfinished business versus a potential opponent or had no viable challenges?

Though I do think Marciano could have gone 50-0 if not held the title for a few more years, I believe if anything he got out at the right time, as most swarmers burn out and are used up by 32-35; Frazier and Dempsey were proof of this.

I agree with Henry. IMO, Marciano didn't get out too soon. He got out at the right time.

There are seldom few who fit the mould you are asking for. Tunney is one, though I don't think he was more than two or three years premature, anyway. Jeffries would also qualify, for mine.

Hagler could have gone on another year or two, I expect.

Aaron Pryor, shame he ruined himself.

Flump wrote:Aaron Pryor, shame he ruined himself.

Harold Johnson told me he thought Pryor was the genuine article.

Flump wrote:Aaron Pryor, shame he ruined himself.

I wouldn't say Pryor retired too soon, unless you count his 2 years plus cocaine binge a 'retirement'

dempseyfire wrote:

Flump wrote:Aaron Pryor, shame he ruined himself.

I wouldn't say Pryor retired too soon, unless you count his 2 years plus cocaine binge a 'retirement'

Well he gave up his titles and effectively retired himself due to his nose candy problems, forgetting the failed comeback attempt.

Knucklez wrote:Hagler could have gone on another year or two, I expect.

Hagler got out at the right time. Hed slowed down considerably even in the Mugabi fight. If hed carried on another year or two he may have lost the return to Leonard on points, and I believe that Nunn and McCallum would have beaten Hagler on points in the late 80s.

Fighters seldom get out too early, although there are plenty who could have hung around and made millions even though they were past their primes. Ottke, for example, could have continued making big money winning split decisions in Germany for another decade.
However, one guy who I thought quit a little early was Carlos Zarate, who retired at 28 after being ripped off against Pintor. Zarate could have been a force for several more years after that, and I would have been interested to see him take on Jeff Chandler, the top bwieght in the early 1980s. Zarate did come back many years later, but by then he was way past his prime

Hagler and Marciano were smart.

Marciano especially he left without a blemish. Jeffries could have done this had he never faced Johnson. Sadly for him too many remember him for 1910 as opposed to what happened long before hand.

Knucklez wrote:Hagler could have gone on another year or two, I expect.

I'm not so sure about that.

Hagler's speed had gone way South by 1987. He was woefully slow in the Leonard fight & would have got even slower IMO.

I believe that had Leonard not come back & outpsed him, Michael Nunn would have done so in '87 or '88 or maybe even Herol Graham might have outslicked him by then.

Jimmy Carruthers, when was World Champion


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