My list of my favorite All-Time Boxing Comebacks.
- Sugar Ray Leonard vs Marvin Hagler. April 6, 1987. After just one fight in five years, Ray Leonard shocks the world and defeats Marvelous Marvin Hagler with no tune-up bouts.
- George Foreman wins the Heavyweight Championship after a 10 year hiatus from the ring. George comes back in March of 1987, and knocks out Michael Moorer on November 5, 1994 to regain the belt at age 45.
- Muhammad Ali returns from a three and a half year ban from boxing, from April of 1967 until October 1970. He wins the title back from George Foreman on October 30, 1974, some ten years after winning it the first time from Sonny Liston in 1964.
- Evander Holyfield knocks out Mike Tyson to regain the Heavyweight Championship on November 9, 1996. After having lost to Riddick Bowe in November of 1995, and struggling with Bobby Czyz in May of ’96, Holyfield knocks out ‘Iron Mike’ Tyson after opening as a 25-1 underdog in September of 1996.
- Mike Tyson regains the Heavyweight Championship after three years in prison. Tyson returned to ring action in August of 1995, and after two easy wins, knocks out Frank Bruno on March 16, 1996 to recapture the crown.
- Roberto Duran wins the Junior Middleweight Championship from Davey Moore. After disgracing himself in the ‘No Mas ‘ 1980 bout with Ray Leonard, Duran overcomes another loss to Wilfred Benitez in January, 1982 to knock out Moore on June 16, 1983 at Madison Square Garden in New York.
- Sugar Ray Robinson returns to the ring after a three year stint as a dancer in Europe from 1952 until 1955. Ray would win the middleweight title an incredible five times during the 1950’s.
- Larry Holmes comes back in 1991 after 3 year retirement, to earn two shots at the title. Larry shocks the world in February of 1992 by easily beating the undefeated Ray Mercer. Holmes lost to Evander Holyfield in June of 1992, and Oliver McCall in 1995 in his two last chances at the crown.
- Lennox Lewis avenges both of his losses as a pro. After getting stopped by Oliver McCall in September 1994, Lewis stops a bizarrely acting McCall in February 1997. He also came back from a knock out loss to Hasim Rahman in April of 1991, with a spectacular KO in their rematch sevens month later.
- Mike Weaver vs. John Tate. On March 31, 1980 in Knoxville, Tennessee, Mike ‘Hercules’ Weaver knocks out WBA champ ‘Big’ John Tate with a single left hook with just 45 seconds left in the 15th round. Tate had won almost every round, but one punch from Weaver finished his night and took his belt too.
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