Yeah, but his last fight was a tune guy that he wouldve blasted out in two earlier in his career, so I assume he saw the way thr tide was turning and quit while he could still speak.
Colin Jones the very good Welsh welterweight retired at 25 , those of us of a vintage will remember the brutal cut sustained across the bridge of his nose by Donald Curry, his last fight.
Willie De Witt after being annihilated by Cooper he went on a five win streak and after getting a revenge win over Gold Medallist Tillman he retired at age 26. He went onto be a highly successful lawyer and is currently now a judge in Canada.
Bernard 'Superbad' Mays - about 24 Art Hafey - about 25 Mando Ramos - 24 (but then he made a very poor comeback with poor wins and even worse losses)
Ali did look better in the Berbick fight than he did against Holmes, but he still was shot to pieces. He was getting tagged by Tommy Hearns during sparring.
Mays was so highly rated by everyone at the Kronk gym. A real lost talent, he beat himself really, chronic alcoholic by all accounts, drank most days and as we know that never ends well in boxing. Manny Steward once said he was the most talented he had seen at the Kronk gym.
I suppose he wasn't that young but at 32 and unbeaten it was a shame Dmitry Pirog (20-0) had to retire early due a spinal injury his pro career only lasted 7 years.