Old fighters and their last great performance

Carl Thompson, who lived and died on heart and little else, beating the best cruiser of the last several years in David Haye when the Cat was 40 years old.

Carbajal beating a up and coming, undefeated Jorge Arce.

 

I think that both Joe Walcott and Ezzard Charles gave their last great performence against Rocky Marciano and it wasnt quite enough in either case.

Its not that they were shot but they seemed to be able to get it all together, perhaps excel themselves, one last time and then had nothing left.

I guess somtimes a fighter can rise up one last time for a big incentive but leaves a bit of themself in the ring doing it.

 

I never saw the Arce fight, wasnt it a classic case where the older guy was behind on points and delivered a one punch kayo or something?

 

Arce was more or less beating the **** out of him from memory.

Got a little carried away, tired slightly, left himself open and Mike jumped at the chance to take him out.

 

One punch? I remember reading about the fight in the Boxing News but just never watched it for some reason

 

Azumah Nelson v Gabe Ruelas in '95 and Jesse James Leija in '96
Thomas Hearns v Virgil Hill
Joel Casamayor v Michael Katsidis

 

would sugar shane fit on this thread ?

 

Larry Holmes fits this in alot of ways. After he defeated Eric Esch via decision, he called out Juan Carlos Gomez, but thank God the fight never happened, and Holmes went back into retirement again.

 

Emile Griffith in the Monzon rematch.

 

He was stopped on his feet by several.

 

The fight was competitive early, and I believe Carbajal even had Arce down at one point, but the fight had truned in Arce's favor and he appeared to be well on his way to a decision or perhaps even stoppage win (Carbajal was bleeding and tired) when Carbajal caught him with a sneak right hand and sent him into the ropes. He followed up with a flurry of punches and the referee stopped the fight.

Very good, entertaining and dramatic fight.

 

If it really does turn out to be his last great performance, then yes.

 

With the quality of steroids these days maybe he has several. Just look at Sylvester Stallone.

 

Jimmy McLarnin against Canzoneri(rematch) and Ambers.

Dick Tiger against Benvenuti.