Fighters who seemed to be 'completely done' but came back and won the title later

Evander Holyfield was written off by many after losing to Michael Moorer and getting the "bad heart" diagnosis. His year off after that seemed to do him good, when he back against a motivated Ray Mercer and looked good. But then came the stoppage loss against Bowe in which he was completely exhausted by the middle rounds. He definitely looked like damaged goods by the end of that fight. The Czyz bout didn't help his case, either. By the time he fought Tyson, he was expected to be kayoed early by the resurgent Tyson. Holyfield-Tyson was seen as a tune-up bout for Tyson. Some writers feared for Holyfield's life. How wrong they were.

 

Daniel Zaragoza was in his late 20s, had won and lost the bantamweight title and was then soundly outpointed over 10 rounds by Jeff Fenech. It looked like he had entered stepping-stone territory. Who would have guessed he would be involved in world title fights at 122 for the next 10 years?

Bruce Curry - after really exploding on the scene with big fights with Wilfred Benitez and Monroe Brooks, he started to fizzle a bit and eventually stoppage losses to guys like Steve Hearon and Greg Stephens wrote him off. But suddenly, a surprise win over Ronnie Shields got him a title shot and the champ, Leroy Haley, had a style made for him and he ended up making 3 defenses.

 

James J Braddock.

I knew his father he was a wonderful chap our Jimmy was.

 

George Foreman: once he had been retired for a while in the 1970s and clearly wasn’t coming back (at that time) and the division moved forward without him.

And again after he lost to Holyfield I think everyone figured it was over.

Also Roberto Duran after he had lost to Kirkland Laing. Seemed to be finished, anything over 147 seemed too much and he seemed to be disinterested. The Pipino Cuevas win rejuvenated him.

 

It was very short-lived, but I was amazed that Jermain Taylor managed to bag another world title (albeit it was very much a run of the mill alphabet soup one) in 2014. He looked absolutely shot to bits by the time Abraham knocked him out in late 2009, and he didn't fight for a full two years after that, what with all his physical and legal problems.

Quite enjoyed Randall Bailey's brief resurrection when he knocked out Jones to become a world champion again, well over a decade since he last held a world title and when he looked very much relegated to divisional gatekeeper status.

Marvin Johnson looked finished as a world champion candidate when Spinks sparked him out, but came back to win one again....And finally made a successful defence this time! It was the very least he deserved. Love Pops.

 

Duran did it not just once but twice.

 

Pops is my go-to here.

 

Arthur Abraham after losing to Steiglitz, went on to become a tgi ably the number 1 SMW in the world.

Bobby Chacon was knocked out for the 2nd time by Ruben Olivares and 7 years and many losses later, he went on to become arguably the number 1 SFW in the world.

 

Edwin Rosario ko3 Loretto Garza.

Not only did Rosario win he destroyed Garzas career.

 

Nonito Donaire

 

Bobby Czyz winning the WBA Cruiserweight title from Robert Daniels surprised me at the time. This was following two tough stoppage losses to Prince Charles Williams and losses to Dennis Andries and Virgil Hill at light-heavyweight. Maybe he didn't look 'completely done' but definitely on the downside.

Frank Bruno winning the WBC Heavyweight title late in his career after 4 stoppage losses and against a durable danger man like Oliver McCall was a nice way to cap a career. Too bad he fought Tyson again.

Tommy Morrison was frighteningly knocked out by Ray Mercer but he had youth on his side and was able to come back and outpoint George Foreman a year later. That kind of stoppage loss would finish a lot of prospects and ruin their confidence.

Terry Norris was frighteningly knocked out by Julian Jackson in his first title shot. Again, that kind of loss would ruin a lot of fighter's psyche and confidence. That he came back from that and was able to be a dominant world champion was special.

 

Big George looked done after Alex Stewart.