Boxers That Retired At the Right Time?

Carlos Monzon
Joe Calzaghe

 

2K Id say, Patterson, Hagler maybe? If rematch with SRL was impossible to make then it was right time IMHO since he pretty much couldnt achive more. And also Maidana picked good time - just after his 3 best fights.

 

HW
Vitali Klitschko
Lennox Lewis

 

Marciano, Lennox Lewis and Tunney; the only 3 times in heavyweight history that a lineal champion retired (and stayed retired). It is definitely the right time for a boxer to retire.

 

Carlos Monzon and Rocky Marciano. Monzon retired as World Middleweight Champion on August 29 1977 after a seven year reign as champion, 14 title defenses. Marciano retired as World Heavyweight Champion in April 1956 after a a four year reign as champion, 6 title defenses. Monzon retired after a hard fought 15 round decision over no.1 challenger Rodrigo Valdes in their second bout, the first being on June 26 1976 to unify the WBA and WBC titles. Marciano retired after a TKO 9 of World Light Heavyweight Champion Archie Moore on Sept 21 1955. Monzon's pro record at the time of retirement was 89-3-9, 61 KO's, plus an 82 bout unbeaten streak dating back to 1964. Marciano retired with a final record of 49-0, 43 KO's. Both knew when it was time to quit without tarnishing their legacy with a loss.

 

Saoul Mamby

 

Thanks my friend.

 

Mike DiBiase

 

I think getting out at the right time doesn't usually mean getting out while still a champion. In general, going out on top may be a great idea from a happy life point of view but from a boxing career point of view I don't always think it's the best move.

I think for Monzon, it was perfect. His career had been slowing down as he'd gone from fighting four times a year to three, then two, then one. In his last two bouts he had close fights and was knocked down by Rodrigo Valdes in his final bout. Escopeta's skills were slipping and he was losing interest. That was a perfect time to go out.

Rocky Marciano had a lot left and definitely could have kept fighting as champion for a couple more years. From a boxing point of view there was nothing necessarily right about it.

Of very recent vintage, future Hall of Famer Nonito Donaire had a great chance to go out at the right time. The four division world champion and 18 year veteran was just short of his 37th birthday when he lost to fellow future Hall of Famer Naoya Inoue in a brutal, fantastic fight which was eventually named the 2019 Ring Magazine Fight of the Year. If Donaire had retired after the fight it would have been ideal. He would have left the sport after a high quality loss to a high quality fighter.

Of course, boxing rarely works that way. Boxers usually have to have the fact it's time to retire proven to them by way of a severe beatdown or a one sided decision loss. Donaire responded to the Inoue loss by dominating two lesser quality opponents in WBC bantamweight title fights to earn another shot at Inoue. Unfortunately for Nonito, he was 30 months older and Inoue was 30 months better. Donaire was blasted out in two rounds.

Related to older top fighters, I think the best time to retire is after a loss has shown them what they may have already suspected, they aren't what they used to be. If they have to have it proven to them twice it's probably not going to end well.

 

Great Post Fogger. Monzon was also making westerns in his native Argentina, his heart was no longer into boxing. As for Marciano, his back was starting to bother him based on his fighting style, he crouched. Also Marciano's immediate family urged him to retire, he did miss them as he was always in training. These two were set financially, they had very shrewd management who put money away for them for the future. Sometimes losses tarnish legacies, then excuses are made for those fighters which brings denials for their fans.