Boxers who got big wins in their final fights

Ike Ibeabuchi vs Chris Byrd. Although nobody thought back then it would be his final fight

 

Rocky Marciano

 

Paul Pender regaining the World Middleweight crown from Terry Downes.

 

Michael Carbajal knocking out Jorge Arce in his final match.

 

Larry Holmes kinda sorta.............

Andre Ward arguably got the 2nd biggest win in his career in his last win.

3-4 of Carl Froch's biggest wins were in his last 5 fights. That's actually an exclamation mark on his career and why I always say he had a top 5 SMW resume ever.

 

Holmes had talked smack about Butterbean in his book, so Butterbean challenged him to a fight; Holmes accepted, then proceeded to prove that everything he said about Butterbean was right, in what was probably the GOAT over 50 performance. With his grandkids in attendance.

Was Butterbean some top fighter, lol no, but it was still a good win considering Holmes's age and how easy he made it look. And how much he thoroughly backed up his **** talking.

 

Jim Braddock fought once more after losing the title to Louis, squeaking out a win over Tommy Farr, who had just gone the distance w/ Louis.

Tunney beat a leading contender in Tom Heeney in his final career bout, & looked to be at the peak of his powers doing it.

Calzaghe scored perhaps his most high profile victory in his final fight vs. RJJ.

 

Yeah, I was being facetious and serious at the same time because Holmes was ancient at that point and the king of 4 rounders was a 70 fight "pro". So it really was a great geriatric win lol

 

Leotis Martin. Beat Sonny Liston but got a detached retina and retired.

 

If you mean final fight George Godfrey got the IBUs world belt in his final fight.

Bruno got his HW belt in his penultimate fight. Calzaghe and Andre Ward got their LHW belts in their penultimate fights too though they had belts in other weight classes. Tunney and Braddock won in their 3rd to last fight.

 

Mayweather v. McGregor was huge at least for revenue generated.

 

Good subject because it ain't easy, but here's a couple:

Ike Williams - although they had seen better days, it was a fitting end to their rivalry when Ike stopped Beau Jack in 9.

Richie Kates- his final bout saw him decisioning Jerry 'The Bull' Martin

Kiyoshi Tanabe - like Leotis Martin his final fight was his greatest as he stopped the reigning flyweight champ Horacio Accavallo in 6 and had to retire with a detached retina

 

JMM beating Alvarado, Vernon Forrest beating Mora in the rematch. RIP

 

Billy Miske beating Bill Brennan less than two months before dying, and supposedly not eating for a week before the fight, is pretty epic.