The longest career breaks in boxing history

Murad Khalidov had 11 and a half years out of Boxing, whilst being in prison for a long stretch and competing in other combat sports.

But returned to boxing after 11 years aged 37 and impressively became the first to KO the usually granite chinned Sergey Kuzmin.

 

Professor Mike Donovan was gone from the pro scene for 12 years when he fought nonpareil Dempsey in 1888

 

Mike Tyson went about 19 1/2 years between losing to Kevin McBride and losing to Jake Paul (the latter was a sanctioned fight, not an exhibition).

Jack Dempsey deserves a plaque in the Hall of Fame for going 3 years, 9 days between without a fight whilst holding the heavyweight championship between Luis Angelo Firpo and losing to Gene Tunney. AFAIK, no one has held the most prestigious title in all of sport hostage for that long while not bothering to actually defend it.

 

Sullivan.

 

Kenny Lane, a lightweight from the 50s and 60s, came back after 17 years and still fought as a lightweight, despite having turned 50.

 

George Foreman.

As a funny anecdote: When I heard Felix Trinidad was going to box, I was confused, I thought it was Felix Trinidad sr, who had been Puerto Rican national featherweight champion some ten years before but had not amounted to much else lol.

 

Was Sullivan actually recognized by some authority/organization in the day as champion? Or was it just some kind of acclaimation?

 

I quite randomly came across Tony Richardson, from Nigeria, the other day. I found a fight of his from 1995 in Germany. He had one more in 1996 and retired with a 3-1-1 record and was probably a decent journeyman, considering He drew with Asmir Vojnovic who then beat Vincenzo Nardiello.. and was only 19 at the time.
Anyway, I noticed that - if boxrec is accurate - He made a comeback this September after over 29 years.

 

Bobby Halpern came back after 18 years.

 

Fenech and Nelson had 12 and 10 years respectively. That's notable IMO, tho it was only to fight each other.

 

Thats a really complicated question because he was the first one and the world wasn't globalized. But either way the lineage recognized later starts with him. And that lineage involves a 5 year absence following a "draw".

 

Jess Willard had a break of 3 years and 3 months between title defences.

 

A few weeks short of 37 years: https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/334639

 

Really have no words to describe this!

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