Boxers That Retired At the Right Time?

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.

 

Ernesto Marcel

 

Neto as he was known to his boxing fans.

 

Jim Watt. Classy exit after distinguishing himself in ceding his title to Arguello.

Jimmy Braddock had two career goals, to win the HW Championship, and then his final bout. He did the first over Max Baer, and the last over Tommy Farr in dramatic fashion. Braddock-Farr came immediately after Louis-Farr. Then, Tommy went into a contender ending tailspin following Braddock. Jimmy himself was bombarded by offers following his victory over Farr, but again, he'd won, the arthritis which hindered him after the first four rounds with Louis (the best four rounds of Braddock's career, if you want to know how good Jimmy could be) and caused him to be suspended for a while wasn't getting any better (he was losing his ability to move backwards), so he split when the going was good, and was always revered by "Greatest Generation" fans as the definitive working class HW Champion.

In the right hands, Cinderella Man would have easily won Best Picture, but unfortunately, Opie got his hands on that story and apparently misrepresented Max Baer so much that Baer, Jr. slammed it. (I won't consider seeing anything with Opie at the helm.)

When Tommy Gibbons was knocked out by Tunney, he got out. Mike Gibbons went out a winner then retired due to failing vision. Mike was one of the few who drove Harry Greb up a wall. Extant footage shows he moved as though he was on roller skates.


Let's throw in Jess Willard and Jack Dempsey. Big Jess stopped Floyd Johnson (in a bout which many commenters on YouTube express surprise over how good he looks) then finished with distinction against Firpo. You live as long as Jess and Jack did while maintaining good health, you've done something right.

Ditto Max Schmeling. Wiped out by WW II, he had three postwar bouts, going 2-1, making enough to purchase the German rights to Coca Cola. Always sharp, he mentored the Klitschkos, was always happy to sign autographs for fans and discuss boxing, and fell only six months short of his goal of reaching 100.

Max Baer. When he was legitimately punched out in the Nova rematch, that was it. He died only at 50, but enjoyed an excellent retirement and remained athletic right to the end, vaulting over the ropes after waving to the crowd after refereeing and scoring Folley-Alonzo Johnson just ten days before he died. He was Hollywood oriented after talking pictures became standard, but tragically missed out on his son's success with the Beverly Hillbillies, something where he definitely would have portrayed Jethro's father.

Archie Moore. Went out a winner after providing Clay his first major career win. After Mike DiBiase, another bout was proposed between the Mongoose and Brian London. Arch would've killed the Blackpool Rock, but fortunately for Brian, this slaughter did not materialize for him. (Unless your name was Marciano, you simply didn't try walking into and through Moore's artillery.) Archie's long life saw him restore Foreman's career, and he was sharp as a tack right to the end of his 84 years.

Willie Pep. Had a decent comeback in the mid 1960's, going 7-1. In late February 1993, Willie guided me and my father through our first visit to the IBHOF, a very pleasant experience. (We joked about the difference between the size of his and Armstrong's fists against that of Carnera's.) Supposedly died at age 84 of pugilistica dementia in 2006, but I tend to give a pass once someone becomes an octogenarian. He drove his own car until he was 77, when his last wife took away the keys.

Jimmy McLarnin. His last two bouts were wins over Canzi and Ambers. Like Schmeling, he was a brilliant businessman, and lived to be 96, producing a record 68 year retirement among former world champions. A very strong supporter and ad sponsor of the IBHOF. (Ran ads in their early and mid 1990's induction weekend magazine programs posing with Moore and Count Billy Varga. Varga himself lived to be 94 when he passed in 2013.)


Sometimes, physical longevity and quality of retirement maybe ought to be considered. Jack Sharkey was the first former HW Champion to reach 90. Extremely active in retirement, he jogged three miles daily in Epping, New Hampshire to sustain his hunting and fly fisherman's lifestyle. (He was known as "The Squire of Epping.") Textbook referee in Moore-Durelle I & II, always moving around, barely being seen by the camera, but jumping in instantly to halt action at the bell. Duran-Buchanan would not have ended on a low blow with Sharkey as the third man, nor would the deaths of Paret or Cleveland Denny have occurred, as Sharkey the HW athlete would've reacted too quickly with too much strength to stop it quickly. Probably the very best referee of any former boxing champion ever.

Jim Corbett. Actually avoided the body shots of Jeffries for 22 rounds, only to be one punched by a right in the 23rd as he misjudged and bounced off the ropes. Their rematch was his career finale, and he again distinguished himself at 37 despite slowing reflexes and slightly reduced eyesight which was making him squint while reading newspapers. Very successful retirement while acting and as a boxing observer and commentator until his death from liver cancer at 66. In a filmed friendly rooftop spar with Tunney after Dempsey-Firpo, Gene stated his defense was superior to Benny Leonard's. (Not surprising, considering the conditions under which Corbett competed. However, Jim himself said Tommy Loughran represented the fulfillment of what Corbett always aspired to in his career.)

Griffith. His career was called off by Gil Clancy after Minter. Minter himself had a good close scrap with Hamsho, then was punched out by Sibson, something not related to bleeding.

JJW. "When you can't recoup from a punch, it's time to retire," is what he said after Marciano II. Jersey Joe had a very distinguished retirement. Getting elected by the public as Camden County Sheriff is a pretty good expression of respect, trust and appreciation. A perfect definition of dignity and civilized conduct.

Robinson? His timing could be debated, but getting decked in a good fight by Joey Archer is a pretty good sign that punch resistance has gone (although Joey actually did have a good right hand, but almost exclusively used for defense). Archer himself could be cited after Griffith II, unless we are disregarding premature retirements. ( @Fergy , as the OP, I'll defer to your judgement and personal criteria here.)

Ingo? Went out a winner over London behind his left jab of all things, but then survived by the skin of his teeth as the final bell rang at the referee's count of four. (That referee later admitted he'd have stopped it if Ingo had gotten up in time to beat the final bell.) Here's the end of Ingo's career:

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During retirement, Ingo ran marathons, but when the always fit Patterson likewise did so, Floyd tended to outrace his old friend rather conclusively. (The ABC Superstars competition in rowing was a different story of course. Naturally, they pitted Ingo and Floyd together in a heat. Floyd was shirtless with ridiculous muscular and abdominal definition, while Johansson covered up his obvious paunch with a loose shirt. But once the gun went off, Ingo shot right past him with short efficient strokes. Being Swedish made him a ringer. It's been decades now, but I believe Ingo won the whole rowing event easily. After their heat they were interviewed together and were very obviously close friends.)

Hagler. Proves he has the best chin of all time when AFTER his career, he goes to Italy, learns Italian then speaks English with an Italian accent.


Larry Holmes. Comes back after Tyson to completely flip the script. Only Holyfield defeated him conclusively after that, and Holmes did go out a winner. Has remained friends with Don King, fully understanding where his promoter was coming from. Larry was right in taking on peak Tyson when he knew he wasn't going to be ready. ("But Don King showed up at my door with THREE MILLION DOLLARS!") But with Mercer, Larry did not become remembered for an end with Tyson as Louis did with Marciano.


Michael Spinks. Ended against Tyson the way as expected, but prior to that, was expected to get crushed by Holmes and Cooney. Proved to be a surprisingly good HW. Quiet, low key retirement in good health.

Murray Sutherland. The inaugural undisputed World SMW Champion lost the USBA SMW Title in his final bout, so you can't exactly say he stuck around too long. Very good low key retirement. Extremely well liked by those who personally know him, as expressed in comments on YouTube bouts involving him.

 

Roy Jones, Jr

 

Khaosai Galaxy
Ricardo Lopez
Andre Ward

You could make an argument that Naseem Hamed did too. He had taken a kicking against Barrera and did not have the discipline or willpower to train properly. Added to that he has said hand problems. Rather than take more fights and punishment he left as a rich man.

 

Marciano
Ottke
Mayweather
Ward
Ricardo Lopez
Calzaghe
Lewis
Maske

 

Had he stay retired, it would’ve been technically perfect for Jeffries, though the cloud of his ducking Johnson would’ve still hung heavy imo.

For all intents and purposes, Jeff was “smart” enough to know when to retire and stay retired - except for the unique circumstances and pressure put on him by the press and public in general to make a comeback.

 

All things considered, perhaps we could say that Foreman retired at the “right” time in both his first and second careers.

 

Definitely Lennox Lewis, and at the time Oscar de la Hoya.

 

That’s nothing: Tyson Fury has retired at the ‘right’ time so many times now I’ve completely lost count. He’ll probably do it again after his next fight … and the one after that.

 

Funny guy!

 

Mayweather Jr
Kostya Tszyu
Lewis
Vargas - arguably one fight too many but was only 30 and even though he lost his last 3 they were big fights.
Calzaghe - 36 years old and undefeated.

Reckon Calzaghe and Lewis are the two in recent memory that timed it just right. Calzaghe beats Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr back to back and then hangs them up. Perfect. Lewis takes down Iron Mike and Vitali K and walks away. Again, perfect.