The official "retired or semi-retired fighters returning for exhibitions" repository

These always seem to sneak up - probably due to a combination of not being listed on BoxRec, and not getting covered widely by most boxing media in the run-up (or even the day of). If you miss the announcement, you're never apt to know they're happening in the first place and even if you catch it, you're bound to forget with the lack of promotion done outside the home countries or states of the participants - even if they used to be quite big global stars in their pomp.

So, here. This'll be the bulletin board for them.

Coming up just this month, a pair of difficult ones for me. Four fighters for whom I've long held a soft spot, squaring off in a pair of all-Mexican clashes of legends where there must needs be two winners and, sadly, two losers.

1. Saturday, November 13th: Cristian Ricardo Lucio "El Diamante" Mijares vs. Jhonny "El Ratón" González Vera, 3x3" rounds, 70kg (basically light middleweight)
2. Saturday, November 20th: Marco Antonio "The Baby Faced Assassin" Barrera Tapia vs. Daniel "The Rarámuri Lion" Ponce de León, 6 rounds @ welterweight

If you're unfamiliar with these guerreros legendarios, first off - que pasa? You been living under a rock, or did you only discover the sport after Canelo started bagging titles? Second, look here for a very clinical and by-the-book summation of their credentials which in no way does justice to all the unforgettable moments they all produced through sensational knockouts, master class schoolings, or both:

El Diamante was, from 2006 until 2011, was first the WBC, then WBA, then finally (in a separate non-overlapping reign) IBF champ at super fly - with two losing bids at super bantam followed by a semi-successful late-career run at feather that never culminated in a world title shot. González, between 2005 and 2015, had one run as WBO bantam and two as WBC featherweight king.

DPDL wore the WBO super bantam and WBC featherweight straps (the latter obtained from none other than Jhonny González!) with his championship years spanning from 2005 until 2013. MAB coincidentally held both of those same versions of the same division's championships, but additionally held the WBC and IBF super featherweight belts - with his first reign beginning over a decade before his last ended, from 1995 until 2006.

González hasn't fought a sanctioned pro match since 2019, Mijares since 2018, Ponce de León since 2014, and Barrera since 2011.

So besides all being countrymen, they all share being rusty as hell without, between them (excepting maybe Jhonny), a world ranking so much as sniffed in many a year ...and, lastly, being all VERY TEENY-TINY WEE FOLK to be competing as high as 147 and 154 pounds. I hope for the sake of their machismo-fueled pride that all four parties battle valiantly and entertain the fans. I hope, just as fervently, as quite a big fan of the lot of them, for nobody to get badly hurt. Especially not for a mere cash grab (cynical view, the optimistic alternative being a "bit of fun to scratch the itch") that will not count on their records and do nothing for their legacies.

 

We can also keep track here of fighters coming back to face YouTube celebrities, UFC vets, basketball players, etc.

As long as one party at least was formerly a pro boxer. So, for example: Vítor Belfort vs. Evander Holyfield? Yes, include such info here. Logan Paul vs. KSI? No, please GTFO with that garbage.

 

...although speaking of the repugnant Ohioan influencer and Vine alumnus, it does appear that Michael Gerard Tyson vs. Logan Alexander Paul is indeed in the works for February 2022. That...would meet my inclusion criterion here. Damn it.

 

Oh yeah the good thing about that one is there's no problem whatsoever in picking a rooting interest. Hopefully a stray bomb gets through and Iron Mike can end all of this big dork's future ambitions in the ring (and better yet, scare his brother away too).

When it comes to Mijares vs. González and MAB vs. DPDL, the notion of any of them getting beaten up really bothers me.

 

Oh yeah, almost forgot - Barrera was originally supposed to have fought José Luis Castillo last Friday in Houston, but JLC sustained a rib injury. So that means Ponce de León has stepped in as replacement on late notice (will have been 3 weeks come fight night) - ever the warrior.

 

Yeah, to be clear I'm not particularly happy about these all happening (which should have been clear from my tone in earlier posts) - but I'd gotten sick of getting blindsided with news of some relic lacing up gloves simply because these don't show up on BR and often, at least with these Mexican ones, get under-reported in the major English-language boxing media (which is both a blessing and curse, because on the one hand they're not feeding the trolls and giving these circus acts the attention they need to thrive and perpetuate, but also ...it can lead to fans of these guys only finding out belatedly that their favorites are risking themselves for a buck once more, if we don't happen to stumble across some tweet mentioning it).

If you can't get a pro license reinstated (from a reputable state athletic commission), I don't think you should be allowed to exchange punches with anyone for money. Period.

But I do like being in the know, and keeping track of who's doing what.

 

MAB vs. DPDL tonight.


Saludos, amigos. Just come through safe.

 

Well, here we go..

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Oh yeah - there was talk of a Tyson vs. Holyfield III pretty recently, and whether an exhibition or "real" fight, based on how they did against RJJ and Belfort respectively, I've zero doubt that Iron Mike would have swiftly & brutally avenged his two losses from their active days. If he's smart The Real Deal will keep his legacy secure (if his wallet a bit thinner) by staying the hell away from the siren's call of such a match-up.