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The Independent
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Manny Pacquiao-Mario Barrios: When boxing comebacks go badly wrong
Manny Pacquiao will be bidding to roll back the years when he takes on Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title on Saturday night. The Filipino legend won his first world title in 1998 and went on to claim belts in eight different weight divisions. But he is now 46 years of age and there are concerns he may have bitten off more than he can chew this time. Comebacks in boxing are nothing new, with fighters often missing the thrill of the spotlight and performing retirement U-turns. Some returns have been successful, but they can also go badly wrong. Let's look at five boxers who may have wished they never stepped back into the squared circle as Pacquiao prepares to end his four-year hiatus. Sugar Ray Leonard Leonard is an example of a fighter who also made a successful comeback when he returned from three years away from the sport to beat middleweight king Marvin Hagler in 1987. He opted to fight on for another four years before retiring again after losing on points to Terry Norris. There was no shame in losing to a high-quality operator in Norris and that should have been it for Leonard. But he was lured back to the ring six years after the Norris defeat to face Hector Camacho. At nearly 41, Leonard looked a shadow of his former self and was stopped in the fifth round, the only knockout loss in his professional career. Enjoy 185+ fights a year on DAZN, the Global Home of Boxing Never miss a fight from top promoters. Watch on your devices anywhere, anytime. See Schedule ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Ricky Hatton Hatton was Britain's most popular fighter of the 2000s, taking an army of fans with him wherever he went. He picked up some incredible wins along the way, beating the likes of Kostya Tszyu and Jose Luis Castillo, but he fell short against Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. The Pacquiao defeat was a devastating one as Hatton was knocked out cold inside two rounds, and he walked away from the sport afterwards. But he did not want that to be the final memory of him inside the ring, and he returned in November 2012 to face Ukraine's Vyacheslav Senchenko. At his best, Hatton would have dealt with Senchenko, but his body just would not do what it once could. He slowed down considerably as the fight went on and was eventually stopped by a brutal body shot in the ninth round in front his adoring Manchester fans. Hatton recently announced that he is planning another comeback later this year in Dubai, and his loyal following will hope it goes a lot better than the Senchenko fight. Mike Tyson Tyson was known as the 'Baddest Man on the Planet' during his remarkable rise in the second half of the 1980s. He is one of the most fearsome punchers the sport has ever seen and had many of his opponents beaten before the first bell rang. But he was a shell of himself when he lost to little-known Irish fighter Kevin McBride in 2005 and wisely retired in the aftermath of that loss. It came as a shock when he announced he would be making a comeback last year to take on YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul. Tyson suffered health issues that caused the bout to be delayed but it eventually went ahead in November. He had looked impressive on the pads in training, but once he got into the ring on fight night it was a different story. The 58-year-old looked slow and cumbersome as Paul picked him off at ease to earn a points victory. Tyson later revealed he had almost died earlier in the year, confirming that he never really should have been in the ring with Paul that night. David Haye Haye insisted throughout his career that he was here for a good time, not a long time. The plan was to get in, win world titles and make plenty of money, and then leave the sport for good. He seemed to be executing that to the tee when he won cruiserweight and heavyweight gold to become a two-division champion. But a loss to Wladimir Klitschko put a spanner in the works. He subsequently won a grudge match with Derek Chisora and retired in 2012, but there was always a feeling that he had an itch to scratch and it was not a major surprise when he returned to boxing in 2016. Haye picked up two wins against very limited opposition before being called out by Tony Bellew. Bellew openly admits that he is less talented than Haye but he fancied beating that version of his British rival. The first fight went disastrously for Haye as he suffered a serious injury to his Achilles and limped around the ring for several rounds before being stopped in the 11th. A rematch was scheduled for the following year and went even worse as Bellew knocked out Haye inside five rounds to send him back into retirement. Evander Holyfield Holyfield was involved in some of the most iconic fights of the 1990s as he faced Tyson and Lennox Lewis twice each. He kept going well into the 2000s and came very close to becoming the oldest heavyweight champion ever when he lost a majority decision to Nikolai Valuev in 2008 at the age of 46. A knockout win over Brian Nielsen in 2011 appeared to signal the end of his career, but Holyfield agreed to come back to face former UFC star Vitor Belfort in an exhibition bout a decade later. At 58, Holyfield was in no condition to be fighting someone almost 15 years younger than him, and it was no surprise that Belfort stopped him in the first round. Thankfully, Holyfield has not been back in the ring since.
The Independent
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Manny Pacquiao vs Mario Barrios: Five iconic boxing comebacks
Boxing is a sport where youth and activity are among the most valuable commodities for any fighter. When either or both of these begin to fade, a fighter will often choose to call it a day and retire. That is how it should go. But some fighters, even when they have been retired or injured, cannot keep themselves away from the ring and make a comeback against all odds and advice – shocking the world by also finding success. Manny Pacquiao is making his return after a four-year retirement to challenge Mario Barrios for his WBC welterweight world title on Saturday night. He will be hoping to dust off the cobwebs and prove critics wrong, just as a select group of fighters have done before him. Here are five fighters who upset the odds to make highly successful comebacks. Sugar Ray Leonard Sugar Ray Leonard had retired in 1982 after gruelling wars with Roberto Duran and Tommy Hearns. He claimed he had lost his passion for the sport and wanted to complete his education. He returned in 1984 and beat Kevin Howard, but was so dissatisfied with his performance, he retired immediately after. Marvin Hagler beat John Mugabi in Las Vegas in 1986, and Leonard was in the audience. The former welterweight champion had seen all he needed to see and was sure he could beat Hagler, whom he was convinced had lost a step. The fight was made between the pair for April 6, 1987. Before the clash, a poll of sports journalists was taken and 46 out of 50 favoured Hagler for the fight, believing the naturally bigger and more destructive man would prevail. Leonard had also been inactive for three years at this point. Leonard pulled off an incredible upset, beating Marvin Hagler by split decision to claim his WBC middleweight title. Sugar Ray frustrated Hagler, using the larger ring to keep at range, peppering him with jabs and then landing 30-second flurries at the end of every round. Leonard would continue to box until 1991, picking up a second world title in his comeback by beating Donny Lalonde and taking his WBC light heavyweight title. He ended this comeback after a loss to Terry Norris in 1991. George Foreman The late, great George Foreman decided to leave boxing in 1977 after a knockout loss to Jimmy Young. Foreman stopped fighting and became a minister in his hometown. But Foreman had ambitions of becoming a two-time heavyweight champion, and after a decade out of the sport, returned to the ring - hunting a world title. In a 30-fight comeback, Foreman beat Hall of Famer Dwight Muhammad Qawi and put in good performances against Evander Holyfield and Tommy Morrison for a world title, but fell short on both occasions. The culmination of a seven-year comeback came in 1994 against Michael Moorer. Foreman was behind on all three judges' scorecards when Moorer hesitated a moment too long in front of one of the heaviest hitters the heavyweight division has ever seen and was felled by 'Big George', who claimed the IBF and WBA heavyweight titles at the age of 45. This remains the record for the oldest heavyweight world champion. 'The greatest' had established himself as the best heavyweight in the world by 1967, having won the world title at 22 years old and beaten the best of the previous generation – Sonny Liston, Henry Cooper and Floyd Patterson. After 10 successful defences of his world title, Ali ran into legal troubles for refusing to be enlisted into the United States Army. This led to a state-by-state removal of his boxing licenses, which meant he would not fight again for another three years. Ali also officially retired at the beginning of 1970, so the winner of Joe Frazier vs Jimmy Ellie could be considered the undisputed champion. The former champion returned at the end of 1970 and across four years put together an impressive 15 wins and only two losses – to Joe Frazier and Ken Norton, both of which he avenged. The culmination of this comeback came in 1974, just a few months after Ali had got his revenge on Frazier, when he challenged George Foreman for his WBC title in 'The Rumble in the Jungle'. Ali let Foreman tire himself out like a raging bull, playing rope-a-dope and using an educated right hand to sting the champion. In the eighth round, a gassed Foreman was knocked out by Ali, who began his second reign as world heavyweight champion. Vitali Klitschko Having claimed the WBO heavyweight title in 1999, it looked as though Vitali Klitschko was in for a long reign as champion, comfortably defending his title twice before succumbing to a torn rotator cuff in his third defence against Chris Byrd – forcing him to retire and forfeit his belt. His body failed him again against Lennox Lewis, when he was ahead on all three scorecards, a cut opened by Lewis forced the fight to be stopped in the sixth round. The final straw came in training camp in 2004 for the third defence of his recently acquired WBC strap against Hasim Rahman. Klitshcko suffered a torn ACL and announced his retirement before his reconstructive surgery. But as Vitali had to watch his brother Wladimir dominate the heavyweight division, becoming a unified champion, he could not resist the magnetism of his dream of holding a world title simultaneously with his younger brother. In 2008, he took advantage of his 'Champion Emeritus' status given to him by the WBC, which meant that if he ever came back, he would be the mandatory challenger for the title. Klitschko took on the hard-hitting Samuel Peter, who had lost to his brother a few years earlier. The fight, despite Klitschko not having fought in four years, was a foregone conclusion after the first round, and he won every round before Peter gave up on his stool at the end of the eighth. Klitschko defended his WBC belt nine times between 2008 and 2012 and retired at the top of the sport as he had always wanted to do. Tyson Fury Tyson Fury had climbed the most unlikely of peaks, defeating the most dominant champion of his generation, Wladimir Klitschko, in 2015. But this achievement of a lifelong dream left Fury without purpose and drive, which pushed him down a dark path of addiction and mental health struggles for three years. The Brit gained a huge amount of weight, reaching almost 400lbs, and finally realised after three years that he needed to get back into the ring. His target was Deontay Wilder, the WBC heavyweight champion. After two comeback fights, the former unified champion was ready to take on the heaviest hitter in the division. The pair fought to a dramatic draw, with Fury mostly outboxing Wilder but getting dropped twice for his trouble, which will have swayed the judges. Fury would not make the same mistake twice and did not leave their rematch to the judges, stopping Wilder in the seventh round in a dominating performance. Reclaiming his place at the top of the division, Fury made one of the most unlikely comebacks this sport has ever seen and punctuated it by knocking out Wilder again in their trilogy fight.
New York Post
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Sugar Ray Leonard reveals the one sport he's ‘not that good' at — and it's surprising
When it comes to sports, Sugar Ray Leonard may have finally met his match. After professionally boxing in the ring from 1977 to 1997 and winning 36 out of 40 fights, the retired athlete revealed which sport is harder than it looks: Pickleball. 'It is competitive,' Leonard, 69, exclusively told The Post at the 2025 Emmys Pickleball Slam Fundraiser on May 18. It is extremely competitive. I just like to participate. I don't play that well, I'm not that good but you know what? I care. I really care.' Advertisement 9 Sugar Ray Leonard attends EMMY's Pickleball Slam to benefit Television Academy Foundation and Firefighters Fund at Calabasas Pickleball Club on May 18, 2025 in Calabasas, California. Getty Images When it comes to playing pickleball or any other sport, the professional boxer has one sound piece of advice: 'It's all about the heart. Do that.' Leonard — who was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1997 — revealed that one of his secret weapons when he competed was he 'drank a lot of coffee.' Advertisement In 2021, the Skechers spokesman reflected on his time in the ring, and the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal where he took home the gold medal in light welterweight boxing. 9 Sugar Ray Leonard on the red carpet. Getty Images 9 Sugar Ray Leonard and New York Post reporter Alexandra Bellusci. 'Words cannot describe the feeling that I had,' Leonard told People. Advertisement Traveling to Canada for the competition also marked his first time leaving home for an extended period of time. 'I was nervous as heck,' Leonard confessed. 'I was so proud of myself. I wanted to go home, but I wanted to stay to bring home the gold medal first. It was just an amazing point in my life. I was like 20 years old and when I look back, that's been like eons. 50 years ago.' 9 Sugar Ray Leonard in the ring. Focus on Sport via Getty Images 9 Sugar Ray Leonard taping his hands in Las Vegas. Bettmann Archive Advertisement It still holds as one of the author's proudest moments he's experienced. 'It's the most precious moment in my career, in my life,' gushed Leonard. 'I never forget that moment. Representing myself, representing my country. And it wasn't about fame and fortune.' That medal is now kept in a safety deposit box, but he has let those closest to him try it on. 'When some friends or just individuals come over sometimes I'll show it, let them take a picture of it around their neck, 'Here you go. You get one around your neck,'' Leonard explained. 9 Referee Richard Steele restrains Sugar Ray Leonard in the ninth round following his knockdown of Donny Lalonde. Bettmann Archive 9 Sugar Ray Leonard holds the middleweight championship belt above his head after defeating Marvin Hagler. AP The star wants those competing in the Olympic games to remember one thing: 'I tell them 100% to believe in themselves because if they don't, no one else will.' 'This is your opportunity, this is their chance for success, stardom, and accomplishment,' he elaborated. 'People can say I was a world boxing champion professionally, but when people say I'm an Olympic gold medalist, that speaks volumes. That is precious. There is no amount of money that can pay for that. You can't pay for it. You have to deserve that. You have to go for that.' Advertisement Throughout his successful career, Leonard also struggled with substance abuse. He opened up about getting sober while on 'Oprah: Where Are They Now' in 2016. 9 Sugar Ray Leonard and wife Bernadette with daughter Camille and son Daniel Ray. WireImage 'There's a part of me that is a good man, an honest man,' he shared during a sit-down. 'And there is Sugar Ray Leonard – who is ego driven. Who is a tough SOB in the ring. Who had money. Who had fame. And at some point, didn't really appreciate it and took advantage of that.' Leonard recalled his first wife, Juanita Wilkinson, whom he was married to from 1980 to 1990, saying, 'You are two different people.' Advertisement 'I would get angry about that and go and have a drink,' he said. 'But then when my present wife, Bernadette, said to me, 'There are two of you,' I knew there was a problem.' 9 Sugar Ray Leonard attends actor James Caan's Golf Tournament at El Caballero Country Club on April 25, 2011 in Tarzana, California. Getty Images He got more candid about his past infidelity, substance abuse and childhood molestation in his 2011 memoir, 'The Big Fight: My Life In and Out of the Ring.' 'Many many moments, many many nights or days I would wake up and not remember what the hell just happened at night,' Leonard said on Winfrey's OWN network. 'I always knew I had a problem, just never admitted it to myself. I never believed it. And that's deadly, that's wrong. One day I woke up — nine years ago I woke up — and life couldn't be better.'
