“Big” George Foreman’s winning the WBA and IBF heavyweight titles at 45 has kept today’s heavyweights fighting into their mid-forties hoping for the same opportunity.
Knocking out Michael Moorer for the IBF and WBA titles in November of 1994 at age 45 keep’s half a dozen heavyweights still fighting when they should be retired.
Former WBO champion Shannon “The Cannon” Briggs, 66-6-1 (53), of Brooklyn, NC, is 46 and hasn’t fought for two years but still talks about a comeback fight. He held the title from 2006 to 2007 and ended Foreman’s career on a disputed decision win.
Though 45 year-old Fres “Big O” Oquendo, 37-8 (24), of Chicago, IL, hasn’t fought in four years he was scheduled to fight Charr in September for his version of the WBA World title until Lebanon’s Manuel “Diamond Boy” Charr, 31-4 (17), of Cologne, Germany, tested positive postponing the fight.
46 year-old Amir “Hard Core” Mansour, 23-3-1 (16), of Wilmington, DE, may have finally come to the end of the line with a NC and knockout loss in back to back fights in Europe.
46 year-old former WBA Cruiserweight champion Guillermo “El Filino” Jones, 41-3-2 (30), of Colon, Panama, fought in November of 2017 and is still looking for that heavyweight shot. “Big” Mike Grant, 48-7 (36), of Blue Bell, PA, was 45 last fighting in May of 2017.
41 year-old 7’1″ Julius “Towering Inferno” Long, 18-21 (14), now living in New Zealand came back after two years and lost in September to former WBA Heavyweight champion Lucas “Big Daddy” Browne, 26-1 (23), of Australia. There’s 41 year-old Travis “Iron Man” Fulton, 25-47-2 (13), of Cedar Falls, IA, just fought in September.
Former IBF Middleweight, Super Middleweight and Cruiserweight champion James “Light Out” Toney, 77-10-3 (47), of Sherman Oaks, CA, who just turned 50 fought in May of 2017 at age 49. There’s 43 year-old Dominick “Southern Disaster” Guinn, 35-12-1 (24), of Houston, TEX, lost in May.
41 year-old Former WBC Light heavyweight and IBF Cruiserweight champion Poland’s Tomasz Adamek, 53-5 (31), out of Jersey City, NJ, fought in April and is scheduled in October to fight Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller. Australia’s 43 year-old Solomon “Solo” Haumono, 24-4-2 (21), fought Adamek in May of 2017.
There may have to be a “Senior’s” heavyweight title the way things are going!