After Mike Tyson‘s underwhelming but high profile ring return this month, another former opponent of Lennox Lewis has followed suit, albeit on a much smaller scale.
Tyson – who was stopped by Lewis in 2002 and would fight on four more occasions before retiring in 2005 – donned the gloves once more this past weekend to face YouTuber-turned-fighter Jake Paul over eight two-minute rounds.
The 58-year-old former heavyweight champion wasn’t a threat during the controversial contest other than for the opening minute or so. Paul cruised to a unanimous decision win. In the aftermath Tyson announced his second and final retirement.
As Lewis watched on, another former foe was gearing up for his return. Oliver McCall shocked the world when he defeated the Brit in 1994 to win the WBC World Heavyweight Title. They would meet again in ’97 when Lewis got the win after McCall had a mental episode in the ring and refused to fight on.
The 59-year-old known as ‘The Atomic Bull’ has never officially retired, fighting consistently until 2007 and then sporadically until 2019. After five years out, he returned to the ring this week to face journeyman Stacy Frazier, 54.
The fight was set for four rounds at the Texas Troubadour Theatre, Nashville, sanctioned by the Tennessee Athletic Commission and promoted by Jimmy Adams Promotions. It lasted half that, with McCall clubbing the 16-23 Frazier down in the second.
Oliver McCall gets the second-round stoppage over Stacy Frazier to pick up the win at 59 years old.#Countryboxpic.twitter.com/lFHtpNggDk
— TrillerTV (@FiteTV) November 20, 2024
Post-fight, McCall – who has notably never been down in a 76-fight career – didn’t hesitate when asked if that was it for him and boxing. He said he wanted to avenge Tyson’s loss to Paul.
“Next fight I’m gonna be about 10 pounds lighter so you’re gonna see a bit more technique. And I can punch, I can definitely punch. My defence is pretty decent. I’m ready for anybody. Oh, I’ll knock Jake Paul out. And I want to whoop Logan Paul, too … I want to get revenge for Nate Robinson and then what he done with Mike Tyson. That would be awesome.”
It is one fans certainly won’t want to see. Paul, meanwhile, has been called out by active undisputed champion Artur Beterbiev among others.
