Reclaiming the Throne: Knocking Out the Fat … and Michael Moorer
Climbing the mountain and winning a world championship in boxing or becoming a UFC champion isn’t easy. Scaling that same surface again after tumbling down is even more challenging. But with Tyson Fury and Leon Edwards talking about reclaiming their lost glory, the thought sprung to mind: How difficult is it to win a belt back?
While the trending boxing news shows a rich history of former champions returning to reclaim their belts, the history of the UFC is much shorter. But despite only being around for 30 years, the UFC has also had its share of interesting title changes.
The most famous example of a boxer reclaiming his title has to be George Foreman. Foreman returned in his 50s to claim the heavyweight title after spending most of the 1980s in retirement. Here’s a look at his story and a few others who came back and took their belts back.
Not Just a Pitchman
In the 1960s, Foreman was known as a curt and angry man. He lost to Muhammad Ali in 1974 in Zaire at the Rumble in the Jungle. While Foreman was disappointed to lose his WBA and WBC heavyweight titles, many thought the 25-year-old would be back on top soon.
But Foreman surprised many by retiring three years later following a shocking unanimous decision loss to Jimmy Young in Puerto Rico. Foreman took 10 years off and eventually earned a shot at the WBA and IBF title against Michael Moorer in 1994.
Foreman, who was 45 years and 299 days old, stunned everyone by knocking Moorer out in the 10th round. Foreman’s second run in boxing allowed him to reinvent his image.
He was much friendlier and would go on to secure plenty of dollars from advertisers to polish his image. But while Foreman was a menace in the 1970s, his win over Moorer made him a legend.
Thug Rose Rebounded in a Big Way
Rose Namajunas caught lightning in a bottle to win the strawweight title at UFC 217 in November 2017. She caught long-reigning champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk off balance with punches in the first round to claim the belt. After making one successful defense, Namajunas lost the belt in freak fashion when she was knocked out by Jessica Andrade with a slam.
However, Namajunas, whose record was 8-4 after the loss, was used to battling through adversity in her career. After avenging her loss to Andrade, who had lost the belt to Zhang Weili, Namajunas took on the Chinese champion.
Namajunas put together another stunner, as MMAfighting latest news shows that she won the belt back with a stunning first-round head kick knockout. Weili would also go on to reclaim the belt herself.
A year after losing a rematch with Namajunas, Weili took the belt off Carla Esparza. The women’s strawweight division has seen a number of title changes during its short history.
Ali Fought More Than Opponents
One of the reasons that Ali’s career stands out among boxers is his activity outside the ring. The heavyweight boxing news from the 1960s and 70s couldn’t be told without Ali’s story. He initially became undisputed champion in the late 1960s. However, Ali’s refusal to serve in the U.S. Military action after being drafted to fight in Vietnam resulted in him being stripped of his championship. He would have his first opportunity to reclaim his spot but lost to Joe Frazier by decision in 1971. Ali wouldn’t regain all of the belts until he beat Foreman.
No Mas
Just by writing the phrase “No mas,” any diehard fan of boxing will immediately know what you are talking about. Roberto Duran stunned many observers in June 1980 when he outclassed “Sugar” Ray Leonard to take the WBC and The Ring welterweight titles. Duran admitted later that following the fight, he let himself get out of shape.
That would be a major problem. Leonard, who was 27-0 before losing to Duran, immediately pursued a rematch. When Duran agreed, Leonard went in search of a game plan that would allow him to avoid Duran’s power and embarrass him.Leonard decided to lean on his superior speed and movement to keep Duran chasing him. Leonard continuously moved around the ring and would pepper Duran with shots. But beating Duran wasn’t enough; Leonard also taunted Duran throughout the fight.
The damage accumulated throughout the fight, and Duran quit in the eighth round, telling the referee, “No mas.”
Stipe Avenges the Eye Poke
Stipe Miocic is regarded as one of the UFC’s great heavyweights. However, the best MMA news sites show that his career has had some bumps in the road. Miocic set the UFC record for most consecutive heavyweight title defenses at UFC 220 by beating Francis Ngannou by decision.
However, when Miocic was challenged by the undersized light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier, Miocic quickly found out he had his hands full. Cormier was an Olympic wrestler who developed enough striking to be dangerous. Cormier knocked out Miocic at UFC 226 to steal the title after an eye poke to Miocic’s eye changed the momentum of the fight.
This would be the start of a fun rivalry between the pair. When Miocic and Cormier rematched a year later, Miocic got his revenge by knocking out Cormier in the fourth round. During a third fight between the two men at UFC 252, Miocic won a unanimous decision to protect his reputation as one of the greatest heavyweights in the promotion’s history.
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By Dean McHugh.
