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When age defies logic: Five fighters who turned back the clock

David Haye contemplates a comeback at the age of 40 [Dec 2018]

Haye, who has been out of the ring since 2018, has spoken of his interest in returning for heavyweight's top prize.

David Haye spoke of the one fight which would tempt him out of retirement - the winner of Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury.

The Hayemaker admitted he would consider a comeback after speaking to Michelle Joy Phelps on facetime.

"The only one that I would do it for is the winner of AJ and Tyson Fury because that would be No1 vs No1," he told Behind the Gloves.

"That's probably the only one, but not really. It's a lot to go through.
"I got my body in a good place right now, and I'm in a good place. All my injuries have healed up. There's been no hardcore training. I've been at home with my weights."

Haye's last fight was a second defeat to Tony Bellew at London's O2 Arena two years ago. For the third time in his career, he was stopped inside the distance by his arch-rival but his ongoing curse with injuries had a major impact in his comeback ending in tears.

While Haye's body has fully healed from career-threatening injuries, it's highly unlikely he'll lace up the gloves again at 40, especially when you consider the beating he took from the "Bomber".

Planet Sport has decided to take a look back at when age defies logic.

Bernard Hopkins

The American broke his own record in 2013 to become the oldest world champion in boxing history at the age of 48. B-Hop defeated Tavoris Cloud to win the IBF light heavyweight strap in 2013 and made two successful defences of his crown before relinquishing it to Sergey Kovalev a year later.
He had previously held the record after shocking the world with victory over Canadian Jean Pascal.

George Foreman

Unranked, coming off a defeat, Big George was seen as washed up at the ripe age of 45 in the heavyweight division.
However, his legendary profile saw Michael Moorer offer him another shot at world glory. Foreman - wearing the same red trunks from the night he lost to Muhammad Ali 20 years ago - stopped Moorer to regain the title he lost to Ali in 1974 and is still the oldest heavyweight world champion in history.

Roberto Duran

The Panamanian is one of the greatest fighters of all-time and at 38, he reminded us there was still life in the old dog with victory over Iran Barkley.

Roberto Duran knocks out Costa Rican Alvaro Rojas in two minutes and 17 seconds of the first round to successfully defend the World Boxing Association championship he'd held since June 1972

Duran had retired after back-to-back defeats to Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns but reversed his decision and was soon fighting again a year later in 1986.

It would be another three years until he challenged for a world title and his win over Barkley was significant, especially when you consider Barkley's stunning upset over Hearns in his previous fight to win the WBC middleweight strap. He eventually retired for good at 50.

Thulani Malinga

Known as Sugar Boy, the South African had an incredible amateur career with 185 wins from 195 fights. Malinga surrendered the WBC middleweight title after just one defence following his sensational win over British legend Nigel Benn.
However, in 1997, he became a two-time world champion with a surprise stoppage of Robin Reid in Millwall, London. It was a belated birthday present for Malinga, who had turned 42 a week before the bout.

Bob Fitzsimmons

Most famous for beating Gentleman Jim Corbett, Fitzsimmons won world titles at middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Ruby Robert is the lightest heavyweight champion in boxing history.
One month short of his 40th birthday, the Freckled Wonder overcame George Gardiner to win the light heavyweight title and in doing so, become the first three-division world champion.

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