A second of Lennox Lewis‘s old heavyweight opponents is set to make a controversial return to the ring this month.
The first was Mike Tyson, a man Lewis beat by stoppage towards the end of his career and arguably when Tyson was past his best.
‘Iron Mike’ faced Jake Paul, 27, across eight two-minute rounds this past weekend in Arlington, Texas in the first live boxing to ever be streamed on Netflix. Tyson was, unsurprisingly to most, uncompetitive and lost a wide unanimous decision. The fight has received backlash for the potential dangers it posed, though the heavyweight veteran thankfully left the ring unscathed.
Another American who once competed at the top of the banner division is now also set to make a ring return. Oliver McCall faces journeyman Stacy Frazier over four rounds at the Texas Troubadour Theatre, Nashville this week. The bout has been sanctioned by the Tennessee Athletic Commission and promoted by Jimmy Adams Promotions.
McCall is now 59 and has competed between 1985 and 2019. He is best known for his upset knockout victory over Lewis in 1994.
He defended the title a year later against Larry Holmes and then lost it to popular Brit Frank Bruno, who finally lifted a belt at the fourth time of asking.
In 1997, Lewis got his rematch with McCall and it was another infamous bout in which McCall had a mental breakdown inside the ring, losing by stoppage.
In all, McCall had 74 professional bouts and was never knocked down. He was also a long-time sparring partner of Tyson, but none of this suggests a ring return at this point in his life will be welcomed.
