The list of potential retirees who have made a fortune from the sport for at least two decades as professional boxers include the following:
1. Manny Pacquiao (57-6-2, 38 KOs)
Pacquiao has fought as a professional boxer for two decades starting in Jan 1995 with a total of 65 fights to his credit. The 37-year-old eight-time world champion who rose from abject poverty to become one of the richest athletes in the world has made public his intention to retire from the sport after his scheduled April 9 fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
2. Roy Jones, Jr.(62-9-0, 45 KOs)
With a total of 71 professional fights to his credit, Roy Jones, Jr. has yet to formally announce his retirement from boxing following his knockout loss to Enzo Maccarinelli last Dec.12 in Russia. While Jones has stated that he isn’t retiring after his devastating loss to Maccarinelli, it is possible the 46-year-old Florida native may announce his retirement next year.
3. Juan Manuel Marquez (56-7-1, $0 KOs)
If Mexican boxing legend Juan Manuel Marquez had his way, he would continue fighting because he feels he isn’t past his prime but his recurring knee injury could lead to a possible retirement next year.
4. Wladimir Klitschko (68-4-0, 53 KOs)
Klitschko is turning 40 in March next year and has dominated the heavyweight division for the longest time, but his dominance ended with his loss to Tyson Fury last month in what fans say was the worst performance of his career. A rematch with Fury is in the works but another loss, which is likely to happen, could lead to a possible retirement next year.
5. Miguel Cotto (40-5-0, 33 KOs)
Cotto is relatively young at 35 but in one of the press briefings to promote his last fight against Canelo Alvarez, he said he is retiring soon.
“Boxing, it’s the only thing I know to do in life,” said Cotto, who lost to Alvarez by unanimous decision. “I’m doing it for the benefit of the community and my family. I said once that I said once that I would retire before I was 30 and I’m 35 now, but I’m going to be in boxing no longer than a year from now,” Cotto added.
Except for Cotto, who is now on his 15th year as a pro, the four veteran boxers in the list, have at least two decades of professional boxing experience before their impending retirement.
