# The 13 Greatest Comebacks in Boxing History

> Ring-worn veterans reclaiming lost crowns, and fighters clawing off the canvas when the night looked finished. Cast your vote!

*By YPB Team · Published September 14, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/the-13-greatest-comebacks-in-boxing-history*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Ali def. Foreman (1974)** — score 1000/1000
   In the 'Rumble in the Jungle', an underdog Muhammad Ali used rope-a-dope to knock out the fearsome champion George Foreman.
2. **Foreman def. Moorer (1994)** — score 692/1000
   At age 45, George Foreman knocked out Michael Moorer to reclaim the heavyweight title two decades after losing it.
3. **Pacquiao def. Thurman (2019)** — score 546/1000
   At age 40, Manny Pacquiao defied doubters by beating the undefeated Keith Thurman for a world title.
4. **Hopkins def. Tarver (2006)** — score 473/1000
   The 41-year-old Bernard Hopkins reinvented himself, dominating light-heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver.
5. **Patterson def. Johansson II (1960)** — score 473/1000
   Floyd Patterson became the first man to regain the heavyweight crown, avenging his loss to Ingemar Johansson.
6. **Lewis def. Rahman II (2001)** — score 473/1000
   Lennox Lewis avenged a shocking knockout loss by flattening Hasim Rahman in their rematch.
7. **Holyfield def. Tyson (1996)** — score 387/1000
   A written-off Evander Holyfield shocked the world by stopping a prime Mike Tyson.
8. **Leonard def. Hagler (1987)** — score 387/1000
   After years away from the ring, Sugar Ray Leonard returned to outpoint the dominant Marvelous Marvin Hagler.
9. **Joshua def. Ruiz Jr. II (2019)** — score 387/1000
   Anthony Joshua avenged a stunning upset by outboxing Andy Ruiz Jr. to regain his heavyweight belts.
10. **Corrales def. Castillo (2005)** — score 284/1000
   Diego Corrales rose from two 10th-round knockdowns to stop Jose Luis Castillo in a legendary rally.
11. **Ali def. Quarry (1970)** — score 0/1000
   Muhammad Ali's triumphant return against Jerry Quarry after a three-year exile from boxing.
12. **Braddock def. Baer (1935)** — score 0/1000
   The 'Cinderella Man' James J. Braddock rose from Depression-era obscurity to upset champion Max Baer.
13. **Vitali Klitschko def. Peter (2008)** — score 0/1000
   Vitali Klitschko returned from a four-year injury layoff to dominate Samuel Peter and reclaim a title.

Tags: sports, boxing, comebacks