So much was made this summer about Brett Favre and a possible comeback to football for a second straight year. Favre is not the first athlete to waffle on retirement. Favre would be an amateur in the world of boxing.

The sweet science seems to be one sport where the participants cannot walk away.

This Saturday is no exception as Floyd “Money” Mayweather comes out of retirement to face Juan Manuel Marquez. While titles are great to fight for, this fight has Mayweather’s undefeated career streak is on the line.

With Mayweather coming out of retirement let’s look back at ten other boxers to come out of retirement or back to the ring after long layoff in no particular order.

Mike Tyson

Mike Tyson was one of the most feared boxers in the world. He was the youngest heavyweight champion ever. At one time Tyson looked like he was unbeatable.

“Iron” Mike was unstoppable until he met James “Buster” Douglas in Japan in 1990. After the Douglas fight, Tyson set out to regain his championship.

Tyson had himself in position to fight for the title against Evander Holyfield who had beaten Douglas in his first title defense. That was until Tyson was arrested and charged with rape in 1991 and convicted in 1993. Tyson spent the next three years in prison.

After he was released he destroyed some lesser fighters in early matches.

The buildup around Tyson was huge as he got ready to regain the heavyweight title. Tyson got the WBC belt when he beat Frank Buno and the WBA when he beat Bruce Sheldon.

After Douglas beat Tyson he lost the title to Evander Holyfield who lost the title to Micheal Moorer. The match with Holyfield was going to happen and this time Tyson was the champion.

The hype for this fight was enormous. Tyson and his camp complained about head butts by Holyfield after he lost the title to Evander in a TKO in the 11^th round. Tyson would bite off part of Holyfield’s ear in the rematch.

The rest of Tyson’s career in and out of the ring devolved in to a side show. Tyson’s career has been marred by personal tragedy, legal troubles, and strange mental actions.

Jack Dempsey

Legendary fighter Jack Dempsey won the heavyweight title in 1919 after Jess Willard’s corner men would not let him out of this corner to start the fourth round. Dempsey would defend his title five times over the next four years.

Dempsey would not defend his title for the next three years. During that time there was talk of a fight against black fighter Henry Wills. The fight never transpired and historians still try to decide if it was race or if Dempsey was ducking Wills.

When Dempsey did defend his title it was against World War I hero Gene Tunney. Tunney was also coming back to fighting after the war.

In a stunning upset Tunney defeated Dempsey to take his title. Dempsey would consider retirement but decided to go after the title one last time. He defeated Jack Sharkey to get a rematch against Tunney.

In the olden days of boxing a fighter could stand over his opponent while he was on the ground and hit him if he tried to get up. A new rule was beginning to take hold in boxing where a fighter had to go to his corner after a knockdown.

That rule was added to the Dempsey vs. Tunney rematch fight by the Dempsey camp. In the fight Dempsey was losing on points when he knocked Tunney down in the seventh round.

Dempsey would not go back to his corner and stood over Tunney. The referee had to escort Dempsey back to his corner. After getting Dempsey to his corner the referee began to count out Tunney. At the count of nine Tunney got back to his feet.

Dempsey tried to finish off Tunney before the round ended but was not able to. The official time keeper counted the time Tunney was down as 14 seconds.

The rule Dempsey wanted in the fight ended up costing him as Tunney won on points in the fight known as “the long count”. Dempsey would retire and never fight again professionally.

Oscar Del La Hoya

Oscar “the Golden Boy Del La Hoya had a remarkable career winning ten titles in six different weight classes. Del La Hoya has been known as a cash cow for boxing in a time in boxing where big money fights are hard to come by.

Moving up to middleweight in 2004 Del La Hoya defeated Felix Sturm to take the WBO middleweight title.

Del La Hoya defended his title against Bernard Hopkins also in 2004. In the fight Del La Hoya used smart tactics to get ahead on points. In the ninth round Hopkins used a well placed left hook to De La Hoya’s liver to knockout “the Golden Boy” for the first time in his career.

Del La Hoya would nearly take the next two years off. He would come back to fight Richard Mayorga for the WBC junior middleweight title.

Many questioned how well Del La Hoya would fight after such a long layoff. Before the fight Mayorga insulted Del La Hoya’s wife, child, and even his sexuality.

When they got in to the ring in 2006 Del La Hoya knocked down Mayorga in the first minute of the first round. Del La Hoya knocked Mayorga out in the sixth round for the win.

After losses to Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao on a split decision and a knockout Del La Hoya announced his retirement. At least he is retired for now.

Tony Zale

Tony “Man of Steel” Zale was a two time middleweight champion. Zale won the middleweight title in 1940 but then went to fight in World War II.

Returning from the war and a four year layoff Zale defended his title against Rocky Graziano in 1947. It was believed that Graziano was in the prime of this career at the time of this fight.

Zale knocked Graziano down in the first round. Graziano came back to put a savage beating on Zale and was on the verge of a TKO win. Zale rallied back to knock-out Graziano in the sixth round to retain his title.

A rematch took place a year later. The fight was a mirror image of the first only in reverse. Graziano was battered and on the verge of a loss when he rallied to knock-out Zale in the sixth round to win the title over Zale.

The third and final fight between these two took place one year later. Zale would regain his title with a third round knock-out to regain the title. Zale would lose to European Champion Marcel Cerdan and retire afterwards.

Sugar Ray Leonard

Sugar Ray Leonard would make a career out of retirements and comebacks. The first could come after suffering an eye injury before his fight with Tomas Hearns in 1981.

Leonard’s eye was swollen closed when he used a rally in the 14^th round to win with a TKO. Leonard in 1982 decided to retire after the fight with Hearns because of his eye injury.

Missing the limelight and competition Leonard made his first comeback in 1983. A journeyman fighter from Philadelphia Kevin Howard would be Leonard’s opponent. Howard would knock down Leonard in the first round and the first knockdown of his career. Howard would win the controversial fight as some thought the referee stopped the fight to protect Leonard and his eye.

In the post fight press conference Leonard would announce his retirement once more. In 1996 Leonard announced he would return to boxing to fight “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler.

In a fight billed as “The Super Fight” the boxing world was a buzz. Most wanted to see the fight but questions lingered as to if Leonard should fight with is eye problems.

Leonard used his quick feet and lateral movement to keep Hagler at bay. Hagler landed the harder punches but Leonard landed more punches. Leonard was warned by the referee several times for holding but did not have any points deducted. The fight was a split decision won by Leonard.

Leonard would go on to retire and return to the ring throughout his career. After losing to Hector 'Macho' Camacho in 1997 at the age of 40 Leonard retired for the final time.

Sugar Ray Robinson

Sugar Ray Robinson was the originator of the modern sport “entourage” during his heyday. Robinson started his career as a welterweight but moved to the middleweight division later in his career. Robinson found it hard to make the 147 pound limit in the welterweight division.

After a grueling fight in 1952 for the light heavyweight title in 103 degree heat against champion Joey Maxim, Robinson retired. The heat caused the referee to bow out from the heat and Robinson collapsed after the 13^th round.

Robinson could not make the bell at the start of the next round. It would be the only knock-out of his career.

Robinson became a dancer after his fighting career but struggled to find any success in his new profession. In 1955 Robinson returned to the ring and would go on to win the middleweight title in his second fight.

Robinson would go on to win the title four more times after losing it. He would go on to fight for ten more years after his 1955 comeback.

In 1965, Robinson would retire for the final time. He would struggle the rest of his life having spent his fight winnings. Robinson, one of the greatest fighters ever, died in 1989 in poverty.

Joe Lewis

Joe Lewis was considered one of the first African-American hero’s ever in the United States. Before World War II Lewis defeated German fighter Max Schmeling at the height of Nazi Aryan propaganda.

The “Brown Bomber” as Lewis was known made two comebacks. He made himself a real American hero for his comments during World War II and enlisting in to the Army. Louis would not see combat but instead be used to lift the spirit of troops and his line of “We will win because we’re on God’s side” was used a recruiting tool.

Lewis made his first comeback after the war but soon retired in 1949. His retirement was short lived after it was found out he owed the IRS more than $500,000.

Most of Lewis’ money had been taken by his handlers. To compound the problem Lewis was to generous with his money. Lewis spent the rest of his boxing career and life trying to pay back the government.

In 1951, Lewis fought his final fight of his career against another boxing legend Rocky Marciano. The fight featured a Joe Lewis way pass his prime and a Marciano in his.

In the fight Lewis was dropped to the canvas in the eighth round by a Marciano left and knocked out of the ring in the same round. After the fight Sugar Ray Robinson cried and Marciano, who did not want to fight his onetime hero, tried to console Lewis.

Schmeling and Lewis became friends later in life and Schmeling gave Lewis money throughout the rest of both their lives. In 1981, Schmeling was a pallbearer and helped pay for Lewis funeral.

Larry Holmes

Larry Holmes became heavyweight champion when he defeated Ken Norton in 1978 to win the WBC title. Holmes would go on to defend his title 17 times until he vacated it for the new IBF title.

Holmes would win 48 straight fights and would face Leon Spinks to tie Rocky Marciano’s record of 49 fights as a professional without a loss. Spinks would defeat Holmes by a close decision and win the rematch. After the two losses to Spinks, in 1986, Holmes retired.

He was lured out of retirement in 1988 to fight Mike Tyson. Tyson would knock-out Holmes the only time in his career and after the fight Holmes would retire again.

Holmes came out of retirement once more in 1990 to take on Ray Mercer.  Beating Mercer would earn Holmes a title shot against Evander Holyfield.

Holmes would lose to Holyfield by decision. Holmes would receive one more chance at the title facing Oliver McCall. Holms at 45 years of age gave McCall a great fight and came within a point on two of the judge’s cards of winning the title.

After the McCall on a split decision Holmes would fight until age 52 when he beat Eric “Butterbean” Esch in 2002.

Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali is arguably the best boxer ever to lace up gloves and step in to the ring. Ali fought plenty of historic matches in his career.

While he made several comebacks late in his career there is one that is has to be above the rest. After winning the heavyweight title over Sonny Liston in what many saw as a dive by Liston, a rematch was set up for 1965.

Ali won the title as Cassius Clay and announced his name change and fought Liston in the rematch. Liston went down to a “phantom” punch and would go on to defend his title eight times and win all eight fights.

The Vietnam War was heating up in America and Ali in 1966 said he was conscientious objector to the war due to his new religion. Many believed Ali would spend his time service time much like Joe Lewis and never see combat.

Ali would be stripped of his titles and boxing license in 1967. In New York first then the rest of the country after he was found guilty of refusing to step forward when his named was called for the draft.

Ali would spend the next three years out of boxing and appealing his conviction for not fighting in Vietnam. In 1971 the Supreme Court overturned Ali’s conviction allowing him to return to boxing.

Ali would beat Ken Norton and Joe Frazier to setup a title match against George Foreman who had beaten Frazier for the title.

The fight dubbed “The Rumble in the Jungle” was set in Zaire, Africa by a young promoter named Don King. Ali was a considerable underdog in the fight but he had a plan to beat Foreman.

Ali introduced his tacit of the “The Rope-A-Dope” to wear down Foreman. Ali let Foreman punch himself out. In the eighth round Ali knock-out an exhausted Foreman in the middle of the ring. Ali had completed his comeback and won back his title.

Ali would go on to fight several more big matches in his career and would hold the title until 1978 when he lost to Leon Spinks. Ali would retire in 1979 only to return in 1980 to fight Larry Holmes his former sparring partner.

Holmes would defeat Ali when Angelo Dundee would not allow Ali to come out for the 11^th round. In 1981 a loss to Trevor Berbik would send him into retirement for good.

George Foreman

George Foreman first won the heavyweight title in 1973 over Joe Frazier. Foreman would lose the title to Muhammad Ali in 1974.

Foreman would go on to fight until 1977 when he suffered a 12 round decision loss to Jimmy Young. Although Foreman never officially retired he stopped fighting until 1987 when Foreman stepped back in to the ring at the age of 38.

He would get a title shot against Evander Holyfield in 1991 losing in a 12 round decision.

Foreman looked to be done as a title contender when he lost a 12 round decision to Tommy Morrison in 1993 but a title shot was headed Foreman’s way. Micheal Moore who had defeated Holyfield for IBC and WBC title decided to give Foreman a title shot.

Foreman and Moore fought in November 1994 in Las Vegas. Moore was beating Foreman on the score cards heading in to the tenth round. Foreman seemed unable to beat the younger more agile boxer Moore. Until Foreman hit Moore with several long ranged jabs. Then a short right hand caught Moore on the tip of his chin sending him down to the canvas.

At the young age of 45, Foreman, watched as the referee counted Moore out. Foreman went back to his corner on one knee in prayer as the title he lost two decades ago to Ali was returned to him.

Foreman was the oldest heavyweight champion ever and had the record for the longest time between title reigns. His titles were stripped for refusing to defend his titles against number one contenders of the WBC and the IBC.

Foreman would face Shannon Briggs for a chance to box Lennox Lewis for the WBC title. Briggs won the fight that looked like Foreman dominated the whole way. After the loss Foreman retired for good.

While there have been countless comebacks in boxing. These are the ones that standout the most to me. Though it will not be known how Mayweather’s comeback will be seen until after the fight. There is plenty to see that a comeback is not always a bad thing in boxing.