Vince Phillips, 42: Joined by Ricky Hatton as the only fighters to defeat Kostya Tszyu. Remains competitive (9-6-1 over last seven years) but continuing to fight two weight classes above his prime weight is asking for trouble. Next fight is March 17 against Neil Sinclair.
Frankie Randall, 44: Handed Julio Cesar Chavez his first pro defeat back in 1994. Record of 3-13 over the last seven years tells you everything you need to know.
Ivan Robinson, 35: Career peaked with two sensational victories over Arturo Gatti in 1998. Since then he’s 5-8-2 and his last bout was a 6-rounder against a 12-9-2 fighter. Last fight was a unanimous decision loss to an equally over-the-hill Julio Cesar Chavez.
Johnny Tapia, 39: Amazing he’s still competitive at all given the sheer volume of abuse he has endured both in and out of the ring. Stopped in two rounds for the first KO loss of his career against Sandro Marcos in most recent bout. Remains a crowd favorite so unlikely to go away any time soon.
Tony Tubbs, 48: Yes, THAT Tony Tubbs. The one who started his pro career in 1980 and won the WBA heavyweight title in 1985. Don’t be fooled by his current three-fight winning streak ... his last two opponents were a combined 45-127-6.
Mike Tyson, 39: We know. He "officially" retired after being stopped by Kevin McBride in six rounds in June 2005. Don't believe it. The public remains fascinated with Tyson so it's likely we'll see him in the ring again the next time he needs money. Only 5-5 with 2 no contests over the last 9-1/2 years and was knocked out by his lasat two opponent -- both hand-picked specifically because they were supposed to provide Tyson with easy wins!
Special Mention: Reggie Strickland, 37: While he’s arguably no less talented than when he made his pro debut back in 1987, Strickland’s career record of 66-276-17 (yes, you read that right!) suggests it might be time to consider another line of work. On the plus side, he hasn't been stopped since 1999.
Of course, these fighters all know the risks of professional boxing and – as long as they can pass a comprehensive physical examination – should not be legally prohibited from continuing their careers. However, we – as fight fans – also have a right to choose not to watch these former greats continue to put their health at risk in the ring. And that, ultimately, is what finally pushes over-the-hill fighters into retirement once and for all.
