Oliver McCall Breaks Record as Oldest Heavyweight to Return and Win a Fight
Heavyweight boxing legend Mike Tyson’s long career milestone has been temporarily overshadowed following a record-breaking return to the ring on Friday. Despite a disappointing loss to YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, Tyson made history by becoming the heavyweight with the longest career, a feat that has since been challenged by Oliver McCall.
Tyson, now 58, was clearly a shadow of his former self, landing just 18 punches across eight rounds and moving sluggishly against Paul. Showing a rare level of mercy, Paul chose not to press for a knockout, instead winning each round decisively by outboxing Tyson.
This loss, however, didn’t overshadow Tyson's newly set record: with the official verdict, he became the heavyweight with the longest career in boxing history, surpassing all 111 heavyweight champions in the sport's past. Additionally, Tyson became the oldest former heavyweight champion to compete professionally.
But Tyson’s reign as the longest active heavyweight champion is already under threat. In a remarkable return, 59-year-old Oliver McCall ended his brief five-and-a-half-year hiatus from the ring with a second-round knockout of 54-year-old Stacy Frazier. McCall’s victory made him the oldest heavyweight to both fight and win a professional bout, surpassing Tyson as the oldest to claim a victory in a pro ring.
McCall, known for his historic win over Lennox Lewis in 1994, now holds the second spot for the longest career at 14,262 days, trailing Tyson’s 14,499. But with McCall showing no signs of retiring, he could be set to break Tyson’s record in 2025.
During the post-fight celebrations, McCall even called out Jake Paul, Logan Paul, and Tyson himself, signaling his intentions to continue his comeback at the top of the heavyweight ranks. Tyson’s record may have been briefly challenged, but the battle for boxing's oldest champions is far from over.
