10 Boxers Who Transitioned Into Great Careers Outside The Ring
Highlights
- Gabriel Rosado transitions from middleweight contender to media personality, showcasing his talent on the big screen in movies like "Creed" and as a boxing scene analyst for GQ Magazine.
- Roy Jones Jr. moves from being a three-division world champion to commentating for HBO Boxing, where his insights and relatability earn him praise as the "everyman" on the team.
- Shawn Porter, a former welterweight contender, impresses as a boxing analyst with his deep love for the sport and ability to provide objective insights while still carrying the passion of a true fan. He commentates for NBC Sports and ProBox TV.
To state the obvious, no boxer can box forever (except for maybe Bernard Hopkins, but that's a question for scientists smarter than I). Though the estimated time of retirement can vary from fighter to fighter and depends on many factors, such as fighting styles, management, and whether he or she captures the favor of their promoter, eventually the boxing world gets the scent of when a fighter is drawing their professional career to a close.
Recently, The Sportster took at look at boxers who took jobs outside the ring to make ends meet, but what does a fighter do when their clock runs out of time? This time, we take a look at ten fighters who found life within the sport and still maintained the attention of the boxing world.
10 Boxers Who Got Jobs Outside The Ring
Whether it was a necessity or general passion, these fighters pursued other opportunities.10 Gabriel Rosado - From Middleweight To Media Personality
The Man That Could Not Be Broken Has Turned His Attention To The Cameras
NAME: | "King" Gabriel Rosado |
THEN: | 26-17-1, former middleweight/super middleweight contender |
NOTABLE NAMES THEN: | W - Jesus Soto-Karass, L - Jermell Charlo, Jaime Munguia |
NOW: | Actor/Media Personality |
NOTABLE NAMES NOW: | Leo "The Lion" Sporino ("Creed"), GQ Sports |
Never look at Gabriel Rosado's record and stop. Ever. If they have never seen him fight, fans owe it to themselves to watch his fights against Gennady "GGG" Golovkin and Jaime Munguia. Though he didn't win either fight, the man fought better, more entertaining fights than many of the coddled champions of today, and even during Rosado's day.
When Gabriel Rosado was in that blue corner, fans knew they were in for the fight of the night. He simply never broke, no matter how much he bled. Rosado wasn't about to hear it; he would fight and go out on his sword in battle, no matter the scorecards.
After retirement, Rosado is still entertaining, albeit with a lot less head trauma. He has portrayed Leo "The Lion" Sporino in 2015's smash hit "Creed," as well as Vargas in the first episode of "Kingdom" (2014). Also of note, Rosado has collaborated with the sports team at GQ Magazine to break down some of the most noteworthy boxing scenes in entertainment.
Having been in the ring with the best, his expertise breaks down not just the "real-ness" of scenes from "Rocky," "Raging Bull," and other boxing films, but what it takes as a boxer and an actor to craft boxing scenes. The series both teaches and entertains, the latter of which Rosado has been doing for years.
9 Roy Jones Jr. - From Light Heavyweight To Commentator
Y'all Musta Forgot He Actually Finally DID Retire
NAME: | Roy Jones Jr. |
THEN: | 66-10 (47 KO), former light heavyweight, cruiserweight, and heavyweight champion |
NOTABLE NAMES THEN: | W - John Ruiz, Antonio Tarver, L - Antonio Tarver, Joe Calzaghe |
NOW: | Commentator |
NOTABLE NAMES NOW: | HBO Boxing |
Oh, how the mighty have fallen.
Roy Jones Jr. was a three-division world champion, but toward the end he clung to the World Boxing Union cruiserweight belt, a trinket sanctioned out of Germany only. Jones Jr. barely broke even after his bout with Jeff Lacy in August of 2009, managing only 6-5 in those 11 fights.
However, before that, in the days of HBO Boxing, he commentated alongside the legendary team of Jim Lampley, Larry Merchant, and unofficial scorer Harold Lederman, and garnered praise for his insights he effortlessly relayed to the average everyday fan. Jones Jr. often said what fans were thinking, and he became known for being the "everyman" on his team.
He did not become widely known as a rapper, and for this the world is grateful.
10 Things Boxing Fans Should Know About Roy Jones Jr.'s Life Outside Of Boxing
Roy Jones Jr. is a legend in the sport of boxing, but his life outside the ring is just as fascinating.8 Shawn Porter - From Welterweight To Boxing Analyst
It's Not Just What He Says, It's How He Says It
NAME: | "Showtime" Shawn Porter |
THEN: | 31-4 (17 KO), former two-time welterweight contender |
NOTABLE NAMES THEN: | W - Paulie Malignaggi, Danny Garcia, L - Errol Spence Jr., Terence Crawford |
NOW: | Commentator/Boxing Analyst |
NOTABLE NAMES NOW: | NBC Sports Olympic Boxing Coverage, PBC Coverage, ProBox TV |
Shawn Porter is one of those names that despite losing to S-Tier champions always rightfully held an S-Tier ranking alongside them. In the late 2010s-early 2020s his was a name touted alongside champions such as Danny "Swift" Garcia, Errol Spence Jr., Yordenis Ugas, and Terence "Bud" Crawford. So when he transitioned dehind the commentary desk, it wasn't just the words of a washed-up has-been... it was the words of a champion.
The story is similar to Roy Jones Jr., so why does Porter get the higher nod? Part of it is due to the back half of Jones Jr.'s career slipping, but primarily it lies in one key element in Porter's analysis: if Jones Jr. was an everyman, Porter is an everyFAN. Porter unabashedly still loves the sport of boxing. He understands what it means to be in the ring at the club and championship levels.
He's suffered through the business aspect of boxing, he's come out the other end and through all of it, still loves the sport. It comes through clear as day in his voice: he thinks objectively but still carries the passion of the true fan. It puts it just that much higher than Jones Jr. Porter has commentated at ringside for NBC Sports' coverage of the 2020 Summer Olympics as well as several PBC bouts, and currently can be seen as an analyst for ProBox TV. He also hosts "The Porter Way" podcast where he covers boxing as well as other sports-related and life-related topics.
7 Paulie Malignaggi - From Welterweight To Pundit
Paulie Has A Lot Of Opinions About Boxing, And Now Fans Are Gonna Hear About It!
NAME: | "The Magic Man" Paulie Malignaggi |
THEN: | 36-8 (7 KO), former two-division world champion |
NOTABLE NAMES THEN: | W - Juan Diaz, Zab Judah, L - Shawn Porter, Danny Garcia |
NOW: | Boxing Commentator/Pundit |
NOTABLE NAMES NOW: | ProBox TV, BYB |
For those who got the "Seinfeld" reference, welcome. You're in the right place.
Alongside "Showtime" Shawn Porter, it would be amiss to not mention another pundit whose boxing IQ found just as much - if not more so - as when he was actively boxing... because if I didn't, I may be loudly shamed by the pundit himself, and I'm not about to get on Paulie Malignaggi's bad side.
Let's put the comedy aside for a moment though - Paulie Malignaggi may have had a low knockout percentage when he was fighting, but his boxing IQ, then and now, is through the roof. In fact, his boxing IQ was consistently on display because of his low knockout percentage. Malignaggi had to pull judges' cards consistently in order to come up with the win.
Now, on the other side of the desk, the boxing IQ is quick to shine; as an analyst for ProBox TV, Malignaggi has done everything from commentary to analysis to boxing punditry. Though George Kambosos Jr. may think that Malignaggi hasn't been relevant, Malignaggi's voice reverberates, both through knowledge and through volume, and as Malignaggi may agree, they hate him cuz they ain't him.
6 Lennox Lewis - From Heavyweight To Globe-Trotting Fancy-Pants
That's "Lennox Lewis CM CBE" To You
NAME: | "The Lion" Lennox Lewis |
THEN: | 41-2-1 (32 KO), former three-time heavyweight champion, 1988 Olympic Gold Medalist |
NOTABLE NAMES THEN: | W - David Tua, Mike Tyson, Vitali Klitschko |
NOW: | Commentator/Philanthropist/Member of the Order of Canada/Commander of the Order of the British Empire |
NOTABLE NAMES NOW: | HBO Boxing, Fox Sports, Laureus, Canada, United Kingdom |
Lennox Lewis' career before active boxing retirement racked up fourty-one wins, featuring names such as David Tua, Hasim Rahman, the former "Baddest Man on the Planet" Mike Tyson, and the current holder of the record for longest cumulative heavyweight championship reign, "Dr. Ironfist" Vitali Klitschko. It was nothing short of magnificent. For his second wind, something would have to stand as equally magnificent.
Will notable civilian titles in two separate countries do?
Lennox Lewis, most notably, commentated as part of the HBO Boxing team, noted for his impeccable speach and highly-intelligent views on the sport. But even after that (a third wind, perhaps?) Lewis would go on to be active in philanthropy, working with a charity and activism group known as Laureus, which supports social change via sport, as well as the Muhammad Ali Center and Museum in Louisville, Kentucky.
He squeaked in an appearance on "The Celebrity Apprentice," in which he came in fourth. At the top of the list, however, Lewis has been named a Member of the Order of Canada, as well as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, in which he has been recognized by both Canada and the United Kingdom for notable and exceptional works in both nations in which he holds dual citizenship. And for those wondering how to address such a lauded person, "Mr. Lewis" will do just fine.
5 George Foreman - From Heavyweight To King Of The Suburban Grill
Look Through The Cabinets... You Probably Have A George Foreman Grill Too
NAME: | "Big" George Foreman |
THEN: | 76-5 (68 KO), oldest heavyweight champion ever (46 years old) |
NOTABLE NAMES THEN: | W - Joe Frazier, Michael Moorer, L - Muhammad Ali, Evander Holyfield |
NOW: | Commentator/Entrepreneur |
NOTABLE NAMES NOW: | HBO Boxing, The George Foreman Grill |
Another fighter who's had renaissance after renaissance, George Foreman's second career after boxing professionally was actually boxing professionally. "Big" George famously gained traction on a true second wind in the sport, starting with a fourth-round knockout over Steve Zouski in 1987, ten years after his most recent prior bout, and slowly earned a 27-2 record that followed in his late thirties and early fourties, losing only to top-tier competition such as Evander Holyfield and Tommy Morrison. Though many thought he was being fed to the young wolves, Foreman showed the world what 45 looked like, stopping Michael Moorer in the tenth round in November 1994.
When questioned by the press, Foreman attributed his successful comeback to "healthy eating." So when a company by the name of Salton, Inc. came a-callin' looking to pair Foreman's name with their new fat-reducing indoor grill, it was a knockout. The wide smile of the heavyweight champ shone through televisions across the nation, and the George Foreman Grill was born, making grilled burgers, chicken, and many other tasty treats an every-night option instead of being consigned to weekends and holidays.
Foreman had reason to smile too - according to reports, from the time Foreman signed the deal to 2001, he had made over $200 million solely from the endorsement, more than he had ever made in the ring.
4 Freddie Roach - From Super Featherweight To Elite Trainer
Each One Teach One
NAME: | Freddie Roach |
THEN: | 40-13 (15 KO) |
NOTABLE NAMES THEN: | W - Joey Olivera, L - Hector Camacho |
NOW: | Trainer |
NOTABLE NAMES NOW: | Manny Pacquiao, Vanes Martirosyan, Peter Quillian, Miguel Cotto |
The saying goes, "Those who can, do; those who can't, teach." People would like to apply this to Freddie Roach, but Roach doesn't just teach, he actually did.
Most boxing fans today may not even realize that Freddie Roach actually had his own boxing career. His resume has no luster - his most notable name on his resume is a loss to the Puerto Rican great Hector "Macho" Camacho. But one thing his resume has that most others don't is that it exists, and it's above average, with a win percentage of about 75%. Granted, it would ultimately be the start of Roach's long-standing battle with Parkinson's Disease, but even Parkinson's could not keep him from the sport he loved.
Roach turned to training others, and what a job he did. Even casual sports fans recognize the names "Floyd Mayweather Jr." and "Manny Pacquiao," but more would be able to recognize Freddie Roach as Manny's trainer than they would be able to recognize Floyd Sr. and Roger Mayweather as the Pretty Boy's trainers. Roach's training resume doesn't stop with Pacquiao. His charges include: Andy Ruiz Jr., Miguel Cotto, Amir Khan, Mark Magsayo, Daniel Jacobs, and James Toney, among others. He even trained actor Mark Wahlberg for his role in the Micky Ward biopic "The Fighter."
In the intro, we alluded to the fact that many boxers go into training or gym ownership, but none have done it at the level that Mr. Roach has.
3 Vitali Klitschko - From Heavyweight To Mayor
The Fight of His Life Would Happen Outside the Ring
NAME: | "Dr. Ironfist" Vitali Klitschko |
THEN: | 45-2 (41 KO), |
NOTABLE NAMES THEN: | W - Chris Arreola, Shannon Briggs, Derek Chisora, L - Chris Byrd, Lennox Lewis |
NOW: | Mayor |
NOTABLE NAMES NOW: | Kyiv, Ukraine |
Vitali Klitschko, half of the dominant heavyweight brother pair, ruled the heavyweight division with his brother Wladimir through the back half of the 1990s and throughout the 2000s. He even holds the record for longest cumulative title reign across three title reigns. So many people were left scratching their heads, then, when Vitali said he had political ambitions.
It's clear that the brains were there - the man, on top of being a world champion, presented his doctoral dissertation in 2000 to earn his PhD in sports science. But politics he did enter, climbing up the political ladder in Ukraine to be elected mayor of Kyiv in 2014.
That's when Klitschko would truly begin fighting. Klitschko, since assuming mayoral duties, has faced social unrest, global inflation, the COVID-19 pandemic, and currently finds his nation in conflict with invading Russian forces. Throughout all, he has been a champion for Kyivans and Ukranians in general. Praised for his efforts in anti-corruption along with his independent politics, Klitschko is currently the favorite to be re-elected in Kyiv's next election in 2025.
2 Manny Pacquiao - From Eight Weight Classes To Senator
Is There Anything The Pacman Can't Do?
NAME: | Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao |
THEN: | 62-8-2 (39 KO), former eight-division world champion |
NOTABLE NAMES THEN: | W - Oscar De La Hoya, Brandon Rios, Juan Manuel Marquez |
NOW: | Senator |
NOTABLE NAMES NOW: | The Philippines |
No one needs to be told who Manny Pacquiao is. He has been a champion in eight weight divisions, from flyweight to light middleweight - a 42 pound difference, extremely substantial in boxing terms. He put Filipino boxing - nay, Filipino athletes - on the map. Even casual sports fans know the name Manny Pacquiao.
Parlaying that fame into a political career was not hard for Pacman. In 2010, he became a Representative of the province of Sarangani, his spouse's hometown, winning the vote over his opponent nearly 2 to 1. 2015 saw him move to Senator, and he made a bid for president of the Philippines in 2022, placing third. Within the borders of the nation, it's borderline idolatry, but despite controversy regarding tax laws and his heinous comments regarding LGBTQ+ people, Pacquiao is still possibly the best thing to come out of the Philippines since pancit and lumpia.
10 Things Boxing Fans Should Know About Manny Pacquiao's Life Outside Of Boxing
From singing to basketball, we check out ten fun facts about Filipino boxing legend Manny "PacMan" Pacquiao and his life outside the ring.1 Oscar De La Hoya - From "Golden Boy" to Golden Boy
De La Hoya Has Stayed In Boxing Long Enough To Be Powerful
NAME: | "The Golden Boy" Oscar De La Hoya |
THEN: | 39-6 (30 KO), 11-time world champion |
NOTABLE NAMES THEN: | W - Arturo Gatti, Julio Cesar Chavez, Fernando Vargas, L - Felix Trinidad, Manny Pacquiao |
NOW: | Boxing Promoter |
NOTABLE NAMES NOW: | Jaime Munguia, Vergil Ortiz Jr., Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (formerly) |
The world - not just sports - fell in love with the "Golden Boy" Oscar De La Hoya. The gold medal boxer excited boxing fans with his speedy, calculating boxing skills. The sports world liked the fact that De La Hoya took on the best of the best, win or lose, including Mexican boxing legend Julio Cesar Chavez, Puerto Rican superstar Felix "Tito" Trinidad, and the great Manny Pacquiao. And even if boxing wasn't the reason, De La Hoya, as the kids say these days, had - and still has - some serious rizz.
De La Hoya parlayed that rizz into his own promotional venture, and while others have done the same thing as Mayweather and (le sigh) the Paul brothers, none have taken off quite like Oscar De La Hoya. Now seen as one of the two major power players in boxing promotion (the other being Bob Arum's Top Rank Promotions), De La Hoya still has that natural charisma, even vulnerability when discussing his chemical addictions.
His million-dollar grin has found itself on the dark side of the moon, playing the same games the much-longer established Arum has in the past. Despite that, De La Hoya holds half the cards, including hot names like Jaime Munguia and Vergil Ortiz Jr, even once helming the team for Saul "Canelo" Alvarez. He's got a seat at the table, and it doesn't look like he'll be giving it up anytime soon.
