The Ten Most Likely Comebacks in 2022

By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent

 Comeback Number One: Heavyweight Jarrell ‘Big Baby’ Miller. The 23-0-1 Miller has been inactive since November 2018 due to a number of failed drug tests. Originally thought to be a top candidate for Anthony Joshua, it will be interesting 40 months later to see what Miller still has left in the tank. By size alone, Miller, at 6’4″ and a whopping 315 pounds, could eat you for lunch, and would be a match for Tyson Fury or Luis Ortiz. However, Miller will need some tune up comeback bouts first to reestablish himself before stepping up against the meat of the heavyweight division. Miller will take on all comers.

 Errol Spence Jr.-The 27-0 World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation World Welterweight champion Spence has been inactive since December 2020 due to a retinal tear incurred during sparring practice. Spence should be back in action before the end of 2022, but could be declared a champion in recess while his injury heals.

 Gary Russell Jr.-The 31-1 World Boxing Council World Featherweight champion Russell returns to action after 13 months on January 22, 2022, at The Borgata Hotel Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, against 23-0 Filipino challenger Mark Magsayo.

 Deontay Wilder-The Bronze Bomber, 42-1-1 Wilder, the Former World Boxing Council World heavyweight champion, will be back in action once his injuries and confidence heals. Look for Wilder to take any heavyweight contender on a trip to hell in his comeback.

 Keith Thurman-Inactive since July 2019, 29-1 Keith “One Time” Thurman, the former World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association World Welterweight champion, returns on February 5, 2022, at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, against 26-1 Mario Berrios.

 GGG- The 41-1-1 International Boxing Federation and International Boxing Organization World Middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin, as highlighted in a previous editorial, has had his title unification bout with 16-2 World Boxing Association World Middleweight champion Ryota Murata of Japan postponed, due to Coronavirus Pandemic Omicron restrictions in Japan. In a new development, 38-0 middleweight contender Jaime Munguia of Mexico has expressed interest in fighting the winner of this bout.

 Jessie Vargas-29-3-2 Jessie Vargas, a former World Boxing Association World Super Lightweight champion, is scheduled to return after a 24 months hiatus, against Liam Smith at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, on February 5, 2022, against Liverpool’s 30-3-1 Liam Smith. Vargas is 1-1-2 in his last four bouts.

 Ilunga Junior Makabu-28-2 southpaw World Boxing Council World Cruiserweight champion Makabu, inactive 13 months, returns at Packard Music Hall in Warren, Ohio, on January 29, 2022, against fellow 23-5 South African Thabiso Machunu in a rematch of their May 15, 2015 bout fought in Durban, won by Makabu by eleventh round knockout.

 Adam Kownacki-The 20-2 Polish heavyweight known as “Babyface” lost his last two bouts in 2020 and 2021 to Robert Helenius, and will be back soon on the comeback trail.

Adrien Broner-Former multidivision champion 34-4-1 Adrien “The Problem” Broner, aside from brushes with the law, has been inactive since February 2021 when he won a 12 round decision over Jovanie Santiago. Broner, the sort of fighter everybody loves to hate, will be back to make trouble in the welterweight division, and is a tough pug to beat by any established contender.

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