Oliver McCall Shocks the Boxing World Again at 59 with Another Win
Former heavyweight champion Oliver McCall continues to turn heads with his unexpected return to professional boxing at the age of 59. The American fighter just secured his second consecutive victory, this time against 52-year-old Gary Cobia, a part-time boxer and sheriff’s deputy from Utah. However, despite the win, McCall’s performance hasn’t exactly left boxing fans in awe.
The bout took place at the Texas Troubadour Theatre in Nashville and ended in the second round. In the first, McCall landed a sharp uppercut that left Cobia with a bloodied nose, forcing him to step away from the fight. Cobia, now holding a professional record of three wins and five losses, took the match on short notice.
Reports indicate that Cobia hadn’t fought professionally in over a decade. Alongside his work in law enforcement as a sheriff’s deputy in Davis County, he was reportedly given very little time to prepare for the fight against McCall, according to boxing news outlet Boxingscene.
McCall (now 61-14) secured this knockout just three months after another victory in the same venue back in November. That fight, against 54-year-old Stacy Frazier, was his first appearance in the ring after more than three years of inactivity. He won that match in the second round as well, though the fight drew criticism for its lack of intensity and competition.
Now, McCall is looking to stay active by taking on opponents in his age bracket. Speaking to the media about his future in the sport, the veteran boxer stated: “At this stage, I’m not here chasing world titles, but I want to keep the passion for boxing alive. I’m looking for matchups that make sense for where I’m at in my career.”
Following his win against Frazier, McCall expressed interest in fighting some big names from the past, even hinting at a rematch with Iron Mike. “I want to get my revenge on Nate Robinson, and then Mike Tyson—that would be incredible,” he said at the time.
For Cobia, this fight was a rare opportunity to step back into the ring. After the bout, speculation began about potential future opponents for him, with names like Shannon Briggs and Bruce Seldon being thrown around. Cobia himself admitted he’d consider those matchups as he looks to move forward with his boxing career.
During the event, he also revealed that he suffered a biceps injury while competing in the match.
Cobia is primarily known for his career in law enforcement, but he did have a brief stint in professional boxing. He made his debut back in 2012 against American heavyweight Gerald Washington, a fight that also ended in a first-round defeat.
McCall, on the other hand, carries a storied history in the sport. One of his most memorable moments came in 1994 when he shocked the world by knocking out the legendary Lennox Lewis to capture the WBC heavyweight title. However, just a year later, he lost the belt to Frank Bruno, marking the beginning of a turbulent period in his career.
He would face Lewis again in 1997 in one of the most bizarre fights in boxing history. During the bout, McCall broke down in tears in the middle of the ring, leading to the fight being stopped and awarded to Lewis via TKO. Despite the controversy, McCall remained a respected figure in the sport.
Prior to his return in 2024, McCall’s last fight had been in 2019 when he defeated Mexican fighter Hugo Lomeli. With his recent win over Stacy Frazier, he became the oldest fighter to compete and win a professional bout, a record he extended even further with his latest victory against Cobia.
