by James Slater: Jorge Paez, the former IBF featherweight and super-featherweight world champion, looks set to return to the ring after an absence of almost five years. According to Box-Rec.com, the 42 year old will engage in a contest Vs. an opponent TBA on June the 28th, in Sonora, Mexico. Joining “El Maromero” on the card will be his son, Jorge Paez Junior – who also fights an as yet named opponent..
It seems like just about every former big name fighter is launching a comeback these days, what with Jeff Fenech, Tommy Morrison, Saul Mamby and others climbing back into the boxing ring just lately. Now Paez appears set to join the list. The 79-14-5(51) who fought memorable bouts with the likes of Calvin Grove, Troy Dorsey, Steve Cruz and Tony Lopez during his prime years, last boxed in December of 2003 when he out pointed Pennsylvania’s Scott McCracken over ten rounds at light-welterweight. In fact, Paez was on a winning streak of nine in a row, when he decided to call it quits on his career after the win over McCracken. Therefore it’s not as though the colourful Mexican was getting beaten up towards the end. But these late career wins did come against somewhat limited opposition, even though they proved Paez could still fight at a certain level.
Now, perhaps inspired by the relative success his son has been enjoying, the 42 year old is giving it one more go. It’s not clear who he will fight yet, or at what weight. Nor is it known how many fights the former world champion will engage in. And as to what kind of physical shape Paez is in, who knows?
In his day, “El Maromero” was a very exciting and watch able fighter. Famous for his ring antics, which included doing back flips, taunting his opponent and even blowing kisses to the ring card girls, Paez was a natural showman. It would be a pity then, to see him attempt to fight when nothing but a shop-worn shell of the fireball he once was. Though it’s too early to pass judgement on his return to boxing – after all, we may be surprised at just how capable the veteran is when he climbs through the ropes for the first time in such a long time – the overwhelming feeling most fans will probably get is that Paez senior should leave the fighting to his son nowadays.
The return of yet another former great (or thereabouts, at least) looks to be upon us soon.