By Gav Duthie: We haven’t seen ‘Baby’ Joe Mesi in the ring since 2007 after he retired with a perfect 36-0 (29) record. Even now he is only 40 years of age which is nothing for a heavyweight these days. He was 19 when the started boxing and before he turned pro boasted an amateur victory over Hasim Rahman.

Mesi was big news back in the early turn of the century. He was a born and bred American New Yorker who was knocking people out during a transition period in heavyweight boxing. There were no stand out fighters when Lennox Lewis retired, Wladimir Klitschko had been knocked out a couple of times, his brother had knee problems and there were beatable world champions like John Ruiz and Kirk Johnson. Many felt ‘Baby Joe’ could penetrate the division.

Brain Bleed

In 2003 he clocked up two very good wins over fellow prospect DaVarryl Williamson 18-1 (who knocked down Wlad Klitschko later) with a first round knockout and Monte Barret with a majority decision. His biggest win but also his greatet loss came in his next fight with former cruiserweight champion Vassiliy Jirov in march 2004. Comfortably ahead on the cards Mesi was then knocked down by Jirov in the 9th and then twice more in the 10th. Mesi scraped the decision victory but this was the least of his concerns. MRI Scans showed he had suffered subdural hematomas, he had three brain bleeds. The Nevada state commission immediately revoked his license to box. Mesi spent two years with appeals, lawyers and scans to prove he was fit to box. When his Nevada license expired in 05 he was granted licenses in Puerto Rico, Louisiana and Michigan states so he resumed his career after 2 years with UD wins over a couple of journeyman in the first half of 06.

A short comebackNew Life

Mesi has certainly not sat around feeling sorry for himself. He has been a successful politician for the democrats, he was endorsed by Hilary Clinton. He has set up two organizations “Champs against Bullying” and “The Baby Joe Mesi fight for organ donors” which have helped many people. He was most recently working for St. Jude the research hospital and has proved there is life without boxing.

Where would he be now?

To be completely honest I don’t think he would have been all conquering. He may have won a title versus the likes of John Ruiz or Chagaev but I wouldn’t have bet on it. He had power but wouldn’t have been knocking out top level fighters and didn’t really have the physique, stamina or boxing ability to beat some of the big Eastern European heavyweights of today.