His name is not registered with the modern boxing fan the way Roy Jones Jr. or Bernard Hopkins was. However, Michael Nunn was held in similar regard to the fighters that would dominate the 160-pound division throughout the 1990s. Approaching that decade, he became the IBF champion by stopping his former amateur rival, Frank Tate.

His reign, which began in the summer of 1988, lasted less than three years. But Nunn, regarded as one of the very best in the sport, pound-for-pound secured the scalps of top fighters like Iran Barkley, Marlon Starling, Sumbu Kalambay, and Donald Curry. If Nunn speaks of his crime and punishment with matter-of-fact realism, there is some regret he holds. Two names, in particular, got away: Sugar Ray Leonard and Tommy Hearns.

“My mistakes fall only on me, so I deserve my punishment,” stated Nunn in an old interview. His path to self-destruction is not the familiar tale of woe. There was no difficult childhood. And there was no lack of support from his family and friends. He was loved and nurtured by his late mother in Davenport, Iowa. He later felt blessed as he took his first steps to become the midwestern state’s only world boxing champion.

An Olympic hopeful, Nunn was the winner of three Iowa Golden Gloves championships. But he failed to qualify for the 1984 Games after losing in the trials to future silver medalist and future Hall of Famer Virgil Hill. His education paid off when he won world titles in two weight classes as a professional. But the man and champion he became were for nothing when he was busted in the summer of 2002.

“It was a mistake, and there’s no one to blame but myself,” Nunn told Boxing News. “I was raised right, both at home and through my boxing career, but that still didn’t stop me from making silly mistakes in my life.”

What went wrong?

Michael Nunn’s life took a dramatic downturn following a drug-related incident in 2002. It resulted in a staggering 24-year prison sentence. He refused to cooperate with authorities, further enduring the harsh realities of incarceration. Out of prison in 2019, aged 57, Nunn found himself at a crossroads.

He contemplated a return to the sport that defined his identity. Inspired by the resurgence of legends’ exhibitions, such as the Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. bout, Nunn saw a potential opportunity for his comeback. Despite acknowledging the limitations imposed by age, he remained optimistic, even entertaining discussions with former colleague Tommy Hearns about potential matchups. That was in 2021.

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Where is he now?

To date, his return to the ring has not made it to the headlines. Last year, in June, he was seen training at the gym shortly after being inducted into the Hall of Fame. While those visuals comforted his fans about his return, the question persists.

When will he next fight? What do you think about Miachel Nunn and his boxing career? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.