Mark Weinman, a former boxer who made headlines by returning to the ring after a nearly 21-year hiatus at the age of 50, has passed away at the age of 62.
Weinman, originally from Queens, New York, died on February 8 in Mesa, Arizona, as confirmed by his brother David. The cause of his death was complications stemming from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic lung disease he had been battling for more than a decade.

Mark was the eldest of three brothers in a Jewish family, all of whom had a passion for boxing. Together with his brothers, David and Michael, they racked up a commendable total of 19 championships at different competition levels. During the 1983 New York Golden Gloves tournament, Mark reached the finals in the 156-pound class but was defeated by Dennis Milton. Known as “The Hammer,” he turned professional and initially enjoyed success, winning his first 11 fights. However, he suffered three consecutive losses, leading him to take a break from the sport.

In September 2012, he celebrated a comeback victory against Elvis Martinez, knocking him out just 39 seconds into the second round. Following that fight, he had one additional bout, which he lost, concluding his professional career with an overall record of 12 wins, 4 losses, and 10 knockouts.

At the tail end of his boxing journey, Mark was under the management of promoter Steve Tannenbaum. Tannenbaum remarked that Mark was a more talented fighter than his final win-loss tally reflected, but struggled with various issues, including weight management. He lamented that Mark never received the acknowledgment he merited for his skills in the sport. “He looked like a world beater,” Tannenbaum noted, recalling Mark’s early potential and dominance in the gym.

David believed his brother faced significant mismanagement in his prime, especially citing that Mark had to shed 10 pounds within a day before suffering his first loss against Warren Williams at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. “I think he was mishandled tremendously by management,” David contended, expressing frustration that Mark did not receive the support he needed during crucial periods of his career.

Diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis roughly 12 years ago, Mark was initially given a prognosis of three to five years to live but defied the odds for longer, largely attributed to his enduring love for boxing. “He never stopped loving boxing,” David reflected, sharing that Mark often spoke about returning to the sport later in life, potentially to teach boxing classes. “He never discussed dying; he believed he would live on forever and never accepted the idea of his own mortality.”