Boxing and the legends it destroyed.

What might be a better thread would be about the pig**** that ripped these guys off, and compounded their troubles. So called friends, scum with " business " ventures, etc etc.

 

Bobby Chacon, although personal tragedy, a reckless personality, and substance abuse played their role in his present state as well.

Jimmy Bratton may have been the saddest case ever. Barely made a penny during his career and when he was punch drunk and broke he sold his film rights for one dollar.

Danny Williams isn't a legend, but once upon a time he was a top 10 contender and he's one hundred percent guaranteed to end up completely punchy when he finally does retire. He should have retired for his own safety after getting pounded by Vitali, but all he's done since it taken one hair raising beaten after another. The guy's situation is genuinely scary.

Ad Wolgast and Battling Nelson both wound up without their marbles.

Terry McGovern wound up an awful mess. Serious alcohol abuse, a number of concussions, and a naturally high strung disposition were a recipe for disaster.

Billy Papke-See Terry McGovern. Would up shooting his wife to death before turning the gun on himself.

 

No. They both would dispute this!..

 

Guys like Holmes, Hagler, Foreman and Dempsey are exceptions, not rules. The legends boxing did NOT destroy would make for a much shorter list.

Floyd Patterson's life was no tragedy, just his lack of self regard. But he had a long successful career, made history by regaining the HW Title, enjoyed excellent health and fitness until his final illness, had a productive life after leaving boxing, and fresh off his 1991 entry into Canastota, trained his adopted son to his own world championships, holding him aloft in triumph. I think of the "Left Hook from Hell" on Ingo, how Floyd's body remained so magnificently chiseled in retirement that he alone of the former athletes in the Superstars Competition participated in the rowing event with his shirt off. [Patterson still got his ass totally kicked in his heat by a fat Ingo, covered up by an over-sized sweatshirt. That seemed more unfair than taking on Ali or Liston, being made to row against a Scandinavian like that, but Floyd salvaged his dignity by sporting his six pack on his stomach, while Ingo looked like he'd been packing kegs into his. However lacking in self assurance he may have been, that didn't seem to extend to his body image.]

Ken Norton and Joe Frazier had crippling car accidents, something which could happen to any of us. Cleveland Williams was killed by a hit and run.

 

Unfortunately, we all love a sport that ravages the body and especially the brain. Boxing is a cruel mistress.

 

Also to be added are heavyweights Jerry Quarry, Ron Lyle, Mac Foster, and Jimmy Young. Quarry and Young suffered from dementia, not sure about Lyle and Foster.

I knew that Cleveland Williams had passed away, but did not know it was a hit and run. Very sad!

Recently saw George Chuvalo on a HGTV program. He's in his early seventies and still looks like he could go 15 rounds with anyone. And he's still very articulate, as he always was.

 

And I'm convinced Frazier extended his lifespan enormously because of boxing. Considering how fat he was as a kid, the blood pressure and kidney problems he had even during his prime, his propensity for gaining weight, the diabetes and arthritis, compounded by having to recover from multiple surgeries after a spine splitting car accident, he did well to approach 68. Former rival Mathis only got to 52, Jerry Quarry died at 53, and Manuel Ramos got to 56. Joe had a longer life than ten of his Queensberry predecessors at HW. Without boxing, he may not have even gotten beyond his 40s.

 

Cringing awaiting the next Saad Muhammad update. The last one was bad.
He's homeless.

 

Saad had a hell of a sad story before he took up boxing so if he's homeless now then it makes it all the more worse atsch

 

Yes the obvious rejoinder would be would there lives have been better or worse without boxing? Given the circumstances of most of them what other options for advancement and improvement did they have?
Not too many brain surgeons take up boxing.