Boxing and the legends it destroyed.

Many have, many have not. I do agree that those that prospered have truly had their lives changed for the better by the sport. It is also not the sport's fault that many chose not to invest wisely for the future* and as a consequence returned to the gutters from whence they came.

But even so, we cannot simply dismiss that it does often do irreparable harm to the body and mind. It's a crap shoot I guess. Personally, I have had to reflect back on myself and ask myself why is it I love a sport so dearly where the objective is to win by punching the other guy in the head repeatedly.
I'm not a violent person, but I love a violent fight and a violent KO. Don't we all?
I guess, speaking for myself, I have a sadistic streak somewhere. Not to make an issue of it though...I feel a bit uncomfortable talking about it to be honest.

*Not that I blame them, though. Many boxers never had much schooling, so expecting some young kid to be wise with money is impossible.

 

A lot of these guy's brought their problems on themselves, by fighting on too long and not learning the job skills they needed to survive in the real World, lets be real if you retire at 35 what are you going to do to survive for the next 30 years, until social security kicks in, **** learn a trade??
The human brain wasn't meant to be pounded on, excessively without repercussions, boxing is a sport you should do for 10-15 years max.
And some of these guy's weren't very bright, they should have put their money away , instead of pissing it away on cars, excessive jewelry, and the parasites that hang around them, trying to be yes men, because they are too lazy to get a real job..

 

Lyle died pretty suddenly at age 70, but he appeared to be in excellent fitness to the end. Came back and won four bouts at age 54 in 1995.

For me, Ron is clearly one of boxing's success stories, rising up from a prison sentence for second degree murder and a signed death certificate after getting knifed in the clink. Was a solid character through middle age, and an icon in Denver. The stomach ailment which abruptly killed him had nothing to do with boxing.

Mac Foster was also fine until dying at age 68 of a nasty infection, leaving behind a wife and four children. He went from being the son of Mississippi sharecroppers to the USMC [passing up a track and field scholarship from Fresno State], then as a touted professional. An interview with him in his mid 60s showed that he was doing well. As with Lyle, boxing was a benefactor to Mac.

 

Sometime bad decisions make it worse.I hope he manages to find his way back, thought he was training boxers, or something of that nature.

 

I have done research on many former fighters while using records on the Ancestry genealogical website. Based on such research, I can tell you that they usually went on and got regular jobs after their boxing careers end. To be sure, there are exceptions (especially among the most famous fighters), but they were comparatively rare.

For far too many former fighters, brain damage is a real issue. At times, brain damage doesn't become readily apparent until such fighters are in their sixties or seventies.

- Chuck Johnston

 

Jesus fvcking christ! I can't believe that some people are claiming it is the fighters own faults that they end up in the gutter.

To be at the top of anything you do you have to be dedicated, or exceptionally gifted. So it is hardly rocket science to work out if a kid spends most of the time of his formative years in a boxing gym, he is hardly going to consider investments, and financial security.

The money only comes later IF he gets to be successful, so obviously he is prey for shysters, and other parasitical garbage, because he just doesn't fvcking know about the world they inhabit.

 

Even among people with highly educated and affluent backgrounds, there aren't many who truly knew how to handle and invest their money when they were in their 20s or 30s. Under the circumstances, how can you expect fighters to have such knowledge?

- Chuck Johnston

 

Mike Tyson most likely would have been dead or arrested and put away for a long time if he hadnt started boxing.

Only now, hes finally grown up and learnt his lesson.

Little known fact. Even after turning pro, Tyson was still robbing people and beating them up in elevators

 

This topic always makes us fight fans squeamish.
Did we ever dream we'd live to see Alex Ramos-Thomas Hearns-Swee Pea Whitaker
in their current condition?

 

I wouldn't want his life. He's been blighted by Parkinsons since he was 38 or 40 years old. And I think he could have been more than a sign painter if he hadn't been a boxer.
He could possibly have been an actor, a singer, a comedian, even if only second-rate or third-rate, he could have had fun and done interesting things - and he was naturally good looking, he should never lack for pu*ssy.
In the long run, an obscure or almost obscure Clay/Ali would have been a better life.

That's just my honest feelings. In reality, if I really did have to choose to be born into his shoes.

 

But of course, maybe the average Scotsman expects to be incomprehensible and suffering with chronic shakes at age 40 ! :hey

 

I myself never wanted to be a boxer, amateur or professional. If any relative of mine didn't want to be a boxer, I would be quite happy about it. It is a certainty that a boxer is going to sustain injuries, often ones which cause permanent damage. But I would still support someone who is determined to be a boxer.

- Chuck Johnston

 

Baling Nelson is perhaps the most tragic and absolute case!

 

My 6th grade teacher was a nun; she had Parkinson's at a young age. Maybe it was the result of fighting- she was Irish after all. Michael J Fox is an actor. He got parkinson's at an earlier age than Ali. He never boxed.
All the guys mentioned, they were legends due to boxing. They lived a very high life for awhile, they were "The Champ"...If you say you'd rather live as a nobody with nothing, rather than experience that, you are either a liar or a coward.
If you want to be a legend- and Ali, frazier, louis, etc...obviously were striving for something- then you know there is a downside. You take your chances, take your best shot, which is what you do when you decide to fight in the first place.

 

I'm sorry but that is a total nonsense.

Affluent families in the overwhelming majority of instances teach their offspring how to sustain that affluence at a very early age.

I'm sure you could tell us about guys you know, or knew that came from affluent families and ended up with nothing. Please don't bother, because I will name a hundred to everyone of your examples that didn't.