Great fighters with drug habits

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by impacted, Sep 12, 2015.


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  1. impacted

    impacted Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Obviously recreational drugs and alcohol are considered an absolute no-no for a top level athlete, let alone an athlete who exchanges punches for a living, but boxing historically seems to have had a disproportionate number of real top fighters who were hooked or borderline addicted to alcohol or class A drugs.

    Some top guys immediately spring to mind;

    Mike Tyson, taking heroin, cocaine and hard liquor from the age of 12, developed an out of control addiction to cocaine.

    Tony Ayala, heroin addicted and an alcoholic.

    Mike Ayala, brother of Tony, engaged in the Ring magazine fight of the year with huge punching Danny Lopez while apparently dosed on heroin.

    Aaron Pryor, at the peak of his game when cocaine took hold, taken hostage by Jamaican yardies in a crack house.

    Any other guys you remember who fought at elite level while sustaining a serious drink or drug habit?
     
    impacted, Sep 12, 2015
    impacted, Sep 12, 2015
    #1
  2. N_ N___

    N_ N___ Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Pinklon Thomas had a fabled heroin addiction, but I think he abstained while on top and didn't start again until after Tyson kicked his ass.

    Biggs loved cocaine, but again, I think he abstained during the peak of his career.

    Dokes, Tucker, Leon Spinks, Bert Cooper,Tubbs, ****ey--all were fond of coke and most went pretty hard with alcohol too.
     
    N_ N___, Sep 12, 2015
    N_ N___, Sep 12, 2015
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  3. jdempsey85

    jdempsey85 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Ha any links for a news report on this
     
    jdempsey85, Sep 12, 2015
    jdempsey85, Sep 12, 2015
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  4. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace Full Member

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    Sweet pea
     
    lufcrazy, Sep 12, 2015
    lufcrazy, Sep 12, 2015
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  5. mrkoolkevin

    mrkoolkevin Never wrestle with pigs or argue with fools Full Member

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    Some guys have claimed to have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol during actual fights. Tyson was one but I've seen one or two others that I can't recall.

    Also, maybe Oscar, toward the end?
     
    mrkoolkevin, Sep 12, 2015
    mrkoolkevin, Sep 12, 2015
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  6. salsanchezfan

    salsanchezfan Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    In the book "In This Corner" Lew Jenkins describes going into the ring falling-down drunk. He was a real alkie, it seems.

    Mando Ramos may not have been technically "great" but might have been had he had any sober days.
     
    salsanchezfan, Sep 12, 2015
    salsanchezfan, Sep 12, 2015
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  7. N_ N___

    N_ N___ Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Oscar was an alcoholic starting very early in his career. He had a good pr team.
     
    N_ N___, Sep 12, 2015
    N_ N___, Sep 12, 2015
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  8. N_ N___

    N_ N___ Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Chavez was also an alcoholic.
     
    N_ N___, Sep 12, 2015
    N_ N___, Sep 12, 2015
    #8
  9. impacted

    impacted Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Definitely seems like cocaine has been the drug of choice of top fighters, particularly in the '80's, when it was seen as the intoxicant of the rich and famous. Ray Leonard is another guy who took to it with a vengeance.
     
    impacted, Sep 12, 2015
    impacted, Sep 12, 2015
    #9
  10. Saad54

    Saad54 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    The boxing mags of the time chronicled Pryor's descent into Coke addiction pretty well. KO had a photo of him pretty emaciated in 1985. I think he got really bad after the Gary Hinton fight. He had been a user for some time but he descended into full blown Coke addiction in 1985. They did report he was found in a crack house. Hence, he didn't fight from early 85 until Mid 87. By the time he fought Bobby Joe Young, the damage was done. He was still a decent fighter when he beat Hinton, but he was pretty much done by the time he lost to Young.
     
    Saad54, Sep 12, 2015
    Saad54, Sep 12, 2015
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  11. Saad54

    Saad54 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I think Leonard was doing it during his layoff before the Kevin Howard fight. I am not sure he was doing it pre Hagler. I doubt he was as he looked in prime shape for that fight.

    The Don King heavweights on the other hand seemed to let it affect their performances. Tubbs, Dokes, especially. Apparently, Dokes was pretty much a full blown coke head after winning the WBA title. I think Tucker's addiction led to a layoff after the Tyson fight. I never heard anything about Witherspoon having a drug problem, though. It kind of makes sense beause he was pretty consistent save for the second Smith fight.
     
    Saad54, Sep 12, 2015
    Saad54, Sep 12, 2015
    #11
  12. impacted

    impacted Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Good list, the scene Tyson decimated was seemingly full of talented boxers with serious substance abuse troubles. Little did anyone realise at the time that they were getting beaten to a pulp by a guy who had addictions to match almost all of them.
     
    impacted, Sep 12, 2015
    impacted, Sep 12, 2015
    #12
  13. impacted

    impacted Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Apparently Dokes was under the influence of coke and booze when he beat his girlfriend so badly the attending police officer said he couldn't match the victim's face to her driving license photograph. Real tragic figure.
     
    impacted, Sep 12, 2015
    impacted, Sep 12, 2015
    #13
  14. KernowWarrior

    KernowWarrior Bob Fitzsimmons much bigger brother. Full Member

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    Benny Lynch the Flyweight World Champion in the mid 1930s, sadly was a alcoholic and died as a result of the disease in 1948 aged 33
     
    KernowWarrior, Sep 12, 2015
    KernowWarrior, Sep 12, 2015
    #14
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  15. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    God damn, no mention for Oliver McCall? Fishhooked out of a drugs den to defend a heavyweight strap.
     
    McGrain, Sep 12, 2015
    McGrain, Sep 12, 2015
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