Fighters who lived and passed still clearheaded.

Max Schmeling's manager was Joe Jacobs, a Jew. When the Nazis stepped up their persecution of Jews, Schmeling received a letter from the government to the effect that as a professional athlete he could no longer have a Jew working as his manager. He ignored the letter and subsequent nastier letters to the same effect. Finally, he appealed directly to Hitler himself in person. That took some real balls to do that! Naturally Hitler was not sympathetic to Schmeling's appeal and I believe Jacobs ultimately fled to America. In Germany at that time, professional athletes were exempt from military service, but when the war broke out, the Nazis had no use for Schmeling after he had lost to Louis in 1938, so he was drafted and wounded in the battle of Crete. Max lost everything in the war, and had to start again from scratch. He became a very successful businessman and lived a long, prosperous, and healthy life. He shadowboxed daily and kept fit right up to the end. He even autographed a photo for me and mailed it to me. A truly remarkable gentleman!

 

Not strictly relevant to the thread (and not trying to be morbid) but Eder Jofre is alive and well in his 80s.

 

I think he's suffering from dementia now but he's still going, that's for sure.

 

Oscar Delahoya

 

Bernard Hopkins

 

Eddie Mustafa Muhammad

 

Julian Jackson

 

Lamotta was never sound of mind.

 

Basilio
Soose
Willard
Sharkey
Braddock

 

Although he passed from us way too soon in that tragic air crash, I was always enjoyed listening to Rocky Marciano, whether commenting on a fight at ringside, or giving an opinion. He always spoke direct, and with great confidence and authority, displaying the mental toughness that he carried to the very end. There was never any hint of slurred speech or impairment that often befalls fighters with physical styles.

 

After having some fun, Oscar Ringo Bonavena in 1976. Zora Folley in 1972, my mother was a nurse and took care of him. A blood clot led to his demise.

 

He was a hero in my state, my mom said that he and his family were nice humble people. He had just wanted to have a relaxing good time with his family, he was horsing around at the local motel swimming pool in my hometown, when he slipped and struck his head at the cement edge of the pool, my mom told me it was real sad to see him pass away like he did. The Folley family thanked her for the round the clock care that he received.