I'm stretching the limits of the basic underpinnings of this thread, but the the most healthy "second careers" are by fighters who parlay the money they've made from boxing into a new career outside of boxing: Larry Holmes with his many investments in his hometown of Easton, PA. Art Aragon and Tony Lopez owned and operated businesses as bail bondsmen. Billy Soose and Fred Lenhart (in and out of the light-heavy top 10 ratings from 1928-1937) owned and operated vacation resorts. Ben Jeby obtained a plumber's license in NY and worked at that the rest of his working life. Jack Hurley's fighters did all right after boxing: Billy Petrolle owned and operated a metal fabrication business, a religious goods store, and became a member of the board of directors of a bank in Duluth Charlie Retzlaff owned and operated a car dealership in Detroit Lakes, MN for many years. Harry (Kid) Matthews owned and operated a heating oil distributorship and a tavern in Seattle and a welding shop in Everett, WA Billy Seward owned and operated the Jersey Lilly Restaurant for about 40 or 50 years in his hometown of Ingomar, MT Boone Kirkman operated the Melrose Tavern, bought a home and some other real estate properties, and joined the Teamster's Union while working as a truck driver for Boeing and and a beer distributor for over 30 years before retiring with a union pension. This is just for starters. They may be in the minority, but there have been quite a few boxers parlayed their ring earnings into successful ventures outside of boxing. I invite other Forum members to add to the list. Or maybe start a new thread.
Nice approach, but I think Big George might win both second-career categories: 1) In boxing he sat out a decade and returned to eventually become the oldest ever to win the heavyweight championship (I think this one might never be broken) 2) Outside of the ring, he turned an indoor hamburger grill into a $130M+ windfall
Pat. I guess you could add Dempsey, Tunney, and Marciano to the list. And Mickey Walker who wrote articles for the Police Gazette and then became a graphic artist of sorts? And Jose Torres had some success as a writer? These guys all capitalized on the fame earned from boxing. Then, of course, you have the long list of fighters who have enjoyed success in the cable-TV and PPV eras, including Big George!
You mentioned Larry Holmes and I think he’s the model for how to do it (I mean if you can luck into the right product endorsement like George, then buy the product and sell it for more than $100M by all means do that, but it’s hard to replicate) as an accomplished champ — didn’t live like a king, didn’t have a big entourage on the payroll to tell him how great he was, didn’t have a flashy lifestyle. Stayed in his hometown, built a nice home with a swimming pool and still lives in it. Married his sweetheart and afaik they’re still married. Drives a regular car. Bought and developed property — built the largest office building in Easton and then rented out the bottom floor to the U.S. Post Office on like a 50-year lease … every check arrives on time like clockwork, never have to collect rent or fill the space when a failed business moves out. Then other federal government offices basically rented out the rest of the space except for one office he kept for himself. After a while, he sold that and a lot of his other holdings and didn’t blow that money on some grand scheme. Just lives a good life in the town where he’s always lived. Apart from the Trevor Berbick drop kick off the top of a car (haha), I don’t recall him ever making a headline for bad behavior. Does charity events and always calls his buddy Gerry Cooney (and vice versa) to deliver a two-for-one to help out whatever cause. Another guy you never hear about who I assume invested his money well and just lives off his boxing earnings is Michael Spinks (ironically the guy who defeated Holmes for the title). Got the huge paydays at the end of his career (Cooney, again ironically, and the Tyson loss). Seems to show up from time to time at events where he’s being honored or some other boxing gathering but otherwise lives a quiet life. I wish there boxing had more happy endings.
I remember having the Quartey vs Forrest fight on VHS and used to watch it a decent amount and was shocked by the decision and by the lack of discussions on it being a horrible decision