I know that many fighters fade into the shadows when they retire. Others have tragic endings because of health or legal trouble. What fighters have had successful (personal and/or professional) post fight careers? I would think George Foreman would qualify for successful post-fight professional. I was reading about Nino Benvenuti and his work with Mother Theresa and her Calcutta mission and that would qualify, too. What other fighters have been success after hanging up the gloves?
I think a lot more fighters land on their feet than stereotypes would suggest. Some that come to mind are Billy Conn, who supposedly invested wisely in of all things, oil wells. Charley Burley though he ended up a garbage man, never seemed to be a bitter man, raised a family and lived a quiet life in Pittsburgh. Fritzie Zivic, after his business interests in the game dried up ended up a wine salesman with a nice house in the suburbs. And Rocky Graziano, made some money after his boxing career, became a bit-part actor, a TV personality and put his name on a chain of NYC Italian restaurants...
I forgot about Cooney and his assistance program for former fighters. Seeing what former NFL players have to endure in their "Golden" years is painful. I imagine it is similar for boxers. Are any other boxers involved in his (or other ) assistance programs? I see he's also involved in a domestic abuse program. Good for him.
A lot of boxers help support him. Larry Holmes helps Cooney out a lot with the fund raising. From what I know Renaldo Snipes also helps with it. A lot of the guys that kept their money from that era help out.
SUGAR RAY LEONARD hosts THE CONTENDER , does a little acting on the side & seems to have all of his faculties & a smokin hot wife. LENNOX LEWIS seems to be doing well & is articulate as ever as evidenced by his color work on HBO this weekend on the BERTO fight. Where the hell is Michael Spinks? I would think he is quietly doing fine.
Haven't heard much since he fought about 3 years ago. He was talking about fighting beyond that. But he looked every bit of his age at that point. Glad he stayed put. George Chuvalo does a lot of anti-drug stuff because of he lost so much of his family to drugs. He seems to be ok.
Danny Lopez lives a quite life in California. His long time wife Bonnie is still with him. I've heard two stories: one says he is a construction worker, the other says he is a construction contractor. Either way he has a really nice home and a bunch of grand children. It's very hard for me to reconcile the dichotomy of Danny the warrior who would get off the canvass and take your head off, and Danny the kindly grandfather!