Famous boxers who were heavy drinkers during their careers

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Usyk is the best, Jan 22, 2024.

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  1. Fireman Fred

    Fireman Fred Active Member Full Member

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    Great story. Love the Finnegans especially Kevin. Would kill to see any of his two fights with Hagler especially the first one. Hagler had so much respect for Kevin after that fight.
     
    Fireman Fred, Jan 22, 2024
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  2. Fireman Fred

    Fireman Fred Active Member Full Member

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    Eckhard Dagge. He once said: "Many world champions have become alcoholics, but I am the first alcoholic to become world champion."
     
    Fireman Fred, Jan 22, 2024
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  3. ellerbe

    ellerbe Loyal Member Full Member

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    Kovalev forsure
     
    ellerbe, Jan 22, 2024
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  4. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    Jimmy Slattery and Benny Lynch are the first that come to mind.
     
    Seamus, Jan 22, 2024
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  5. dinovelvet

    dinovelvet Antifanboi Full Member

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    Larry Holmes.

    I remember watching a fight from around 1985 on youtube , may have been a dokes or carl williams fight.. Larry was ringside drinking beers .
     
    dinovelvet, Jan 22, 2024
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  6. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    I remember Larry at a USA card in the 90's sloshed on red wine. I think he was very disciplined in camp, especially during his prime, but liked to cut loose and enjoy life the older he got, like a lot of athletes who sacrificed their youth.
     
    Seamus, Jan 22, 2024
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  7. USFBulls727

    USFBulls727 Active Member Full Member

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    Sinan Samil Sam

    I remember reading that his sparring partners would regularly smell alcohol on him while training. He passed at the age of 41 from Liver Cirrhosis.
     
    USFBulls727, Jan 22, 2024
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  8. tommytheduke

    tommytheduke Active Member Full Member

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    Carlos Monzon used to beat up waiters in restaurants even as world champion
     
    tommytheduke, Jan 22, 2024
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  9. DJN16

    DJN16 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Johnny Tapia. Think a lot was drugs mind you and this was before he became a world champion which is impressive.
     
    DJN16, Jan 22, 2024
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  10. quintonjacksonfan

    quintonjacksonfan Active Member Full Member

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    Arturo Gatti, Tex Cobb
     
    quintonjacksonfan, Jan 22, 2024
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  11. clinikill

    clinikill Active Member Full Member

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    Carlos Monzon and Joe Frazier.

    According to Bob Foster, Joe Frazier could drink a fifth of spirit in a very short amount of time. He apparently had an enormous appetite and tolerance for alcohol.

    Carlos Monzon was a noted heavy drinker. I've read somewhere that he would often imbibe the night before a fight. Crazy stuff.
     
    clinikill, Jan 22, 2024
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  12. Terror

    Terror free smoke Full Member

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    Tommy Oosthuizen. Lots of articles about how he threw it away for drink. He had some really good tools to win boxing matches but just seemed to lack the extra gear of a true prizefighter and it made sense that he was struggling during his prime years.
     
    Terror, Jan 22, 2024
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  13. Greg Price99

    Greg Price99 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I can't see that Young Griffo has been mentioned in this thread yet and he is arguably the greatest fighter who was a well established alcoholic during his prime years.
     
    Greg Price99, Jan 22, 2024
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  14. Usyk is the best

    Usyk is the best Active Member Full Member

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    I've read stories that Chavez Sr became a heavy drinker after he ended his boxing career, but seems like he used to drink a bit earlier, in his fighting days (probably not as much as later though)
     
    Usyk is the best, Jan 22, 2024
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  15. FrankinDallas

    FrankinDallas FRANKINAUSTIN

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    No one mentioned John L. Sullivan.
     
    FrankinDallas, Jan 22, 2024
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