Famous boxers who were heavy drinkers during their careers

Sonny Liston.

 

Lew Jenkins.

 

Gerry Cooney.

 

Johnny DuPlopy, Jeff Harding, Jeff Fenech...

 

Ricky Hatton is the most famous example, he'd balloon up near 200 pounds when not training due to his love for the pint.

Conor McGregor is a notorious alcoholic.

 

Carlos Ortiz was an alcoholic. So was Julio Cesar Chavez and Kelly Pavlik.

Ricky Hatton and Roberto Duran were known to drink a lot and party between fights. Arturo Gatti had his issues with alcohol.

Sonny Liston drank a lot as well.

 

Danny McAlinden, (British and Commonwealth Heavyweight Champion in the mid 70's) was a riotous drinker around Coventry during and after his Boxing career. I remember he got six months for basically laying waste to a curry house after a disagreement over the bill.

Alan Minter was a heavy drinker who lapsed into alcoholism after his retirement.

John Conteh was a notorious liver of the highlife at the peak of his fame. Champagne and cocaine ruined his marriage and left him bankrupt. John has been clean and sober for close on 40 years, has been back with Veronica for most of that time and rebuilt his life as a brilliant and much sought after public speaker. His day job was driving his great pal Chris Finnegan around. A real happy ending.

 

Ruben Olivares, Ernie Lopez, Engels Pedroza, Rene Arredondo, Frankie Duarte.

 

Most of the ones that came to my mind were mentioned.

I think Tony Galento wasn't mentioned though. Not just drank, but owned the bar from what I remember. I think he might have some epic drinking stories considering what a character he was.

 

He was the first to come to mind.
John L Sullivan?

 

You're showing your age here, Mac

 

Good Morning Noel.
Re: Vegas.
Lucky for me that Louis was , at that time , living in the Caesars Palace hotel, all expenses paid apparently, sad to say he was not in good health and confined to a wheelchair, alongside him stood Billy Conn, who looked the picture of good health, smartly dressed a deep tan, and looking very dapper indeed, also he was very engaging, and spoke to me at length about his career, which of course was great, he had lots of respect for all the fighters he had fought against, Louis of course , but also, Bettina, Zale, Krieger, Lesnevich, Zivic, Rankins, Yarosz, and above all Apostoli, he had huge respect and admiration for him, he maintained Fred gave him the worst beating of his career, bar none, his body shots were the worst Conn had ever had, when you think of all the above, that is saying something, he had Yarosz as the best pure boxer, and felt that Rankins was a much better fighter than history has portrayed him, so yes a memorable half hour with a ATG.
Stay safe buddy.

 

Joe Frazier was sadly an alcoholic.