Famous boxers who were heavy drinkers during their careers

Jimmy reminded me a bit of Corbett and a lot Muhammad Ali. I haven’t heard he was a drinker?

 

Jose Napoles according to one articl by someone who trained with him, said in the gym he used to smell of alcohol and took to messing with whoever was around when he did. the author who wrote the article said Napoles followed him from bag to bag before he could work and just kept telling him to move.

 

Qawi in the latter part of his career.

 

Hi Mike
I find Conn`s obsevations fascinating, i will read up more on all of the fighters he mentioned.
So sad how the great Joe Louis ended up but it must still have been awesome to meet him.Many thanks Mike for sharing your stories with me and the rest of the forum.Take care

 

Yes, apparently drinking ruined his career and marriage. He died in his 50's.

 

Heavy ? Virtually no one (among the greats) during their primes.... even the ones that have a reputation for it, when you dig into it you realize that they didn´t drink heavily like your pub booze head uncle does.
Now, once they got a title, once they hit a certain stage in their careers.... that changes, and it shows.
Maybe it was different in John Sullivan days, when things were less professional... I don´t know, but these stories about guys going in drunk to a pro boxing fight, sound embellished. or drinking the night before...

 

Good fighter. RIP

 

Paul Spadafora
Tommy Morrison
Boytsov
Bobby Czyz

 

I get a kick out of reading in Sullivan's training routine and diet, he still drank beer or ale. "Hey I cut the whiskey out...". The Great John L!

 

Yep, and apparently he could guzzle booze with the best of 'em. Frazier would likely destroy John L. Sullivan in a boxing match, but could he beat him in a drinking contest?

 

Duran, Ray Leonard, De La Hoya, Chapo all drank during their careers