I read that the great Alexis Arguello finally took his own life with a self inflicted bullet wound to the chest. I have to ask, is it pure coincidence that so many fighters end up with severe psychological problems? Is there a connection to the numerous heavy punches that some of these guys take to the head (the Pryor fights alone were hugely punishing - to both fighters) to the widespread mental problems most boxers encounter, to a greater or lesser degree later on in their lives? All too often, one reads about ex fighters struggling with drink and / or drugs; seeking rehabilitation in 'clinics' or being sectioned under the mental health act. Many find themselves incarcerated after committing crimes of incredible stupidity or out of sheer desperation. It fills me with sadness that in the case of Alexis Arguello, this poor, tortured soul could only find peace by curtailing his life in such a violent and brutal fashion. It's at times like this that one questions the merits of the hardest and most unforgiving sports of all - surely there are no easy answers. May God rest his soul. This content is protected Alexis Arguello R.I.P.
the drugs and alcohol didn't help boxers are not the only sports people to go threw these problems, but every case in boxing is highlighted and blamed on the sport if ray leonard got seriously effect by his flirtation with coke and went of the rails then it would be blamed solely on boxing however if another sportsman went through the same then its the drugs
canyt blame boxing, but when some PPL retire they just dont feel the same. and PPL wanna say Mayweather retired because he was scared, his damn hands are almost done. Boxers have to make a point in there life when they really got to just let it go, I pray DLH is for real about his retirement, we dont need to see boxers jacked up like this
Alexis Arguello was a tortured soul his entire life. There's an excellent artcile on the sports illustrated site.
I don't see the logic in this statement. Why would he have done this years ago? Are you a psychologist? After the suicide of another top ex pugilist (Gatti) recently, one wonders if there is a connection between the trauma endured by the brain being pounded on, year in, year out, and the severe depression and anxiety that many old fighters suffer, sometimes years or even decades after they have quit the sport. I wonder if anyone has any opinion on this serious subject?
I remember just after his death Frank Warren actually made an excellent point in a newspaper column he writes. When a retired football (soccer) player became a serial robber a few years back, he was a screw-up, if a boxer did that it would be blamed on boxing.
I'd hazard a guess and say that the ratio of ex boxers with severe neurological problems outweighs their footballing counterparts by several 100 to one. With the exception of Darren Bent of course, who has clearly taken leave of his senses in wanting to join the whipping boys of the Premiership this season!!!!!
I think his prior reckless lifestyle cocaine, alcohol abuse and womanizing is what led him to his suicide.
Yes that too maybe he fell in to a deep depression and saw no other way out who knows for sure. Some even say that he was executed so.
don't believe the bull**** coming from these corrupt ass latin american countries. And this is no diss to the latin american people. I'm from Egypt and i know a thing or two about corruption. Arguello didn't suicide and neither did Gatti. How much would it cost to make a doctor say the autopsy shows suicide? Gatti's wife changed his will and took out a million dollar life insurance 3 weeks before his death, and Arguello was one of the most respected figures in his country. suicide my ass. If Forrest was killed in some 3rd world country his death would be a siucide too
It's not coincidence that a lot of boxers have problems after their careers are over. Depression is one of the major symptoms of post-concussion syndrome. American football players suffer from many of the same problems. That said, Arguello was about to step into a shitstorm in Panama. He was the subject of a corruption probe, and I don't doubt that there was some substance behind the allegations. I'm guessing he killed himself to get out of that situation, or that someone else killed him and made it look like a suicide because whatever got exposed from the situation would lead up to many other politicians in Panama.