Boxers who used drugs

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by heizenberg, Jan 30, 2017.


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  1. heizenberg

    heizenberg Well-Known Member Full Member

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    This has always been an interesting topic to me. Boxers who we're also drug users during or after their careers.. I'm not talking steroids I'm talking illegal drugs.. Boxing is a sport that takes incredible dedication to be in the shape you need to be in to fight yet theres been many fighters over the years with both drug and alcohol problems some during the prime of their careers..

    In the 80s drugs ran ramped through boxing and pretty much the world. In the heavyweight division Mike Tyson, Tony Tucker, Michael Dokes, Tony Tubbs, Pinklon Thomas, Lionel Butler and Bert Cooper we're all said to be drug users. I've always wondered about Mike Tyson's drug use and when it began and really became a problem. Greats Joe Calzaghe, Aaron Pryor, Ray Leonard and Alexis Arguello are all said to have either been cocaine addicts or at least dabbled in the drug. I've always wondered if Pryor at the peak of his career was coked up in his fights. He always seemed so hyped.. Not saying that would've help him, in my estimation it would likely negatively effect him in the ring if anything.. Tony Ayala who would go to jail for a long time for raping a women was said to use heroin on the day of his fight and be a heavy drug user.... Finally I've heard first hand account here in Ontario that Lennox Lewis used to be a big pot smoker. Not that I consider that drug use just thought it would be something interesting to include.

    Fill me in on any of the fighters I missed and please share stories if you got them...
     
    heizenberg, Jan 30, 2017
    heizenberg, Jan 30, 2017
    #1
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  2. joe brown

    joe brown Keep it Simple Full Member

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    I think mikes drug use most likely started when he came out of prison not sure you seem to know quiet a lot about this subject it not one I really looked into when I first read it first people that came to mind were Leonard, Tyson, and Hatton. I think once they retired and got older joe louis and liston used to do cocaine and heroine I think.
     
    joe brown, Jan 30, 2017
    joe brown, Jan 30, 2017
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  3. reznick

    reznick In the 7.2% Full Member

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    Wouldn't be surprised if Lewis smoked. He was on that Talib Kweli intro.

    The 80's and 90's were littered with hard drugs. Not surprised that the problem trickled into the Wild West of boxing.
     
    reznick, Jan 30, 2017
    reznick, Jan 30, 2017
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  4. greynotsoold

    greynotsoold Boxing Addict

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    Mando Ramos, Raul Rojas, Keeny Teran.
     
    greynotsoold, Jan 30, 2017
    greynotsoold, Jan 30, 2017
    #4
  5. drenlou

    drenlou VIP Member Full Member

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    Bobby Chacon, parnell Whitaker, Joe calzaghe, Ricky Hatton, Oscar De LA Hoya, Zab Judah ect..
     
    drenlou, Jan 30, 2017
    drenlou, Jan 30, 2017
    #5
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  6. UnleashtheFURY

    UnleashtheFURY D'oh! Full Member

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    Most probably dabbled with drugs and or alcohol.. There's a difference between that and addiction though.
     
    UnleashtheFURY, Jan 30, 2017
    UnleashtheFURY, Jan 30, 2017
    #6
  7. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    According to Mando Ramos, he used heroin the day he beat Cruz for the title.
     
    Seamus, Jan 30, 2017
    Seamus, Jan 30, 2017
    #7
  8. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    Jeff Chandler was a fighter who i am going to deem "Great". He made about 9 successful defenses of his WBA Bantamweight title and beat some good fighters. The screaming shame was that he and Lupe Pintor never unified mostly due to the boxing politics of the time. It would have made both of them i think.

    Anyway well before his sudden shocking overnight decline Chandler had been caught with cocaine, 1981 i think it was. Word was he was coking and getting worse but he performed superbly for another couple of years before suddenly appearing to be a shell of his former self against Richie Sandoval overnight. There was also talk of an injured shoulder then adverse affects to an injection for it. I firmly believe he would have hammered Sandoval just months earlier.

    Awesome fighter with a superb all round game.

    This content is protected
     
    JohnThomas1, Jan 30, 2017
    JohnThomas1, Jan 30, 2017
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  9. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    Dokes hit the coke less than 48hrs before his fight with Coetzee. Showed a bit too imo.
     
    JohnThomas1, Jan 30, 2017
    JohnThomas1, Jan 30, 2017
    #9
  10. Saad54

    Saad54 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Mike Ayala claimed he shot Heroin before the Danny Lopez fight.

    He should have won at least a 122 lb title in the early '80s but his drug problems hindered him. By the time he finally got a 122 lb. title shot against Juan Meza in '85 he was on the decline.
     
    Saad54, Jan 31, 2017
    Saad54, Jan 31, 2017
    #10
  11. Wass1985

    Wass1985 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Better thread would be boxers who didn't use drugs.....
     
    Wass1985, Jan 31, 2017
    Wass1985, Jan 31, 2017
    #11
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  12. Saad54

    Saad54 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Pot is a drug. Not as bad as coke, heroin, etc, obviously. But, it is a drug.
     
    Saad54, Jan 31, 2017
    Saad54, Jan 31, 2017
    #12
  13. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    Stan Ketchel used opium.
     
    mcvey, Jan 31, 2017
    mcvey, Jan 31, 2017
    #13
  14. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. banned Full Member

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    Joe Louis used cocaine after he retired.
     
    Mendoza, Jan 31, 2017
    Mendoza, Jan 31, 2017
    #14
  15. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    Jim Jeffries used cocaine to deal with hand injuries.

    He was within his rigths to do so at the time though.
     
    janitor, Jan 31, 2017
    janitor, Jan 31, 2017
    #15
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