Boxing and Longevity

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by superman1986, Aug 8, 2017.


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  1. superman1986

    superman1986 Active Member banned Full Member

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    What effects does boxing have on lifespan?

    Some like the Quarry brothers lived into their 50s and died from what was believed to be pugilistic dementia.

    Others like Archie Moore lived to be 84, dying just days short of his 85th birthday. And he had over 200 fights. And was in his right mind until his passing. This was the very last interview of Archie Moore taken months before his passing. He's very sharp for a man in his 80s.

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    Jimmy Bivins (who fought Moore 3 times) died a few years ago aged 92. He had Alzheimers, which is virtually identical to pugilistic dementia, but then you have to consider his age.

    Schmeling lived to be 99, I read he died in his sleep of complications from a bad cold. By all accounts he was in his right mind at the time of his death. I know the K2 brothers were really close to him and considered him a grandfather like figure.

    Patterson and Sugar Ray Robinson both had what was thought to be pugilistic dementia. Robinson was 67 when he died and Patterson 71. Although 65 is said to be the average age of onset for dementia. And Alzheimers is very identical to pugilistic dementia.

    Fraizer had cancer, so I doubt that was boxing related, he probably would have had that even if he never boxed.

    Harold Johnson died in 2015 aged 86. His son said the official cause of death was pneumonia, but he too struggled with dementia.

    George Foreman seems very well. I wouldn't be surprised if he outlived Bowe and Holyfield. At 68, based on how he appears, I can see Foreman lasting at minimum another 10 years. He may eek out another 20 years

    With all the luck Tyson has had, he might hang around to be 102.

    But is there any evidence boxing can hurt longevity or is it neutral?
     
    superman1986, Aug 8, 2017
    superman1986, Aug 8, 2017
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  2. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    Getting routinely beat on your body, let alone your head, is just not good for longevity. At the end of his career, Ali was suffering internal organ damage as well as the Parkinson's which was soon to be apparent. But then there are outliers like the aforementioned Moore and freaking Jake Lamotta who you did not mention. That's just a genetic roll of the dice, and a roll only a few win. In general, I would say boxing is detrimental to one's longevity.
     
    Seamus, Aug 8, 2017
    Seamus, Aug 8, 2017
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  3. BCS8

    BCS8 VIP Member

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    I'd take a qualified stance on this.

    If you're the sort of boxer that's always in shape and doesn't get into wars (and hence damage) I would argue that the benefits of a life of rigorous exercise outweigh the downsides. Exercise actually keeps you young to some extent and the body reacts to stress by becoming stronger. I suspect that a dude like Hopkins will live to a ripe old age. A guy like Bowe, on the other hand, is probably not.
     
    BCS8, Aug 8, 2017
    BCS8, Aug 8, 2017
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  4. superman1986

    superman1986 Active Member banned Full Member

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    Oh yeah. Sugar Ray Robinson's arch nemises Jake Lamotta. He's alive today at 95 years old and was 20 years older than Ali. Here he is in 2012 during an interview. At that time he was 90 years old. When asked about Floyd Mayweather he says "Who? I never heard of him".

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    He seems to be extremely sharp for a man in his 90s and Lord knows he took alot of punishment in his career of over 125 fights.

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    Lamotta was 29 years old in the St. Valentines Massacre

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    I wonder if Lamotta thought he'd still be around 66 years later?
     
    superman1986, Aug 8, 2017
    superman1986, Aug 8, 2017
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  5. superman1986

    superman1986 Active Member banned Full Member

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    Now Ali was 74 years old when he passed, which can be considered a full lifespan and considered old age. It seemed that it was his quality of life that suffered rather than taking years off of his life. Hr could've lost some but probably not a significant amount. Both of his parents lived to be 77 years old and longevity is genetic.
     
    superman1986, Aug 8, 2017
    superman1986, Aug 8, 2017
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  6. PernellSweetPea

    PernellSweetPea Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    not related in some cases, in others it is Jake Lamotta is alive and in his 90s. Matters who the person is and how sensitive they were to punches. I love the sport, but I am so sad about cases like Meldrick or Norris. Some people said Hearns slurred, but I have seen him in videos in suits and he looks good and talks fine to me..
     
    PernellSweetPea, Aug 8, 2017
    PernellSweetPea, Aug 8, 2017
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  7. Saad54

    Saad54 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    It depends on the individual.

    Jake LaMotta took many beatings but is still alive in his mid '90s. And he seemed mentally still with it until a few years ago.
     
    Saad54, Aug 8, 2017
    Saad54, Aug 8, 2017
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  8. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Yeah, but so few get out in time. There are usually some bad beatings at the end of most fighters´ careers.

    But Hopkins and DLH are guys that does seem in good health. As does Foreman, despite the punishment he often took in his second career.
     
    Bokaj, Aug 8, 2017
    Bokaj, Aug 8, 2017
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  9. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

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    Did LaMotta really take a lot of beatings though ?

    He is remarkable. He said he had 1,000 amateur fights and about the same number of street fights too !
     
    Unforgiven, Aug 8, 2017
    Unforgiven, Aug 8, 2017
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  10. superman1986

    superman1986 Active Member banned Full Member

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    Even if he is becoming senile, it may be age and other factors rather than punishment he took in the ring. And he had a take punishment to give punishment style.
     
    superman1986, Aug 8, 2017
    superman1986, Aug 8, 2017
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  11. reznick

    reznick In the 7.2% Full Member

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    Schmelings longevity impresses me the most.
    All those battles with guys like Joe Louis and Max Baer, and still lived long enough to see Mike Tyson and the Klitschkos fight.

    Vitali also seems like he will do pretty well.
    He is currently governing over a major city.
    That should keep his blood flowing.
     
    reznick, Aug 8, 2017
    reznick, Aug 8, 2017
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  12. jowcol

    jowcol Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Chuvalo amazes me! Took a gazillion punches in his career, eye socket shattered against Frazier, wanting to quit against Foreman, punch after punch after punch. And still seems lucid and articulate.
     
    jowcol, Aug 8, 2017
    jowcol, Aug 8, 2017
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  13. Radrook

    Radrook Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Strange as it might seem, I haven't seen a punch drunk Latino boxer being interviewed as yet. Chavez who took gazillions of shots from Taylor is perfectly fluent and lucid. So is Duran who was KOD by Hearns and who was in a ferocious war with Barkley where he was battered continuously. Alexis Arguello remained fluent even though he was savaged by Pryor twice. So is Mayorca who suffered KOs at the hands of De La Joya, Trinidad, Cotto and Mosely. Neither is Cotto slurring his speech though battered badly by Margarito who is alleged to have used cement-reinforced gloves. Weird!
     
    Radrook, Aug 8, 2017
    Radrook, Aug 8, 2017
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  14. ForemanJab

    ForemanJab Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Fernando Vargas
     
    ForemanJab, Aug 8, 2017
    ForemanJab, Aug 8, 2017
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  15. ForemanJab

    ForemanJab Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Bobby Chacon was also in pretty bad shape before he passed.
     
    ForemanJab, Aug 8, 2017
    ForemanJab, Aug 8, 2017
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