Duane Bobick Suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy

Very sad indeed.

 

That's sad to hear. Bobick nearly lost his arms in a horrible accident many years ago. Seems the guy can't catch a break.

 

I feel bad for him.

 

Bobick really was never a "bad ass type" in the ring.

Nick Wells probably as an amateur, was better.


Bobick had the size (6'3" 215 lbs) and managed to defeat Cuban legend Teófilo Stevenson at the 1971
Pan American Games.

Duane Bobick earned renown as an amateur as he claimed the world heavyweight champion in 1971 and
the gold medal at the Pan Am Games. He was the U.S. heavyweight representative at the 1972 Summer
Olympics in Munich.

Bobick had a younger brother named Rodney who didn't quite reach his same level of notoriety. Rodney
perished in an automobile accident in 1977.

Bobick had the size (6'3" 215 lbs) and managed to defeat Cuban legend Teófilo Stevenson at the 1971
Pan American Games. Additionally, he defeated Larry Holmes to earn a birth on the 1972 U.S. Olympic
boxing team. He was then ravaged in three rounds by Stevenson in their Olympic rematch.

Bobick's career started fast. He was labeled a "white hope" like Quarry but could not silence the growing
number of skeptics in the boxing community.

To read more about Duane Bobick's career please consider purchasing "The Last Great Contenders."

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This is unfortunate. I spoke with Duane and his wife a year or two ago and even then his wife warned me of his condition before she put Duane on the phone. He still recalled information like it was yesterday. In my opinion I believe that the industrial injury was probably the catalyst that just stirred up any if any effects from the ring. Ken Norton really put the grease on the overhand hand right that landed with full compliments. Teo also dealt him a little punishment as well. Im naive as far as any other beatings that Duane recieved,I guess four go arounds with Wells might've weighed in some. But all boxers take shots to the head. For all we know if he wasnt hit in the head during the industrial accident any type of punishment from boxing may not have surfaced for another 10-20 years if at all.

 

I've made joking remarks about Duane's fragile chin over the years, but I always knew he was a great guy. He definitely deserves better luck.

 

Recent research on CTE suggest it is much more frequent tho less powerful blows that are the real culpirt. The more infrequent KO's are not the source neccesarily, rather the many more repetitive blows from sparring and amateur fights.

 

Makes since, I still think that the accident had to be some sort of contributing factor. All boxers are predispositioned for this because they all spar , they all have amateur fights.