Fighters who overcame serious disabilities or illneses to win at a world level

Was it friendly fire?

 

I think I know which article you're referring to, mcvey. I believe it was in a special memorial edition published when Louis passed away. (The title of the chapter was, "Nobody knocked out Paulino Uzcudun!," and it showed a head and shoulders closeup portrait of Paulino posing in his cross-armed defense, and concluded with a shot from above and behind Louis standing over a prone Uzcudun lying nearly across the ropes?)

 

They had crossed the Rhine and ran into a machinegun nest.

Maybe I should have made it clear it was in combat during WWII.

 

I read about it in the December, 1945 issue of the Ring. The article does not say but I would assume he was shot by the Germans unless other evidence surfaces. It hurts just as much either way.

The article does not go into the extent of his wounds or how he managed to survive 16 bullets at all, which seems a lot to be able to live. I did know a fellow in Nam who survived 18 in the torso. Seems impossible, but he recieved immediate medical care and was rushed by helicopter to a hospital. I only knew the fellow slightly but I was amazed that he pulled through. He is still alive, I understand, and doing well.

 

Gene Tunney overcame a withered arm by chopping wood as a youth.
Rodolfo Gonzalez overcame liver illness which doctors diagnosed as terminal.
Art Hafey suffered from some cardio-vascular muscular disease.
Gustavo Ballas was an alcoholic while world champ and top contender.

Scartissue

 

paul spadaforda was shot in the leg i believe but adapted a style which he was able to use to win a world title.

kassim ouma was stabbed in the stomach but cameback to win a a world title.




i also remember of a fighter in a wheel chair overcomming some type of leg or back injury to fight well and even upset a pretty good fighter.

 

When talking of brittle hands Jeff Fenech had shockers. Non stop trouble.

 

Sorry that was a joke in rather poor taste,Im English,there is a wide spread beleif in the UK ,that if you find yourself in Military action alongside our American cousins,you are more in danger from their bullets than the enemies.

 

That is interesting. I have never heard that point of view so I took the question at face value. I don't know if this reaches the news in Britain, but right now there is a brouhaha over the friendly fire shooting of Pat Tillman, a gridiron star who volunteered for service in Afghanistan.

In WWII, Americans shot better, I think. Audie Murphy and all that, you know.

 

Does Benny Lynch count?
He was a chronic alcoholic yet still won a world title before succumbing to his demons and losing his title on the scales and eventually dying in the gutter.
Alcoholism often gets made light of but is now recognised as a serious illness,rather than a weakness on behalf of the individual.

 

Billy Miske

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Fought against Jack Dempsey, with the affects of Bright's Disease (kidney disease that causes nausea, weakness, fever and back pain) already well in tow.

 

Ty Biggs with one arm v Jeff Sims....
Serious quality...

 

Marciano almost died from pneumonia as a kid.

 

What???

 

Cleveland Williams deserves a mention, overcoming a 6 hour operation in which over 10ft of intestine had to be removed and suffering from permanent kidney and nerve damage in his leg.