Check out this article on former HW contender James "Quick" Tillis. There is a very interesting documentary about halfway down the page Then and Now: Boxer 'Quick' Tillis sees fortune, fame knocked out as fast as they*came http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsext...tid=462&articleid=20100808_29_B1_JamesQ399431
Tillis was a good fighter, but when he began his downward slide, he really fell fast. After losing to Mike Weaver in 1981, Tillis was a kayo victim for Pinkie Thomas and Tim Witherspoon. After that he lost to truth Williams and Mike Tyson, and then became an easy mark for comebacking '70s star Joe Bugner.
Yeah, "Quick's" story is sadly not atypical of many former boxers. It sounds like he got more screwed that most though.
Tillis was ome of the last heavyweight who utilized Ali style footwork and jab. Very good fighter at his best.