Ali was once a great fighter but we all can agree that the time he spent in jail robbed him of his prime some years that he could have benefited from. Same goes for Tyson who we never witnessed really fight an ATG in his real prime til after he got out of prison. Same goes for Kirkland and hell probably be damaged goods post jail aswell. Has there ever been anyone besides Hopkins to stay great or become great after prison?
when did Ali go to jail???? LOL He had the forced politically inspired lay off for 3 1/2 yrs that surely cost him though The way Bernard Hopkins turned his life around is a credit to the man. Kirkland got exactly what he deserved, he knew the penalty for a convicted felon caught with a loaded weapon. That was completely self inflictedatsch
Sadly Ike just was denied his parole recently and he won't be eligible for parole till 2012 when he will be 39. His career is over.
Ike was a beast... a definite future heavyweight champ and someone i could see knocking wlad out with ease. too bad he was such a god damn psychopath. shame about kirkland too, him and williams woulda been a real donnybrook
yeah i feel no symphony for james kirkland he doesnt have to go around acting like a thugg he deserves what he gets. i lived in a rough part of texas for awhile and didnt have to carry a gunn
Ali never went to jal, plus used the time to make mney doing speeches and boxing exhibtions. He was able to stay in shape. Tyson was hurt, and what made it even worse was judge refused to let him go to a prison in Indiana that had boxing facility. Instesad he was sent to place where I believe there was not even punching bags and any equipment. Inmates are not usually punished that way. Writers can still write, artists paint, and all sort of courses are available for inmates, like computers, business classes, and so on. Tyson had his skills rot for 3 years. No one else had punishment like that.
good call :good same with the above post about foreman and lyle. jack johnson learned to box in jail from joe choynski...
I think Clifford Ettienne spent time in jail before boxing. As did Jameel McCline. Of course most famous person who was robbed of his life (morso than his career) was Reuben "Hurricane" Carter who was WRONLGY sent to prison. Denzel made a great movie about him, and he was robbed of an Oscar for it.
Paulie Ayala (maybe all three of the Ayala bros) Hurricane Carter Didn't Johnny Tapia spend a little time? Or was it just the Heroin that fukked his career up?