Why do many of these great defensive fighters end up with brain dysfunction?

They put in A LOT OF ROUNDS throughout their training and pro fights career.

 

Foreman damaged Ali, who held on way too long and took a severe beating from holmes (he was using speed in his later career also; Benetiz does not belong with the others as far as greatness is concerned, although I don't recall him taking a lot of punishment over his career; Whitker is a druggie (can't separate the damage from drugs from that of boxing); pep fought a ridiculous number of fights; toney moved up to heavyweight - alot more power in the punch than from a middleweight.

The point is, each and every case is so unique to each fighter it is not possible to make divisions as such.

 

ferdie pacheco speculated that ali's problems may have stemmed from him inhaling bug spray while he was at several camps. he spoke about how ali would spray the area where he slept right next to the fire place with bug spray because he feared roaches. couple that with his use of diuretics towards the end of his career in an attempt to "look" physically fit and the accumalation of blows to the head....not a good thing.

whitaker wasn't exactly the sharpest tool in the shed prior to all the big fights. couple the drugs and alcohol with the boxing....not a good mix.

it's amazing to me how guys like duran and lamotta seem so sharp after all these years. duran was slick defensively...but not whitaker slick. and lamotta took some beating in his career. both sound great.

 

The same reason football players get concussion despite having helmets. When you have your guard up blocking all those punches or have them glancing off the top of your skull the shock to the to the nervous system needed to knock you out may not be there but your brain is bouncing off the walls of your skull like a pinball.

 

Michael J Fox got Parkins early

but he never boxed


I dont think theres proof that there is even a connection

 

Because their styles work... until they don't. And when they don't? They get hit a LOT!

Boxing is one of those sports where nobody leaves when it is time to go.

 

you box long enough you'll show signs of brain damage. it's just abc.

 

:gsg

 

Not only that, but Toney would spar with heavy weights at that. Lamont Brewster, Frans Botha, Michael Moorer, Terry Smith were regular sparring partners back when he was still at cruiser weight. James didn't believe in training techiques like cardio or running, just sparring.

 

I think that maybe these great defensive fighters, also have great chins... So i think where as other fighters get caught and KO`d. These great ones end up absorbing more hard shots by NOT being KO`d. So they end up taking more punishment...

 

Gym punishment, yes I agree. Ali used to take thunderous shots on the ropes sparring and he said it conditioned him for the fight. And, as we all know headgear does not help ward of the effects of concussive head shots ...

 

Because like most fighters, they refuse to hang up the gloves when they need to.

They still attempt to fight a defensive fight, without the neccesary reflexes to pull this off. Also bear in mind that when you're not punching, you are allowing the other guy to attempt to punch you.

I'd argue that once a fighters reflexes have erroded, an offensive fighter may get hit less than a defensive one.

 

Sparring, fighting on too long, taking too much punishment. It's not like these defensive wizards suddenly stepped into the ring and slipped punches immediately. It takes a lot of practice in sparring (which means you're getting hit) to reach that level where you're one of the best defensive fighters in the world.

Your brain is still subjected to a lot of trauma over the years from going back and forth from impact. You don't have to be a Saad or Gatti and be involved in numerous wars to have neurological problems from fighting.

 

Dejesus is another good one. I think some of their outside the ring antics like addiction really hurt them as well.