Boxers Who Died Young

This thread will serve several purposes, not the least of which is to pay tribute to the valiant warriors who have entertained us throughout the many decades of this sport. For the purposes of this thread, I define “young” as less than sixty years of age. I will start with boxers who died in the ring, or as a result of their injuries from a single boxing match, and will list the age and the opponent. This list is not exhaustive, as it’s estimated that approximately 500 boxers have died as a result of ring injuries since the Marquess of Queensbury rules were introduced in 1884. I will therefore limit the names to the more well-known incidences, or where a world champion was involved. My sincere apologies to the men whose names I leave out, as they deserve to be no less honored than those I mention. If anyone cares to add any names to the list, or anything else, please be my guest. 1. Frankie Campbell (26) - Max Baer 2. Ernie Schaaf (24) - Primo Carnera 3. Jimmy Doyle (22) - “Sugar” Ray Robinson 4. Sam Baroudi (21) - Ezzard Charles 5. Benny Paret (25) - Emile Griffith 6. Davey Moore (29) - “Sugar” Ramos 7. Ulric Regis (29) - Joe Bugner 8. Angelo Jacopucci (29) - Alan Minter 9. Charles Newell (26) - Marlon Starling 10. Johnny Owen (24) - Lupe Pintor 11. “Young Ali” (Asymin Mustapha) (21) - Barry McGuigan 12. Kim Duk-koo (27) - Ray Mancini 13. Francisco Bejines (21) - Alberto Dávila 14. Jacob Morake (30) - Brian Mitchell 15. Gerardo Derbez (25) - Jorge Vaca 16. Jimmy Garcia (23) - Gabriel Ruelas 17. Pedro Alcazar (26) - Fernando Montiel 18. Leavander Johnson (35) - Jesus Chavez 19. Lito Sisnorio (24) - Chatchai Singwangcha 20. Choi Yo-sam (35) - Heri Amol (A rare case where the champ died.) 21. Francisco Rodríguez (25) - Teon Kennedy 22. Roman Simakov (27) - Sergey Kovalev 23. Patrick Day (27) - Charles Conwell 24. Jose Blanco (age unknown) - “Sugar” Ramos 25. Rocky Marciano (45) 26. Luis Rodriguez (59) 27. Joe Gans (35) 28. Arturo Gatti (37) 29. Zora Folley (41) 30. Diego Corrales (29) 31. Abe Simon (56) 32. John L. Sullivan (59) 33. Max Baer (50) 34. Johnny Tapia (45) 35. Jerry Quarry (53) 36. Tommy Morrison (44) 37. Carlos Monzón (52) 38. Benny Leonard (51) 39. Ezzard Charles (53) 40. Michael Dokes (54) 41. Hector Camacho (50) 42. Alexis Argüello (57) 43. Edwin Rosario (34) 44. Edwin Valero (28) 45. Pernell Whitaker (55) 46. Vernon Forrest (38) 47. Salvador Sanchez (23) 48. Marcel Cerdan (33) 49. Stanley Ketchel (24) 50. Harry Greb (32) 51. Tiger Flowers (32) 52. Les Darcy (21) 53. Billy Miske (29) 54. Pancho Villa (23) 55. Omar Henry (25) 56. Billy Collins Jr. (22) 57. Errol Christie (53) 58. Akeem Anifowoshe (26) 59. Vinny Letizia (21) 60. Randie Carver (24) - Kabary Salem 61. Ed Sanders (24) - Willie James 62. Anthony Jones (28) - Quincy Palmer 63. Emiliano Valdez (28) - Teddy Reid 64. James Shuler (26) 65. Sergei Kobozev (31) 66. Davey Moore (28) 67. Sonny Liston (39 or 40, exact age unknown) 68. Esteban de Jesus (37) 69. James Hughes (29) 70. Genaro Hernandez (45) 71. Corrie Sanders (46) 72. Maxim Dadashev (28) - Subriel Matías 73. Scott Westgarth (31) - Dec Spelman 74. Mike Towell (25) - Dale Evans 75. Michael Norgrove (32) - Tom Bowen 76. Jesus Gallardo (32) 77. Julian Letterlough (35) 78. Julio César González (35) 79. Johnny Bumphus (59) 80. Víctor Galíndez (31) 81. Becky Zerlentes (34) - Heather Schmitz (First recorded female boxer death.) 82. Agapito Sánchez (35) 83. Roberto Balado (25) 84. Jimmy Thunder (54)

Comments (20)

Bump bump bump

2y ago

CubanGuyNYC

Almost a year to the day after my last addition to this thread: 29 year-old middleweight Sherif Lawal. Rest In Peace, young champion. May you be with God always.

2y ago

CubanGuyNYC

A sad addition to this ever-growing list today, May 10, 2023: Filipino bantamweight Kenneth Egano, 22 years-old. Rest In Peace, young warrior. May God keep you always.

3y ago

CubanGuyNYC

Les Darcy is another that comes to mind, he was 21 years old when he passed away back in 1917. Les Darcy appears in the opening page to this thread.

3y ago

KidDinamita

Les Darcy is another that comes to mind, he was 21 years old when he passed away back in 1917.

3y ago

CubanGuyNYC

Prior to posting, I checked each page to make sure Womack wasn't already mentioned. He died young, but not from in-ring injuries. The damage he sustained occurred long before he ever stepped in a ring. His career was over before it started. The thing that can make fighters passionate and ferocious in the ring, can lead to self-destructive behavior. People carry a ton of weight sometimes; and they’re unable to bear it, despite the later successes life brings. Thanks for your thoughtful contribution to this thread, brother.

3y ago

CubanGuyNYC

Darren Sutherland, aged just 27, suicide. Very good amateur and had a few wins over James DeGale, olympic bronze medallist. 4-0 as a pro winning all by knockout R.I.P Champ Thanks for bringing light to Darren in this thread, Dan — and for the video as well. I was just reading his Wikipedia page, and DeGale’s comments about his death. Really felt it. The shock of a friend or colleague’s suicide can be terribly unnerving, and reverberate for the length of the survivors’ lives. Perhaps the saddest thing: it leaves an indelible mark.

3y ago

kiaba360

Thanks for profiling Ricky; don’t know if he came up earlier in the thread. As it happens, I read of his sad fate earlier this week when someone posted a link to his story on Facebook. Some people battle demons on a daily basis. Unfortunately, many succumb. Prior to posting, I checked each page to make sure Womack wasn't already mentioned. He died young, but not from in-ring injuries. The damage he sustained occurred long before he ever stepped in a ring. His career was over before it started. The thing that can make fighters passionate and ferocious in the ring, can lead to self-destructive behavior.

3y ago

dan_cov

Darren Sutherland, aged just 27, suicide. Very good amateur and had a few wins over James DeGale, olympic bronze medallist. 4-0 as a pro winning all by knockout R.I.P Champ

3y ago

CubanGuyNYC

It had gone viral and people were making fun of it. I knew better and it turned bad very quickly. I felt really sad watching the video the first time because I knew the type of distress his body was going through. Just terrible. Way too many heartless people out there. Highly unusual, what happened to him. A damaged brain can make a person respond in bizarre fashion.

3y ago

STREET_CLEANER

I was unaware of Simiso’s story — both sad and strange. Just read about it on ESPN’s site: https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/34057299/south-african-boxer-simiso-buthelezi-died-due-brain-bleed Leavander is listed on the opening page to this thread. It had gone viral and people were making fun of it. I knew better and it turned bad very quickly. I felt really sad watching the video the first time because I knew the type of distress his body was going through.

3y ago

CubanGuyNYC

I've been watching boxing documentaries on YT, and I think I found a boxer that's applicable to the thread. Ricky Womack, aged 40. Best known as the amateur rival of Evander Holyfield and protege of the Kronk Gym, Womack turned professional in 1984. His pro career wasn't even two years in before he was arrested and convicted of armed robbery. He would serve 15 years. Emmanuel Steward could not understand why Womack decided to commit such a crime when Womack had a support system and access to money. It's presumed that Womack's tumultuous childhood was responsible for his kleptomanic behavior: abusive father and neglectful mother. 7-year old Ricky witnessed his father shoot his mother. Mrs. Womack fled with her nine children to Detroit, where her abusive husband would eventually follow. It is alleged that Mr. Womack murdered one of Ricky's younger brothers. Eventually, the nine children would be placed in the foster care system, where Ricky began to steal food and money. Ricky would restart his career in 2001, winning four bouts against journeymen before committing suicide via gunshot on January 19, 2002. Thanks for profiling Ricky; don’t know if he came up earlier in the thread. As it happens, I read of his sad fate earlier this week when someone posted a link to his story on Facebook. Some people battle demons on a daily basis. Unfortunately, many succumb.

3y ago

kiaba360

3y ago

CubanGuyNYC

Simiso Buthelezi went viral by throwing punches into the air and died two days later. Leavander Johnson was a good puncher and died after facing Jesus Chavez. I was unaware of Simiso’s story — both sad and strange. Just read about it on ESPN’s site: https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/34057299/south-african-boxer-simiso-buthelezi-died-due-brain-bleed Leavander is listed on the opening page to this thread.

3y ago

STREET_CLEANER

Simiso Buthelezi went viral by throwing punches into the air and died two days later. Leavander Johnson was a good puncher and died after facing Jesus Chavez.

3y ago

CubanGuyNYC

Omar Henry (25) Omar is listed on the opening page of this thread.

3y ago

KidDinamita

Omar Henry (25)

3y ago

CubanGuyNYC

edwin valero comes to mind This thread is over three years old; I’m sure Valero is in here somewhere. Some interesting entries and information you might want to go back and check out.

3y ago

ThunderFists

edwin valero comes to mind

3y ago

CubanGuyNYC

I appreciate you creating this thread to tribute to the boxers who have tragically passed away at a young age. I can't imagine the pain their families and loved ones must have gone through. It's important to remember the risks and sacrifices these athletes make for their sport. Your list is a sad reminder of the dangers of boxing and how much we should appreciate those who step into the ring. It's also a testament to these fighters' impact on the sport and their fans. I'm considering coming up with memorial bench ideas to honor their memory. Thank you for sharing their stories and honoring their legacies. You are very welcome, my friend. May they all rest in eternal peace.

3y ago