Fighters that went from troubled youths to successful boxers?

[SCtrojansbaby]

Just about all of them came from troubled youths

[Terry A]

When I hear "troubled youth" to successful fighter, the 1st guy who always comes to mind is Rocky Graziano, one of my all-time top 10 favorite fighters.

Tony Ayala coulda-shoulda fit the description but he was just a fake at repenting or "turning over a new leaf". He's a huge disappointment to those who gave him a 2nd & 3rd & 4th chance.....

[$Bullsfam$]

Roberto Duran had to swim across a river daily for food.

haha O *****! That's freakin crazy.

Some good names being mentioned. Boxing has always been a great sport to put some discipline into people. I mean it changes lives and helps people find a way out, no to mention it keeps them in good shape.

The worst problem with boxing is the brain damage and woman beating. But I mean were all gonna die anyways.

Obviously, one of my favorite fighters, James Kirkland has had problems with the law his whole life. Lets not forget Reuban "Hurricane" Carter! haha

[SBleeder]

Honestly, a more probative thread would have been "Successful fighters who didn't have a troubled youth". I know of very few world champions who led a privileged childhood.

[physiker]

Rubin Hurricane Carter was a troubled yewt.

I use the Joe Pesci pronounciation. [My Cousin Vinny]

[JAB5239]

Honestly, a more probative thread would have been "Successful fighters who didn't have a troubled youth". I know of very few world champions who led a privileged childhood.

Marco Antonio Barrera

[physiker]

I know the book:

"The Yellow River" by I.P. Daily

Wouldn't want to swim across that one.

[Letty James]

The youngest heavyweight champion in boxing history, Mike Tyson is also one of the sport's most notorious figures. After a troubled childhood and a number of arrests, he landed at a juvenile delinquency programs in New York where his skills as a fighter were first noticed. The physical education teacher at the school introduced Tyson to Cus D'Amato, a famed boxing manager and trainer, who took the young man under his wing and became his legal guardian.

Here are a few examples of juvenile delinquency programs.

[BennyST]

I'm pretty interested in hearing all the fighters that went from rags to riches. Went from having troubled childhoods to successful boxers. Pretty much meaning fighters who came straight out of jail and into the ring. Any fighters with a criminal record before they became stars in the ring.

Of course the most obvious ones are Bernard Hopkins & Ron Lyle. Even Kendall Holt who made me think of this too begin with because of friday's fight and the background story they did on him.

Who else?

You mean from the US right? Because the poverty that those guys went through is ****ing jack ****e in comparison to what most guys from other countries went through.

Hopkins had it good mate. He was no different than the tens of thousands of other ****** kids. That doesn't even begin to compare with what Pac, Duran, Arguello, Mayorga....and 80% of all boxers has to come from.

I'm not trying to sound offensive, but in comparison, Hopkins had it mighty fine!

The difference between Hopkins and Lyle's '******' and Duran's and Pacquiao's ******'s is a ****ing massive world way. It's not even comparable. Don't make it such, because Hopkins would love it to be so. Would make his story, as amazing as it is, worth a lot more.

[NChristo]

Kassim Ouma.