Comments Thread For: From trading punches to delivering mail: Ishe Smith looks back with contentment

[SouthpawRight]

He’s an everyday working man and hero to his children

[BodyBagz]

It irks me when boxers (of all athletes) cry when someone criticizes them
"Sit on your couch. I did something you can only dream of doing."
That couch potato cliche is not always a an out of shape dreamer.
Also, couch potatoes pay them their money, so, they have every right to criticize.
Lastly, plenty of "couch potatoes" have never filed for bankruptcy.

Athletes, in general who go broke, crack me up
There are so many examples of what not to do, and yet, they always do it.
"That ain't gunna happen to me !"

2 years later.......

[mrpain81]

good read, sucks so many boxers end up broke.

[Megaman99]

Fantastic read! I’m glad he’s doing well. His story should be a movie! Wishing him continued success and blessing.

Definitely a great story of perseverance! Smith was always a tough one

[elfag]

This is the best article I recall ever reading on this site — lots of real world insight. Most boxing fans think the guys they watch on TV are raking it in. The reality is far from that. Ishe is pretty far down the ladder from guys like Mayweather and Canelo, yet he had a taste of success that most fighters can only dream of. It’s sobering to note that after twenty years in the sport, Smith had to take a civil service job to actually prosper. And thank God he did! As a former government employee myself, I’m happy to see that Ishe is enjoying good benefits and working towards a pension. Muhammad Ali once warned against getting into sports, and the fight business in particular. You’ve gotta be a one-in-a-million talent to be a real star. The Canelo/Mayweather haters can never acknowledge how incredibly rare those athletes truly are. In this article, Smith gives us a glimpse to the realities of the sport. Nice job.

zab judah was working at a hospital cleaning bed sheets or some **** like that and he had more financial success than ishe smith.


they take so much from the purse, promoter, manager, trainer, camp expenses then finally taxes on the fighters true earnings. You have to get into purses over 500k before you start to make decent money in boxing. theyre looking at take home of like 20 percent of the advertised value.

[SouthpawRight]

zab judah was working at a hospital cleaning bed sheets or some **** like that and he had more financial success than ishe smith.


they take so much from the purse, promoter, manager, trainer, camp expenses then finally taxes on the fighters true earnings. You have to get into purses over 500k before you start to make decent money in boxing. theyre looking at take home of like 20 percent of the advertised value.

Zab and Ishe are doing better than many after the sport

the guys who have it the roughest were the brilliant champs but mismanaged everything

The former champ who becomes an old man wrapped in a dirty blanket living in an attic

Ishe has a good family and job

[CubanGuyNYC]

zab judah was working at a hospital cleaning bed sheets or some **** like that and he had more financial success than ishe smith.


they take so much from the purse, promoter, manager, trainer, camp expenses then finally taxes on the fighters true earnings. You have to get into purses over 500k before you start to make decent money in boxing. theyre looking at take home of like 20 percent of the advertised value.

I vaguely remember hearing something like that about Zab. Speaks very poorly of the sport; Judah was a fairly big name. These stories make it starkly clear that this sport only works for maybe 5% (or less) of its athletes. You take the sad tale of Wilfredo Benitez, for instance — a legend of the sport; he’s practically destitute, and in dire need of medical assistance. You’re right; you’ve gotta be making about 500k on a regular basis to set yourself up for life. It’s just nuts that these athletes put their health and their lives on the line for so little financial compensation — and these vulture promoters use these poor guys like cattle.