Boxing's Most Tragic Figures

[Nacho_Analstain]

gerald mclellan lost his life in the ring,thats as tragic as it gets

[Kid Achilles]

You'd have a shorter list just listing the great champions who didn't become tragic figures who fell from grace, succumbed to alcoholism or brain damage, or died violently or young.

I mean just off the top of my head: Ali, Louis, Langford, Ketchel, Griffith, Brennan, Bonavena, McCllelan, Battling Siki, Benitez, Liston.

I know there are so many obvious picks eluding me.

[BuddyChacon]

You'd have a shorter list just listing the great champions who didn't become tragic figures who fell from grace, succumbed to alcoholism or brain damage, or died violently or young.

I mean just off the top of my head: Ali, Louis, Langford, Ketchel, Griffith, Brennan, Bonavena, McCllelan, Battling Siki, Benitez, Liston.

I know there are so many obvious picks eluding me.

I would add Gypsy Joe Harris to the list.

[jedihillis]

Tyson is one that comes to mind. I mean the guy had it all physically but mentally he never matured. It's sad to see what's become of the former "baddest man on the planet" At least from a boxing point of view. Maybe he's a better person now though

[leow]

Ike Ibeabuchi man.. i whish he never went to jail!!!

[+= El Jefe=+]

Salvador Sanchez. dies right after his best fight

[K-DOGG]

Currently:

1. Gerald McClellan...blind and permanently brain damaged
2. Wilfred Benitez.........pugilistica dimensia and in a nursing home
3. Greg Page...........crippled for life and broke
4. Rid**** Bowe........still fighting with possible early signs of pd
5. Meldrick Taylor.....possible early signs of pd
6. Iran Barkley.........broke
7. Thomas Hearns....still fighting; why?
8. Evander Holyfield...a victim of his own ego; still fighting, why?
9. Tony Tubbs..........still fighting
10. Roy Jones Jr.........chasing the glow his career once had...sad.


Now, as you might notice, I didn't note Muhammad Ali. Here's why: tragic is a subjective word; and Ali's mind is still sharp as a tack from all accounts.....he is fine with his condition and views it as a challenge to show teh world that Parkinson's syndrone can't slow him down. So, since he is fine with his condition, so am I.

Also, the ones I listed are not just those with pugilitica dimensia, as there are things almost as bad, such as being a slave to your ego and sticking around the game for too long, chasing echoes of your own past. This, to me, is truly tragic that certain fighters can't be satisfied with what they have accomplished, no matter how great the list is....pathetic. I also view any fighter who is broke, who was once a world class fighter as tragic because it is a testament to how this sport does not take care of it's own.


Thank you.

[Pantera2000]

the g man?!

Yea man, the G man is a pretty messed up story.

But the Panama Lewis/Luis Resto/Billy Collins Jr story has to be the worse thing ever to happen in the sport of boxing!

[Yogi]

http://ejmas.com/jcs/jcsart_svinth_b_0700.htm

[The Fix]

george chuvalo? all his sons died of an overdose and his wife comitted suicide....