There are many feel good stories of boxers that rose from poverty and became wealthy. A good example is Mike Tyson and Manny Pacquio. But what other world champions can you think of that came from nothing had a successful career and ended up in the gutter and penniless? 1) Miguel Angel Gonzales aka Mago- he became world champion with 10 title defenses and an outstanding record of 55-5-1. He faced the who's who of boxing like Chavez Sr. And De La Hoya but is now homeless living in the streets of Mexico City. Pretty sad story..... here is a recent picture of him.
Beau Jack. Bit upsetting to Mago like that I honestly thought a lot of that was a thing of the past. Bowe genuinely does have neurological issues but he was a fucking dummy beforehand too.
This seems to be, if not the norm, a very common case in boxing. Sugar Ray Robinson kept fighting into his mid 40s because he needed the money. Joe Louis had major financial problems, especially with the IRS. Not sure about Roberto Duran, there’s been different things I read about him. He’s notorious for spending a lot. There was a rumor that he had his guys bet against him in his first fight with Pat Lawlor (on the Tyson-Ruddock 1 undercard) and went in the tank because he was broke. Beau Jack was mentioned before. SI did an article on him in the late 80s Former lightweight champ Beau Jack lives out his legend
He was Never RICH, But Quincy Taylor Got His 15 Minutes of Dallas Area Fame, Certainly...Key to the City, Lunches w/Various Dignitaries and Athletes... Not Looooooooooooong After Losing the WBC Middleweight Title to Keith Holmes, There were Rumors of Quincy "Touching Up" Guys That Owed Drugs and/or Money to Neighborhood Shot Callers... Quincy was a Genuinely GOOD Dude, So it Had to Be BAD for Him to Resort to THAT Extreme to Make a Buck... REED
REED Doesn't Know for Certain, but he'd Be Shocked if Duran was Broke or Struggling Financially... BLESSED Enough to Attend a Handful of Events Duran was Also @, REED's Seen 1st Hand How People REACT To Him - It's Like a TYSONesque Appeal He Has... As Such, DUDES Stand in Line for Pictures, Handshakes, Autographs, to PAY for Duran's Drinks/Meals, to Slide Business Cards to Him, All in Hopes of Having a MOMENT or Establishing a RELATIONSHIP w/"Manos de Piedras"...REED Got Caught Up Himself, Admittedly, but Only Troubled Duran for a Pic... It May Not Be to the Level of Tyson; Getting Movie Roles, Podcast Opportunities, etc., but REED Seriously Doubts Roberto Duran is Overly Concerned w/Paying Next Month's Rent or Working a 9-5 Job...He Still Gets MORE than Enough Looooove to Compensate... REED
As Reed said, Tyson, Louis,, Chavez, Robinson weren't broke. Just a far cry from where they used to be. I remember an article on fightnews about a former Japanese champion who's ''life'' after boxing was to get paid 5 bucks by drunk assholes after last call to get punched in the face . Cannot really go lower than this...
Speaking of Duran, Kirkland Laing was basically a hobo last time I heard of him. Ik, he never quite made it to ''riches' but quite sad nonetheless.
Louis WAS legit broke though, the IRS ruined him for his exhibition bouts during the war. The fact that a fighter as great as him was working as a greeter in Vegas casinos in his later years is one of the more disgusting episodes in sports history. Ironically it was Schmeling who supported him financially during the final years of his life.
I've found it weird that there hasn't been a big budget movie or HBO series about the lives of Louis and Schmeling, the story really has everything.
There was a tv movie done of it in 02. I had to look that up when I saw your post because I was pretty sure I caught some of that movie on tv and sure enough it happened.
I remember that one, didn't watch it but I saw it on the shelves all those years ago when I worked in Blockbusters. The story is so great though it could easily be made into a big budget film or series, there are just so many captivating elements.
Iran Barkley was homeless for a bit, and living back in the Paterson projects in the South Bronx that he grew up in. I don’t know how he’s doing now. Maybe his nephew is helping him with that big NFL money, although it looks like his career might be short with the injuries (and being a RB).
