It's a Wonderful Afterlife
by John Genco on May 5, 2010 10:17 AM EDT
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It is often said of baseball players that they die twice. Once when they retire from the game and once when they actually pass. The same can be said about boxers, but a fighter's first death seems to be exponentially harsher and more dramatic than of their professional athlete peers.
Unfortunately, the list is long and sad of fighters whose afterlife has been long and sad, or often just sad. But that is not always the case. Sometimes, post punching brings stability and credibility. And as boxing fans ride the wave of what was and will be back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-with no end in sight eventful Saturday nights, lets run with the positive.
Which boxer has had the best afterlife? Whose life has thrived after boxing? In the interest of interesting, the candidate must have been accomplished or at least had their moment in the sun.
Unless challenged the top three are...
1. Big George Foreman's name must be grilled into any story about a successful afterlife. Most of his career was spent as an ornery curmudgeon. Loose with his wives and his money, eventually losing four wives and all his winnings.
After two comebacks, the latter with a new persona and devotion to Christ, opportunities opened up to become the sports most successful pitchman, banking close to a quarter billion in income. Since 1985 he has been married to wife number 5. He has a total of 10 children, a Ministry and is involved in AIDS charity work.
Yes, it seems to be either an open secret or well known misconception that George is not the lovable, huggable giant that the public views him as, that he is really closer to the menacing and grumpy brute from his early career. Either way, from the outside, his afterlife looks pretty good.
2. Oscar De La Hoya has survived some tabloid type scandals and kept his marriage together. Golden Boy is a giant in the promotion business. He had a great record inside the ring, Golden Boy is hosting record setting promotions, and he even released a good selling record.
Oscar still talks well and looks the same as he did when he hooked his way onto the boxing scene, if not a little plumper. Still pretty darn golden. It is safe to say the shine has not come off the golden boy, in fist life or the next.
3. Lennox Lewis is still getting checks from HBO. It might be to the chagrin of many, but those checks still cash. He still talks well, just not about boxing while holding a mic. Though that may be a little harsh and a little over stated.
He's had the dollars and sense to turn down the WWE's advances. He's done the Celebrity Apprentice and was by far the most popular of all the trumpeters. Married since 2005, first wife, Miss Jamaica runner-up, two children. Unfortunately, working the balding-braids, but Miss Jamaica runner-up seems not to mind.
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Max Schmeling
Hugely successful businessman after retirement from boxing.
Don't tell me I play bum notes - I KNOW!
Yeah thats right.
And I think he helped Louis out a bunch. I think Schmeling openned the first Coke distributor in Germany or something like that. And even better he was a huge philanthropist.
In contrast to brother, Leon.
Don't tell me I play bum notes - I KNOW!
by Randy Loathsome on May 5, 2010 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh yeah?
I didn’t realize that. I guess because of his brother’s troubles, I got confused or just assumed he was down and out also. Good news. Good for him.
Yeah, I always liked Michael - seemed like a decent guy.
Don't tell me I play bum notes - I KNOW!
by Randy Loathsome on May 5, 2010 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Marvin Hagler
Italian movie star – says ‘f-off’ to a rematch because he felt he won the first time. Good story too.
"Yes Gina, I am a Wise Cracker"
stubborn in a good way
He’s a little like Marciano in that respect. He acted like an old-time stubborn Italian. You screwed me? I’m out. Nobody is making any more money off my sweat.
I’ve read that is one of the reasons Marciano retired when he did and never came back, cause he hated his manager so much, he didn’t want him to make one more dollar off his sweat.
and the last picture I saw of Hagler he still looked all ripped up and could still go a few rounds.
And Rocky was notoriously tight! LOL
Don't tell me I play bum notes - I KNOW!
by Randy Loathsome on May 5, 2010 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions
That's sort of a myth though
He was in a few movies, but that’s about it. Certainly not a movie star.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
more or less
from my understanding he was in at least one big, big movie over there as one of the stars, and as you said the rest were just a few kind of b type movies. He is more of a personality over there not an A lister, but still pretty good.
I didn't hear that
he’s got the bravado to try it. And we know he is a showboat. Could be a good fit. I would rather see him do that then come back against Hopkins.
Charlie Magri
Succesfully ran a sports shop for many years and now has a pub in East London – and is a happy man indeed.
Don't tell me I play bum notes - I KNOW!
just googeled him
What an interesting guy. Yeah, I’d say he’s had a good run. Thanks for that one. Next time the work day is creeping along I’m going to watch his stuff on youtube.
'Champagne Charlie' !!
Don't tell me I play bum notes - I KNOW!
by Randy Loathsome on May 6, 2010 2:36 AM EDT up reply actions
And as Nigel Benn once said
when discussing the look of a fighter “Charlie looks proper”.
"Anytime you go thirty rounds with a guy, try to kill each other, and have the utmost respect for each other, no one understands that, but guys who have been to war understand it." - Micky Ward on Arturo Gatti.
I suppose someone should mention Tyson. Of course his story isn’t fully written yet. But I think it’s far to say he’s greatly exceeded everyone’s expectations so far.
wonderful is a massive stretch, but yeah i expected him to be in prison by now. instead he seems to be at peace, and seems to have gotten some dough back.
Texans 19-0 in 2010-2011 season PERIOD
by battle axe of doom on May 5, 2010 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions
here's to hoping
for a guy like tyson, if you like him, you just kind of hope he sticks around long enough to get things straight. In his head and otherwise.
Great little part in the movie the Hangover, so as unlikely as it seems maybe 5 or so years from now, he can be ones we all talk about as a success.
Ray Leonard has done alright. Buddy McGirt’s training career has been fairly lucrative, and I’d say Freddie Roach managed to do OK with that Pacquiao lad.
How about guys I expect WILL do well?
Ricky Hatton: He’s already become a legitimate promoter in the UK and has the type of name, connections and desire to not be a Sad Boxing Case to, I believe, become the top promoter over there. I’d bet young fighters, once Ricky establishes himself further as a promoter, might be quicker to trust Ricky Hatton than they are Frank Warren, Frank Maloney, Mick Hennessy, etc. Hatton is “one of them.” I think he’s the UK Oscar.
Bernard Hopkins: Pinched his pennies and made money off fights that weren’t his. There’s ALWAYS going to be a job in boxing somewhere for Bernard Hopkins.
Shane Mosley: Like Hopkins, Mosley will always have a job somewhere. I bet he works for Golden Boy the rest of his life. He’s not super charismatic, but he’s got that big smile and I think people just like seeing him.
Antonio Tarver: He’s already good at a new job. Far better than Lewis has ever been. I really expect eventually, HBO will poach Tarver for their crew.
The Klitschkos: The reasons are evident. They actually have ambition beyond boxing.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
good point about ricky. i didn’t like the guy as a fighter, but i sure as shit would jump at the chance to be promoted by him.
and mosley will be reach as long as he’s still got them glowing blue eyes to be honest
Texans 19-0 in 2010-2011 season PERIOD
by battle axe of doom on May 5, 2010 6:54 PM EDT up reply actions
I can't think of another promotional startup since GBP to start so well
Seriously though, Hatton Promotions is already about on par with Maloney and Hennessy
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
speaking of McGirt
I hate to tell tales out of school, but I will anyway. I saw him at a large soccer tournament. It was kids from like 10 to 18 on different teams and leagues.
A guys says to me, Did you see Buddy Mcgirt over there?
I say, No, I didn’t know you were such a boxing guy to recognize Buddy McGirt.
He says he isn’t but he remembers the name.
I ask, how he knew it was him then. He tells me to walk over towards were he was standing.
Buddy and two young people with him, all have on the same basketball type jerseys with big bold letters on the back that all say….McGIRT.
I thought it was great and funny.
Hennessy kinda sucks
All he really has is Froch, and until recently he hasn’t done much with him. Even now Froch is quite little known in UK, despite his very fun fight with Taylor, and the Super Six.
"All the time he's boxing, he's thinking. All the time he was thinking, I was hitting him." - Jack Dempsey
by Drunken cutman on May 6, 2010 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions
good topic
Tried to think of a few and one jumped to mind, Micky Ward. I’m not sure it he is an active trainer, building a stable, but I know he did train Gatti at the end.
Work ethic always wins out in the end, and he has always had it, so I’d bet whatever he does charge into, he’s going to excell. And all that will be boostered by the movie about him coming out. He could be looking at some big, big things.
Paulie Malignaggi is a pretty intelligent guy and, I think, will find something productive to do once his career is over.
I think Miguel Cotto has it in him to become a good trainer someday, if he decides to go that route.
I suspect that neither Pacquiao nor Mayweather will have great retirements, though I don’t necessarily see them going down the tubes either.
Definitely not Mayweather
He’ll be doing all kinds of stuff to keep the IRS away.
"All the time he's boxing, he's thinking. All the time he was thinking, I was hitting him." - Jack Dempsey
by Drunken cutman on May 6, 2010 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Paulie
He is certainly outspoken, and often has a pretty decent perspective on things. I can’t see him just fading into the background when his career is over. That is a good one b/c, whatever it is, he is going to be up to something.
I've brought him up before
But Zelkjo Mavrovic is another good one. Runs a huge organic foods business in Croatia.
In the old timers category, Fidel LaBarba had a great career as a sportswriter after retiring.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
THen again
That post-fight career came with only one eye, so I guess it wasn’t ALL rosy.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
was going to mention him
and cite you and what you wrote about him when I did that where are they now piece. But I thought that would be a little lazy of me, so Lewis edged him out of my top three. And he’d also be right up there for a topic on, some of the most interesting looking boxers.
john david jackson. one of the best and most underrated trainers in the world now.
his fight with jorge castro is must watch for anyone.
"Newspapermen ask dumb questions. They look up at the sun and ask if it is shining."
-Sonny Liston
.
Dave Boy Green
Green is chairman and co-founder of packaging company Renoak. His success can be summed up by Sugar Ray Leonard, “Dave was a brave fighting man who never gave less than one hundred per cent whenever he put the gloves on. He is a warm human being who does tremendous work for charity, and I’m thrilled he has made such a success in business”.
"Anytime you go thirty rounds with a guy, try to kill each other, and have the utmost respect for each other, no one understands that, but guys who have been to war understand it." - Micky Ward on Arturo Gatti.
Wow!
That’s good to read. I always liked both Magri and Green – two big punchers who brought excitement to British boxing. Nice comment from another boxing gent, Sugar Ray.
Don't tell me I play bum notes - I KNOW!
by Randy Loathsome on May 6, 2010 4:54 AM EDT up reply actions
yeah he's a good one
Just saw he also has an Ale named after him. Very prolific.
Tony Sibson
Sibbo was another one of my favourites from that era Randy, fast , aggressive puncher hey mate. He’s doing alright with his construction business I believe. His old sparring partner Mark Kaylor is a personal trainer in Florida. The Leicester kop used to sing “Sibbo batters Cockneys” whenever the Hammers came to town.
"Anytime you go thirty rounds with a guy, try to kill each other, and have the utmost respect for each other, no one understands that, but guys who have been to war understand it." - Micky Ward on Arturo Gatti.
Goaty - you got a memory/knowledge about fighters that's unbelievable
glad to hear so many of these guys are doing fine. Good fanpost from Mr.Genco – with some positive stuff. Most of the time we think Boxer – retire – train crash !
Kirkland Laing comes to mind in that regard.
But he crashed long before he retired.
Don't tell me I play bum notes - I KNOW!
by Randy Loathsome on May 6, 2010 6:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Onya Bristol!
"Anytime you go thirty rounds with a guy, try to kill each other, and have the utmost respect for each other, no one understands that, but guys who have been to war understand it." - Micky Ward on Arturo Gatti.
Kaylor was from West Ham if I recall...?
I loved what Kaylor did to Errol Christie – nasty!
Don't tell me I play bum notes - I KNOW!
by Randy Loathsome on May 6, 2010 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Yep Kaylor's West Ham
hence the Leicester supporters shit stirring re Sibbo’s victory over him. Tony boxed out of Belgrave, the same part of Leicester my dad’s from.
Kaylor vs Christie – grudge match, love that fight.
"Anytime you go thirty rounds with a guy, try to kill each other, and have the utmost respect for each other, no one understands that, but guys who have been to war understand it." - Micky Ward on Arturo Gatti.
just youtubed it. (Kaylor vs Christie)
That was a good one with a big finish.
What an atmosphere it must have been. It said no beer sales cause how rowdy they expected people to get cause of the bad feeling between the two.
Thanks for the heads up on that one!
I remember them having a pre-fight fight, if you know what I mean. I think it psyched out Christie.
Don't tell me I play bum notes - I KNOW!
by Randy Loathsome on May 7, 2010 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Sibbo always looked like a builder!! LOL!
Lovely bloke, Sibbo.
Don't tell me I play bum notes - I KNOW!
by Randy Loathsome on May 6, 2010 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Joe Calzaghe
He does alot of cocaine which sounds pretty fun.
Ok I keed I keed….
rocky graziano.
actor and painter in his post boxing life
"Newspapermen ask dumb questions. They look up at the sun and ask if it is shining."
-Sonny Liston
.
didn't know that
What did he paint? Did he do any boxing type stuff? I love to collect boxing paintings and such.
i dont recall what type of paintings they were. i remember reading he had a bunch of gallery shows though. a quick google search didn’t bring up any of his paintings.
if you looking for good boxing paintings check out richard t. sloan.
"Newspapermen ask dumb questions. They look up at the sun and ask if it is shining."
-Sonny Liston
.
by sonofapsycho on May 7, 2010 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions
Became a writer, amongst other things, no?
Don't tell me I play bum notes - I KNOW!
by Randy Loathsome on May 6, 2010 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Glenn Mcrory
He doesn’t appear to have done so bad after his boxing carreer.
Heavily involved in teaching lads up in Newcastle (I think). Works for Sky as one of their regulars, must’ve been all over the place by now with Ian Darke. Not sure what other stuff he does, but he obvioulsy has his head screwed on.
*Steve Collins*
Reached the pinnacle of his carreer in “starring” in Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels as a door man uttering those famous Oscar winning words
“If you havent got a ticket… you’re not F’kin comin’ in” (or words to that effect).
Jack Dempsey ended up pretty ok as did Gene Tunney who married a wealthy socialite . One of Tunneys kids was a US senator. Max Baer seemed to be doing pretty well until a heart attack killed him aged 50. Jack Sharkey lived to be 92 and had a long and happy retirement.
"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me. " Hunter S Thompson.
Zeljko Mavrovic
Former Lennox Lewis opponent.
Apparently now a bloody successful farmer.
I looked him up because I mentioned him in a previous conversation and Brick said he’d gone into business and done well.
Lennox once identified Mav as his ‘most awkward win’.
http://www.secondsout.com/uk-boxing-features?ccs=338&cs=20602
Now, Tweek, boxing is a Man sport. There is nothing in the world more Man than boxing. It is Man at his most Man. So when you spar with Ned here, just dig deep into that most Man part of you. (Uncle Jimbo, South Park: Tweek vs Craig)
Zeljkos beard and guts in the Lewis fight was superhuman
Glad to see he’s doing well.
"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me. " Hunter S Thompson.
Holmes seems to have done well for himself. Part of it also is that other guys are just fine, that just isn’t an interesting story….so it’s not in magazines, news blah blah.
Gatti. Dekkers. Pele. Aoki. Kang. Vanderlei. Basillio. Harry Greb.
by theworldsoldestsport on May 12, 2010 1:44 PM EDT reply actions
just read a good quote Holmes had
he still lives in Easton, PA. He said if he moved to NY, he’d have to keep up with the jones. Here in Easton, they have to keep up with the Holmes’.
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