(Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
It's a well known truth that, even after the age of 35—when their prime years are no more than a quick glimpse in the rear-view mirror, some fighters fail to heed their body's warning signs.
Even after years of getting punched in the head by dozens of sparring partners, and being knocked out cold in recent matches, somehow, they still choose to believe that think they can beat the world champion.
Consequently, this attitude leads to injuries, and in some cases blood clots, brain tumors, and boxing related deaths.
Wild Card Gym owner and famous trainer Freddie Roache was a pressure fighter during his boxing prime, he relied on a durable fighting style, and tried to outlast opponents in the ring.
In the false hope that his opponents would get discouraged—after trying their hardest to knock him out and not succeeding—Roach became willing to take a shot to give one.
This gambling style which uses a minimal amount of defense, undoubtedly took its toll on Roach, and he is now in the mid stages of Parkinson's disease.
After watching HBO's Hatton vs. Pacquiao 24/7 series, and witnessing the steadily deteriorating health of Roach—my mind drifted to others in the sport, who may have also unknowingly fallen victim to boxing related illnesses.
It was 1974 and I was 10 years old at the time, but infinitely inspired, after witnessing the tremendous come from behind win of Muhammad Ali.
The bout was known as the "Rumble in the Jungle," and it was on ABC TV's Wide World of Sports.
Ali won the heavyweight title in devastating fashion, from an exhausted and truly beaten fighter named George Foreman.
Foreman pummeled and punished Ali on the ropes for seven long rounds, but near the end of the eighth round Ali floored Big George with an overhand right to the jaw.
That was only one of Ali's many great wins; however, anyone who has seen Ali lately—in pictures or on TV—knows all too well the state of his current physical condition.
The greatest heavyweight fighter that ever lived is another ex boxer who is in the death grip of the debilitating disease called Parkinson's.
Ali's many concussive blows to the head combined with a career that lingered on—but should have been over after his loss to Leon Spinks in 1978, has directly or indirectly contributed to Ali's failing health.
The late great Floyd Patterson fought in 64 hard fought bouts, the last one coming four months short of his 38th birthday.
During his championship career he had been knocked out twice at the hands of a pugilistic power-puncher named Charles "Sonny" Liston.
In later years Patterson's memory had been slipping, disturbingly, however, during his illness he showed no glaring symptoms of ever being sick.
No slurred speech, no hands trembling, but sadly, it's been said that Patterson failed to remember who he fought for the heavyweight title in 1956; Archie Moore.
Floyd Patterson was in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease; he died in May of 2006.
It's heartbreaking to see our heroes irreparably damaged in this way.
Heroes like the great Ali are supposed to grow old, and fade away; they are not meant to be stricken with illnesses that hinder them from enjoying the good life that they've undoubtedly earned.
Still, we've never once heard the great Ali or Patterson utter a word to complain.
Maybe that's because they know that for everything in life that's worth while there comes a tremendous price. There are no free rides in life.
"It's like being in love with a woman. She can be unfaithful, she can be mean, she can be cruel, but it doesn't matter. If you love her, you want her, even though she can do you all kinds of harm. It's the same with me and boxing. It can do me all kinds of harm but I love it."
—Floyd Patterson
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