By Tom Graves: According to Dictionary.Com, the meaning of the word ‘Addiction’ is “the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma”
Boxers can become addicted to competing in the sport, in some cases this is a good thing as the fighter trains with determination, effort and commitment to succeed at their art.
There are many factors in professional boxing which may cause an individual to become addicted to the sport. Firstly the money, although the training and fighting is hard, the financial rewards are far from minimal wage, when fighters reach the top of the sport, fight purses can be anything from thousands to several million pounds/dollars.
Secondly the success, competing is not enough, there has to be something up for grabs, whether it is fame, money, respect or a championship title.
Some boxers simply become addicted to winning and feeling untouchable or become dependent on the raw nature of the sport, knocking opposition out, being stronger, faster and as skilled as possible
Fame is also part of the equation, when a boxer is competing, making a name for yourself is something any fighter wants to do, who doesn’t want to be envied, highly regarded and famous?
Other factors are the same as any career, earning money, doing something you have a passion for or doing something in which you have done all your life and you don’t know anything better.
When all of these factors come together, the addiction can turn to an affliction, at a certain time or age a boxer is just too old, way past their prime and a shadow of their former self but many individuals continue competing due to the addiction and this is when the sport can cause damage not only to someone’s legacy but to their health.
A human’s life is far more important than their livelihood but professional boxers who have tasted the lime light and have stood at the top of the game are the last people who seem to understand that.
Currently there are several names who fit this description and who I believe are addicted to the sport.
Evander Holyfied was a multiple world champion in both the cruiserweight & heavyweight divisions, and is still the only man to win the World Heavyweight title four times. The Real Deal beat top names such Riddick Bowe, Hasim Rahman, George Foreman, Larry Holmes, Michael Moorer and defeated Iron Mike Tyson twice.
In 2008 he fought then WBA Champ Nikolai Valuev but lost by a close and controversial decision.
With such success in his career, many wonder why Holyfied still continues to battle in the ring, with what could be physical signs of brain damage, Holyfield now talks slower and slurs some words, this alarms me and other boxing fans that such a legend in the sport could be endangering his health.
Holyfield stated he was interested in fighting either one of the Klitschkos or polish boxing star Tomasz Adamek.
I believe Holyfied still possess the talent to compete at this level but I don’t believe his body can take the physical demands it once could being just shy of 48 years old.
Another name is Roy Jones Jr, who owns the reputation as one of the best pound for pound boxers of all time as well being and is still the only boxer in history to begin boxing as a junior middleweight, and then go on to win a world heavyweight title.
Jones has many great victories on his professional record beating the likes of James Toney, Benard Hopkins, John Ruiz, Antonio Tarver, Clinton Woods, Felix Trinidad & Thulani “Sugarboy” Malinga.
Although Jones has not taken the damage in which Evander Holyfied has I feel Jones continuing to fight past his prime could may well effect his legacy in a negative way. Jones has 7 losses on his career and although only three have been by knockout all but one of these defeats were since he was past his prime which I believe was the peak of his career in 2003 around the time he defied the odds and won the heavyweight title against the bigger and stronger John Ruiz. The only one defeat is his prime was when a loss by a controversial disqualification decision.
There is no sign of Roy Jones Jr retiring yet as fairly recently he got Knocked out in the first round against Australian cruiserweight champ Danny Green and last April Jones fought his foe Hopkins, which turned out to be a disappointing bout and showed both men are way past their best.
Although Hopkins won that bout, he too is way past his prime but unlike other veteran fighters past their best days ‘The Executioner’ has never been knocked out and has only fought and lost competitively against top class fighters. There is no shame in Hopkins career, he was middleweight world champion for 10 years defending his title a record 20 times and fairly recently he caused a big upset and surprise by beating Kelly Pavlik by UD, to turn back time and prove his greatness. Although no-one can doubt his talent his skills are slowly diminishing with time, I just hope he retires sooner rather than later to avoid any legacy damaging losses in which he has done so well to avoid.
There are many other names who have achieved great things in their career but still continue fighting past their primes, just a few to mention; Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Rafael Márquez, David Tua, Francis Botha and Joel Casamayor.
I hope that any great boxer who has thrilled the world and been the best they could possibly be, knows when to stop but in reality there are few who do quit at the top, a few names of the top of my head I can think of are Rocky Marciano, Lennox Lewis, Jake LaMotta and Joe Calzaghe.
We have all know what damage boxing can do to your health and body, but I hope current world champions can learn from history and not make the same mistakes ex-world champions like Muhammad Ali and Roberto Duran have made, Boxers of this such a world class level should leave pride and the addiction behind and realise they have achieved great success and thrilled the boxing world, I just wish more boxers knew when it is time to hang up the gloves.
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