Floyd Mayweather, another name on the list of Boxing stars
that have been sentenced to serve their time behind bars. I wanted to put
together a list of Boxers that shared the same fate as the current WBC Welterweight
Champion and did their time, it’s surprising when looking at this list as you
stubble across former Champions and legends of the sport. From as little as a
few weeks right up to several years, every ounce of time given to their cells
has either, stopped, aided or become the foundation of their success in the sport.
Bernard Hopkins
One of the most famous stories in World Boxing was that of 47
year old Champion Bernard Hopkins. When at the tender age of 17, Hopkins had been caught
up in crime for a while and had to learn to survive on the streets he was brought
up on and surrounded by. North Philadelphia is where Hopkins was convicted and charged with nine
felonies, including armed robbery, and he was sentenced to 18 years in
Gaterford Prison. It was during his time behind bars that he witnessed Various
attacks, rapes and even murder, but it was also where he found his passion for
Boxing. After 5 years Hopkins was released with the
warden telling Hopkins he would see him again,
to which Hopkins
famously replied “I ain’t ever coming back here.”
Sonny Liston
The Original ‘Baddest Man on the Planet’ and in my opinion
the scariest and most ferocious man ever to step foot in the ring. Arrested 19
times for various crimes, from Armed robbery to various assaults on police
officers. Liston lead his own gang and was often referred to by police officers
as the ‘yellow shirt bandit’. It was in 1950 where Liston served 2 years in
prison and would find peace with the sport of Boxing, being placed in numerous
sparring sessions, one fighter asked if he could leave the ring before Liston
killed him. After being released on parole it was straight after that Liston left
Philadelphia
and went on to take the Boxing world by storm with famous encounters against
the likes of Ali and Patterson and became World Champion.
Diego Corrales
One of the best Lightweight Boxers of any era and most
famous for his classic encounter with Jose Castillo in 2005 and many regard one
of the best fights they have ever seen. It was straight after his loss to pound
for pound king Floyd Mayweather that Corrales had been sentenced to 14 months
in prison after being charged with abusing his pregnant wife. But it was in
2007, exactly 2 years after writing his name in record books with his fight
against Castillo that it all came to a very abrupt end, Corrales was killed in
a motorcycle accident but still remembered for his dominance in the ring.
Mike Tyson
So much can be said and written about Mike Tyson but ultimately
it was his life outside the ring that would eventually catch up with the former
World Heavyweight Champion. Sentenced to 6 years in prison after being
convicted of raping an 18 year old Beauty pageant contestant and finally
released after 3 years, Tyson would Continue to battle his way back in to the mix
of great Heavyweights, most famously against Evander Holyfield and Lennox
Lewis. The bad man image seemed to eventually overall the unquestionable skill
and technique Tyson had in the ring, and even now writers prefer to talk about
what happened outside the ring in Tyson’s personal life and less about what he
had achieved in the ring.
Jack Johnson
The first black Heavyweight Champion and a man way ahead of
anyone in his division. A Boxing legend that will always have his name firmly
stamped in the record books, but Johnson was a man who was permanently trying
to escape the clutches of the law. A life of drugs, alcohol and poverty left Johnson
turning himself in after being convicted of violating the halt of interstate trafficking
of prostitutes.
Regardless to Johnson’s wreck less lifestyle he will always
be remembered as the man that paved the way for future World Champions.
Other Mentions
James Kirkland, imprisioned in 2003 and 2009 for armed
robbery and possession of a fire arm, now one of Boxing’s hot young prospects
and working his way towards a World title.
Dwight Qawi, Convicted of armed robbery and sentenced to 5
years in Rahway
state prison where he learned to Box. Qawi would eventually go on to win titles
at Lightheavy and Crusierweight and would have an epic battle against Evander
Holyfield that will never be forgotten.
Pernell Whitaker, in 1998 entered rehab after testing
positive for Cocaine and in 2002 found guilty of possession of Cocaine, Whitaker
is now using his incredible Boxing ability as a trainer.
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