Fighters who overcame serious disabilities or illneses to win at a world level

[janitor]

Give me the stories.

They will include a lot of verry tragic human interest stories.

[TBooze]

Craig Bodzianowski got a shot at the WBA cruiserweight title after recovering from a car crah wehere he lost part of his leg.

Harry Greb fought with sight in only one eye.

[Dempsey1238]

Willie Pep after that plane crash of couse.

[Minotauro]

Although he didn't win Frazier put up an amazing fight against Ali in Manila even though he was basically blind in one eye and was suffering from arthritis. Also Langford fought for a while including beating Tiger Flowers despite being almost totally blind.

[Dempsey1238]

Gans is other name that complete with Tubercolosis.

[Thread Stealer]

Evander Holyfield, right after he suffered that heart attack in the ring he was told he was never going to box again, but with steroid use he was back at a world title in no time!

I think his steroid use caused that "heart irregularity", along with the rubber match with Bowe when he suffered from HGH-itis.

[Duodenum]

Nelson Tarleton won multiple Lonsdale Belts despite having only one functioning lung, after having contracted TB as a kid. Nel's final record was 116W (KO 41) 20L 8D. Despite having one functioning lung, Nella went 15 rounds fifty times in a professional career that lasted nearly twenty years.

[Smokin'Joe100]

Nelson Tarleton won multiple Lonsdale Belts despite having only one functioning lung, after having contracted TB as a kid. Nel's final record was 116W (KO 41) 20L 8D. Despite having one functioning lung, Nella went 15 rounds fifty times in a professional career that lasted nearly twenty years.

Fucking fair play.

[mr. magoo]

Vinny Pazienza, was in a horrible car wreck in the early 90's. His doctors and surgeons told him that he was never going to fight again. One of them even told Vinny with tears in eyes. Paz, was going around for months with a cage like neck brace, which had screws going into his head. Sure enough though, he returned to the ring, and actually made a pretty good comeback run.

Paz was one tough S.O.B

[dmille]

Eugene Criqui was shot in the face during WW 1. He had his jaw reconstructed with wire and a metal plate. He went on to win the world featherweight title.

[good right hand]

azumah nelson overcame malaria!!!

to beat the great jeff fenech and retain the title in the rematch and retake the title from gabriel ruelas.


an honorable mention is david reid who over came a very droopy eyelid injury that close his eye im guessing at least 30% to become a gold medalist and a world champion.

[TBooze]

Yep, and I guess that's why we rate him high, because of sympathy. Not because he had the greatest resume of all time and beat greats from MW to HW.

Well I rate him because of his victories despite his disabilites, you are too cynical.;)

[My dinner with Conteh]

Nelson Tarleton won multiple Lonsdale Belts despite having only one functioning lung, after having contracted TB as a kid. Nel's final record was 116W (KO 41) 20L 8D. Despite having one functioning lung, Nella went 15 rounds fifty times in a professional career that lasted nearly twenty years.


Nice to see a mention for one of Liverpool's (and Britain's) great fighters. Nel was regarded as one of the sweetest boxers in our history, the heir to Jem Driscoll. He was never stopped either if memory serves me correctly. He was also scheduled to fight Pep before Willie's plane crash. :bbb :good

[My dinner with Conteh]

Jose Hernandez: Deaf and dumb mute, robbed in his title try vs Carmello Bossi. The infamous one where one judge scoed every round even. :huh

[Nemesis]

Was Eugene Hairston completely deaf???? or am i thinking of someone else from that era

[dmt]

Pep

[Russell]

What was the name of that boxer who fought Dempsey... He was basically dying on his feet during the later parts of his career, but he still did really well at a very high level.

[Luigi1985]

Some of you guys make only examples who everybody knows, Janitor meant some who weren´t so famous. A good example IMO is Enrico Bertola, he died with only 26 years when he slowly entered his prime, because of serious brain injuries he suffered in the Oma fight...

[Russell]

Ah, Eugene Hart was in a wheelchair early on in his life.

[Nemesis]

What was the name of that boxer who fought Dempsey... He was basically dying on his feet during the later parts of his career, but he still did really well at a very high level.

Billy Miske

[DamonD]

It's not in the same league as guys like Tarleton, but Shannon Briggs won a title despite being an asthma sufferer. As one myself, I can appreciate that.

[Duodenum]

Nice to see a mention for one of Liverpool's (and Britain's) great fighters. Nel was regarded as one of the sweetest boxers in our history, the heir to Jem Driscoll. He was never stopped either if memory serves me correctly. He was also scheduled to fight Pep before Willie's plane crash. :bbb :goodThat is correct, Nel never was stopped, and he could be an excellent candidate for IHOF induction in Canastota. (What might Nella have achieved with two good lungs?)

[Nemesis]

That is correct, Nel never was stopped, and he could be an excellent candidate for IHOF induction in Canastota. (What might Nella have achieved with two good lungs?)

He wont be allowed in, he's English :D

[Duodenum]

What was the name of that boxer who fought Dempsey... He was basically dying on his feet during the later parts of his career, but he still did really well at a very high level.Billy Miske was diagnosed with Bright's Disease in 1916, and was given five years to live, provided he quit boxing and took care of himself. Having the attitude that he'd rather die in the ring than a rocking chair, Billy adapted to the realities of his condition, and boxed another 70 bouts following his diagnosis, survivng until 1924.

Miske's official record at the time of his diagnosis was:

11W(8 KO)+0L+0D+21ND

After Billy was diagnosed with Bright's Disease, he posted an official record of:

34W(26 KO)+2L+2D+33ND

His first official loss was a 12 round decision to up and coming Kid Norfolk in October 1917. Billy's second and final defeat came nearly three years later, when he was stopped for the only time in his career challenging Jack Dempsey for the heavyweight title in their third meeting, Jack's inaugural championship defense.

Miske closed out his career after the Dempsey loss by posting an official record of:

18W(13 KO)+0L+1D+5ND

Billy finished by knocking out Bill Brennan in four rounds, seven weeks before he died of his fatal illness. Not bad for a dying man.

[Russell]

Miske was just... amazing. Honestly.

No other way to put it.

[janitor]

Billy Miske was diagnosed with Bright's Disease in 1916, and was given five years to live, provided he quit boxing and took care of himself. Having the attitude that he'd rather die in the ring than a rocking chair, Billy adapted to the realities of his condition, and boxed another 70 bouts following his diagnosis, survivng until 1924.

Miske's official record at the time of his diagnosis was:

11W(8 KO)+0L+0D+21ND

After Billy was diagnosed with Bright's Disease, he posted an official record of:

34W(26 KO)+2L+2D+33ND

His first official loss was a 12 round decision to up and coming Kid Norfolk in October 1917. Billy's second and final defeat came nearly three years later, when he was stopped for the only time in his career challenging Jack Dempsey for the heavyweight title in their third meeting, Jack's inaugural championship defense.

Miske closed out his career after the Dempsey loss by posting an official record of:

18W(13 KO)+0L+1D+5ND

Billy finished by knocking out Bill Brennan in four rounds, seven weeks before he died of his fatal illness. Not bad for a dying man.

Tragic tragic human interest story.

Miskes life would have made a better subject for a film than Jimmy Braddock's.

[Duodenum]

He wont be allowed in, he's English :DPerhaps, but he's not forgotten here.:thumbsup

[Duodenum]

Tragic tragic human interest story.

Miske's life would have made a better subject for a film than Jimmy Braddock's.Over 50 years ago, Minneapolis Tribune sportswriter George A. Barton wrote a moving two page article titled, "Billy Miske's Last Christmas," which he reprinted in his 1957 autobiography, "My Lifetime in Sports."

Unfortunately, as is the case with Jimmy Braddock's story, too much time has elapsed for the modern viewing public to relate to such a story as this. (Cinderella Man should have been produced back when "Somebody Up There Likes Me" became a box office hit for Paul Newman.) Not enough people who recall Miske's times are alive now to make colorful stories like his and Mickey Walker's economically viable. Still, it could make for wonderful drama if produced with caring skill.

[China_hand_Joe]

A china chin is one thing, but becoming P4P number one with china hands is simply amazing -fullstop-

[Minotauro]

Nelson Tarleton won multiple Lonsdale Belts despite having only one functioning lung, after having contracted TB as a kid. Nel's final record was 116W (KO 41) 20L 8D. Despite having one functioning lung, Nella went 15 rounds fifty times in a professional career that lasted nearly twenty years.

Thats amazing:thumbsup

[janitor]

A china chin is one thing, but becoming P4P number one with china hands is simply amazing -fullstop-

Dose Floyd Mayweather have particularly brittle hands?

[China_hand_Joe]

Dose Floyd Mayweather have particularly brittle hands?They are certainly more brittle than the average hand, not severely so though -fullstop-

[4eyes]

Evander Holyfield, right after he suffered that heart attack in the ring he was told he was never going to box again, but with steroid use he was back at a world title in no time!

:lol:

[mario]

shannon briggs with his asthma, managed to win 2 world titles

[mcvey]

Eugene Criqui was shot in the face during WW 1. He had his jaw reconstructed with wire and a metal plate. He went on to win the world featherweight title.
Beat me to it!

[mcvey]

Give me the stories.

They will include a lot of verry tragic human interest stories.
Harry Greb, blind in one eye since being thumbed by Kid Norfolk.
Paulino Uzcudon,unable to throw a jab ,as a result of an accident with an axe when young,fought many top rated heavies.

[janitor]

Paulino Uzcudon,unable to throw a jab ,as a result of an accident with an axe when young,fought many top rated heavies.

Never heard that story.

Care to elaborate.

[Duodenum]

Paulino Uzcudon,unable to throw a jab ,as a result of an accident with an axe when young,fought many top rated heavies.Yeah, it's pretty well known that this injury was the genesis of Paulino's signature cross-armed defense, but it's somewhat difficult to view that as a disability, in light of the fact that Joe Frazier also had an early injury which prevented him from straightening out his left arm. Some people turn supposed handicaps into strengths to be taken advantage of, rather than weaknesses to be overcome, and I think Paulino may fall into the former category. In any event, there doesn't seem to be too much made about Uzcudun's arm after Frazier's successes. (Paulino probably built himself up as a child brawling with his 220 pound sister Pauline, also a woodchopper.)

[OLD FOGEY]

Was Eugene Hairston completely deaf???? or am i thinking of someone else from that era

You are correct. Lights had to be put on the ring posts to alert him of the bell at the end of the rounds.

Former Bantamweight champion Mario D'Agata was also a deaf mute.

[OLD FOGEY]

Two who come to mind are Paul Pender and Tommy Loughran for having very brittle hands and fighting on with broken bones.

Joe Brown broke his right hand in the second round against Wallace Smith. He fought to the 14th without using his right but dropped Smith twice in the 14th with right hands to pull out the fight. They had to cut the glove off the badly swollen hand and he was in tears at the pain.

[john garfield]

Bubi Scholz overcame Tubercolosis to win the European Championship at middleweight and light heavyweight and a title shot at Harold Johnson´s World Championship.

t,

Did Scholz wind-up in prison for murdering his wife?

[OLD FOGEY]

I think Tommy Gomez merits a mention. On February 6, 1945, Gomez suffered 16 bullet wounds to his arms, back, chest, and legs. He recovered well enough to make it into the top ten heavyweights after the war.

[janitor]

I think Tommy Gomez merits a mention. On February 6, 1945, Gomez suffered 16 bullet wounds to his arms, back, chest, and legs.

How did he come by those.

[mcvey]

What was the name of that boxer who fought Dempsey... He was basically dying on his feet during the later parts of his career, but he still did really well at a very high level.
Billy Miske he deserves a mention very brave man ,well done for reminding us!

[mcvey]

Never heard that story.

Care to elaborate.
Havent got the article to hand Janitor ,think it was an old Boxing Illustrated piece,which was really about Paulinos blast out by Joe Louis,will try to dig it out.

[mcvey]

I think Tommy Gomez merits a mention. On February 6, 1945, Gomez suffered 16 bullet wounds to his arms, back, chest, and legs. He recovered well enough to make it into the top ten heavyweights after the war.
Was it friendly fire?

[Duodenum]

Havent got the article to hand Janitor ,think it was an old Boxing Illustrated piece,which was really about Paulinos blast out by Joe Louis,will try to dig it out.
I think I know which article you're referring to, mcvey. I believe it was in a special memorial edition published when Louis passed away. (The title of the chapter was, "Nobody knocked out Paulino Uzcudun!," and it showed a head and shoulders closeup portrait of Paulino posing in his cross-armed defense, and concluded with a shot from above and behind Louis standing over a prone Uzcudun lying nearly across the ropes?)

[OLD FOGEY]

How did he come by those.

They had crossed the Rhine and ran into a machinegun nest.

Maybe I should have made it clear it was in combat during WWII.

[OLD FOGEY]

Was it friendly fire?

I read about it in the December, 1945 issue of the Ring. The article does not say but I would assume he was shot by the Germans unless other evidence surfaces. It hurts just as much either way.

The article does not go into the extent of his wounds or how he managed to survive 16 bullets at all, which seems a lot to be able to live. I did know a fellow in Nam who survived 18 in the torso. Seems impossible, but he recieved immediate medical care and was rushed by helicopter to a hospital. I only knew the fellow slightly but I was amazed that he pulled through. He is still alive, I understand, and doing well.

[scartissue]

Gene Tunney overcame a withered arm by chopping wood as a youth.
Rodolfo Gonzalez overcame liver illness which doctors diagnosed as terminal.
Art Hafey suffered from some cardio-vascular muscular disease.
Gustavo Ballas was an alcoholic while world champ and top contender.

Scartissue

[good right hand]

paul spadaforda was shot in the leg i believe but adapted a style which he was able to use to win a world title.

kassim ouma was stabbed in the stomach but cameback to win a a world title.




i also remember of a fighter in a wheel chair overcomming some type of leg or back injury to fight well and even upset a pretty good fighter.

[JohnThomas1]

When talking of brittle hands Jeff Fenech had shockers. Non stop trouble.

[mcvey]

I read about it in the December, 1945 issue of the Ring. The article does not say but I would assume he was shot by the Germans unless other evidence surfaces. It hurts just as much either way.

The article does not go into the extent of his wounds or how he managed to survive 16 bullets at all, which seems a lot to be able to live. I did know a fellow in Nam who survived 18 in the torso. Seems impossible, but he recieved immediate medical care and was rushed by helicopter to a hospital. I only knew the fellow slightly but I was amazed that he pulled through. He is still alive, I understand, and doing well.
Sorry that was a joke in rather poor taste,Im English,there is a wide spread beleif in the UK ,that if you find yourself in Military action alongside our American cousins,you are more in danger from their bullets than the enemies.

[OLD FOGEY]

Sorry that was a joke in rather poor taste,Im English,there is a wide spread beleif in the UK ,that if you find yourself in Military action alongside our American cousins,you are more in danger from their bullets than the enemies.

That is interesting. I have never heard that point of view so I took the question at face value. I don't know if this reaches the news in Britain, but right now there is a brouhaha over the friendly fire shooting of Pat Tillman, a gridiron star who volunteered for service in Afghanistan.

In WWII, Americans shot better, I think. Audie Murphy and all that, you know.

[young griffo]

Does Benny Lynch count?
He was a chronic alcoholic yet still won a world title before succumbing to his demons and losing his title on the scales and eventually dying in the gutter.
Alcoholism often gets made light of but is now recognised as a serious illness,rather than a weakness on behalf of the individual.

[Rattler]

Billy Miske

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

Fought against Jack Dempsey, with the affects of Bright's Disease (kidney disease that causes nausea, weakness, fever and back pain) already well in tow.