A Stroke Spells More Hard Times For Iran Barkley, Former Boxing KIng

Barkley

Iran Barkley, left, in his prime against Hearns

Iran “The Blade” Barkley former 3-time world champ-Middleweight, Super Middleweight, and Light Heavyweight, who fought every major opponent put in front of him is engaged in the fight of his life after suffering a stroke.

In the ring Barkley’s opponents included Roberto “Hands of Stone” Duran and Tommy “HitMan” Hearns, knocking out the latter. Outside he has endured hardship in recent years.

Barkley had a seizure which led to a stroke, October 22, 2014, and was admitted to Lincoln Memorial Hospital, Bronx, N.Y. He’ll remain there for extensive examinations to assess his condition.

According to his niece, Barbra Wilder, Barkley a picture of health all of the time even after he retired from the ring, was really “stressed out” because his brother, Alibay Barkley, and his niece, Nicola Barkley are both suffering from lung cancer which perhaps may have led to the stroke.

Barkley who was nicknamed “The Blade” because of his vicious fighting style in the ring, scoring 27 knockouts in his 42 wins, perhaps was also emotionally drained because after his great ring career, earning over $5 million, he fell into hard times.

He was broke, homeless, and also was evicted from his home in the Patterson Housing Projects in the Bronx where he was born and raised. Sometimes he would sleep in the streets, and sometimes slept in the #6 train, begging for meals.

Finally charitable organizations such as Ring 8 and Bronxworks Charities, helped this New Jersey Boxing Hall of Famer by finding him a home, financial aid, and meals. By his own admission Barkley said he spent his money wildly, living the celebrity life; never trusting banks, he kept his money at home, spending it on fancy cars, jewelry, fur coats, parties, block parties in his neighborhood, and giving most of it to his family, and friends.

Barkley, one of 8 children, was destined for ring greatness. He listened to his older sister, Yvonne, who was a professional boxer, and got away from his street gang “The Black Spades”; he started boxing at 14 years of age.

He immediately fell in love with the gym and as an amateur won many medals, including a Bronze in the World Championships in Munich, Germany, in 1982 as a Middleweight; he turned pro that same year.

Barkley had 63 fights, winning 42, while losing 19, and retiring in 1999 at the age of 48.

At age of 51, perhaps because of his need to make a living at the only profession he was good at he announced his comeback. He was talked out of it and helped by organizations.

It is very tragic when a person who came from poverty and became a rich world champ eventually returns to where he started from. It’s even worse because he is older and he’s never acquired any other employable skills to live by and to support a family.

Where are those friends who he helped now that he needs help? Who was his financial advisor?

Sadly, there are too many ex-boxers who have gone down the same road of perdition after their fighting careers were over; becoming homeless or working at menial jobs just to make a living for themselves and perhaps their families after mismanaging their boxing purses.

I applaud Floyd Mayweather, Jr., Oscar De La Hoya, Manny Pacquiao, and Miguel Cotto, to name just a few boxers who have managed their money properly and are millionaires living a comfortable life — and they even manage their careers.

Muhammad Ali who is very ill with Parkinson Disease had the good fortune to have his ring purses invested in a trust fund by 10 Louisville, Kentucky businessmen; that’s the security he is now enjoying.

Another financial success story after ring greatness is former Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight Champ Michael Spinks who lost to Mike Tyson.

His manager then, the late Butch Lewis, invested his purse from the Tyson fight also into a trust fund and Spinks is now also living a comfortable life. These stories of success after a ring career are too few and far between so maybe the State Boxing Commissions along with the fight Promoters should start a nationwide pension system for boxers just like other sports franchises has for its players, including Baseball.

Black Star readers what do you think?

 

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