BoxRec

writehooks wrote: ↑12 Feb 2023, 15:42 George Chuvalo is in the same situation in a Toronto nursing home. The Canadian icon, who turned 85 last September, has no recollection of who he is or what he accomplished. While no longer able to walk more than a few steps at a time, he's relatively content in a facility where he's well cared for and the staff absolutely adores him.

p4p1 wrote: ↑14 Feb 2023, 20:08 Things like this do make it hard to stay a boxing fan IMO. Knowing the long term damage that is happening to these guys, even the ones who we see as defensive genius' will still feel some of these types of effects. We can only hope that it isn't too bad and they aren't too young when it happens.

Things like this do make it hard to stay a boxing fan IMO. Knowing the long term damage that is happening to these guys, even the ones who we see as defensive genius' will still feel some of these types of effects. We can only hope that it isn't too bad and they aren't too young when it happens.

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑15 Feb 2023, 15:09 no doubt boxing is awful for the brain, but in the 70s dementia isnt that uncommon

Controversial wrote: ↑15 Feb 2023, 15:28

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑15 Feb 2023, 15:09 no doubt boxing is awful for the brain, but in the 70s dementia isnt that uncommon

It isn’t but I imagine he’s been showing signs for some time, he’s 72 but thinks he’s 38 so quite far down that road

1173348 wrote: ↑16 Feb 2023, 00:12

Controversial wrote: ↑15 Feb 2023, 15:28

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑15 Feb 2023, 15:09 no doubt boxing is awful for the brain, but in the 70s dementia isnt that uncommon

It isn’t but I imagine he’s been showing signs for some time, he’s 72 but thinks he’s 38 so quite far down that road

As recently as 2018 he was giving interviews and appearing in public. So Joe's symptoms couldn't have shown before 2019.

1173348 wrote: ↑16 Feb 2023, 19:40 Outside of George Chuvalo, Bugner may have been the most durable heavyweight of his era. Definitely one of four or five guys on the short list for 'best chin.'

Better yet, Bugner had airtight defense. Rarely did he get hit with power shots. Joe could go ten, 12, or 15 rounds with anyone and and emerge unscathed.

So, it's ironic that Bugner got CTE.

Controversial wrote: ↑17 Feb 2023, 04:48

1173348 wrote: ↑16 Feb 2023, 19:40 Outside of George Chuvalo, Bugner may have been the most durable heavyweight of his era. Definitely one of four or five guys on the short list for 'best chin.'

Better yet, Bugner had airtight defense. Rarely did he get hit with power shots. Joe could go ten, 12, or 15 rounds with anyone and and emerge unscathed.

So, it's ironic that Bugner got CTE.

I guess you could say Herol Graham was as elusive as they come and rarely took flush punches, apart from the obvious KO loss to Jackson, but he’s had issues for a while and only 63

1173348 wrote: ↑17 Feb 2023, 07:40

Controversial wrote: ↑17 Feb 2023, 04:48

1173348 wrote: ↑16 Feb 2023, 19:40 Outside of George Chuvalo, Bugner may have been the most durable heavyweight of his era. Definitely one of four or five guys on the short list for 'best chin.'

Better yet, Bugner had airtight defense. Rarely did he get hit with power shots. Joe could go ten, 12, or 15 rounds with anyone and and emerge unscathed.

So, it's ironic that Bugner got CTE.

I guess you could say Herol Graham was as elusive as they come and rarely took flush punches, apart from the obvious KO loss to Jackson, but he’s had issues for a while and only 63

I'd add Wilfredo Benitez, one of the most unhittable boxers of his era. That's why they called him "Radar." But Wilfredo's damage showed by the time he was in his 40's.

Someday medical science will probably discover that, among boxers with CTE, a genetic predisposition toward Alzheimer's is the trigger which leads to dementia.

Think about it: some fighters absorb heavy punishment for years, yet never show signs of damage later in life. Others don't get hit much during their careers, but still develop CTE. Genes must have something to with the problem.

Controversial wrote: ↑17 Feb 2023, 07:51

1173348 wrote: ↑17 Feb 2023, 07:40

Controversial wrote: ↑17 Feb 2023, 04:48

I guess you could say Herol Graham was as elusive as they come and rarely took flush punches, apart from the obvious KO loss to Jackson, but he’s had issues for a while and only 63

I'd add Wilfredo Benitez, one of the most unhittable boxers of his era. That's why they called him "Radar." But Wilfredo's damage showed by the time he was in his 40's.

Someday medical science will probably discover that, among boxers with CTE, a genetic predisposition toward Alzheimer's is the trigger which leads to dementia.

Think about it: some fighters absorb heavy punishment for years, yet never show signs of damage later in life. Others don't get hit much during their careers, but still develop CTE. Genes must have something to with the problem.

I don’t know why some end up worse than others but being punched in the head isn’t great for anyone. Other sports like NFL, rugby and football are taking head blows more serious now. I’ve mentioned it before but there’s an ex-pro from the U.K. called Tony Jeffries, he now resides in the US and is doing very well on social media as a trainer in the fitness industry. He spoke about a brain study he took part in years ago in America and although he felt fit and well a head scan showed he had a split down the middle of his brain. The clinic found the same split in 50% of fighters they tested which isn’t great. It’s not always dementia type symptoms either, several sportsmen in impact sports have gone off the rails, either with mental health issues, substance abuse, committed crime or killed themselves which many experts think is also linked to brain trauma.

1173348 wrote: ↑17 Feb 2023, 11:57

Controversial wrote: ↑17 Feb 2023, 07:51

1173348 wrote: ↑17 Feb 2023, 07:40

I'd add Wilfredo Benitez, one of the most unhittable boxers of his era. That's why they called him "Radar." But Wilfredo's damage showed by the time he was in his 40's.

Someday medical science will probably discover that, among boxers with CTE, a genetic predisposition toward Alzheimer's is the trigger which leads to dementia.

Think about it: some fighters absorb heavy punishment for years, yet never show signs of damage later in life. Others don't get hit much during their careers, but still develop CTE. Genes must have something to with the problem.

I don’t know why some end up worse than others but being punched in the head isn’t great for anyone. Other sports like NFL, rugby and football are taking head blows more serious now. I’ve mentioned it before but there’s an ex-pro from the U.K. called Tony Jeffries, he now resides in the US and is doing very well on social media as a trainer in the fitness industry. He spoke about a brain study he took part in years ago in America and although he felt fit and well a head scan showed he had a split down the middle of his brain. The clinic found the same split in 50% of fighters they tested which isn’t great. It’s not always dementia type symptoms either, several sportsmen in impact sports have gone off the rails, either with mental health issues, substance abuse, committed crime or killed themselves which many experts think is also linked to brain trauma.

Genetic testing will someday be mandatory for anyone who wants to box amateur or pro. That's my hunch. Scientists will eventually identify genes linked to late life diseases such as Alzheimer's. Aspiring fighters will be denied licenses for this reason, before they have a single fight.

IMO, this will be for the better. CTE rates among athletes in head-trauma sports will plummet as a result.

Controversial wrote: ↑17 Feb 2023, 12:03

1173348 wrote: ↑17 Feb 2023, 11:57

Controversial wrote: ↑17 Feb 2023, 07:51

I don’t know why some end up worse than others but being punched in the head isn’t great for anyone. Other sports like NFL, rugby and football are taking head blows more serious now. I’ve mentioned it before but there’s an ex-pro from the U.K. called Tony Jeffries, he now resides in the US and is doing very well on social media as a trainer in the fitness industry. He spoke about a brain study he took part in years ago in America and although he felt fit and well a head scan showed he had a split down the middle of his brain. The clinic found the same split in 50% of fighters they tested which isn’t great. It’s not always dementia type symptoms either, several sportsmen in impact sports have gone off the rails, either with mental health issues, substance abuse, committed crime or killed themselves which many experts think is also linked to brain trauma.

Genetic testing will someday be mandatory for anyone who wants to box amateur or pro. That's my hunch. Scientists will eventually identify genes linked to late life diseases such as Alzheimer's. Aspiring fighters will be denied licenses for this reason, before they have a single fight.

IMO, this will be for the better. CTE rates among athletes in head-trauma sports will plummet as a result.

So you’re saying head trauma doesn’t cause any issues you are just born with a predisposition to getting CTE??

Tony1244 wrote: ↑17 Feb 2023, 13:50 The British Bug, as the American boxing mags called him, had a great chin. I always thought on the right night in the 1970s, Bugner could have done with Foreman what Jimmy Young did.

1173348 wrote: ↑17 Feb 2023, 15:18

Controversial wrote: ↑17 Feb 2023, 12:03

1173348 wrote: ↑17 Feb 2023, 11:57

Genetic testing will someday be mandatory for anyone who wants to box amateur or pro. That's my hunch. Scientists will eventually identify genes linked to late life diseases such as Alzheimer's. Aspiring fighters will be denied licenses for this reason, before they have a single fight.

IMO, this will be for the better. CTE rates among athletes in head-trauma sports will plummet as a result.

So you’re saying head trauma doesn’t cause any issues you are just born with a predisposition to getting CTE??

No, I'm saying the exact opposite.

According to scientists, guys who've got the Alzheimer's gene, and who box for years and eventually develop CTE, may end up that way because of the combination of head trauma plus the Alzheimer's gene.

Be aware that having a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer's doesn't necessarily mean someone will develop that disease. It only means that person's likelihood of getting dementia in old age is that much greater than for people who don't carry that gene.

Controversial wrote: ↑17 Feb 2023, 16:10 Yes but not having the 'gene' also doesn't stop someone developing CTE issues or Alzheimers so really it's irrelevant whether they have the 'gene' or not. Plenty of fighters are developing speech problems or other issues likely linked to head trauma and at far younger ages than most people get dementia etc.

1173348 wrote: ↑17 Feb 2023, 20:29

Controversial wrote: ↑17 Feb 2023, 16:10 Yes but not having the 'gene' also doesn't stop someone developing CTE issues or Alzheimers so really it's irrelevant whether they have the 'gene' or not. Plenty of fighters are developing speech problems or other issues likely linked to head trauma and at far younger ages than most people get dementia etc.

Bottom line, the emerging evidence is pointing toward this:

1) Boxing + no Alzheimer's gene = greatly decreased chance of getting CTE
2) Boxing + Alzheimer's gene = greatly increased chance of getting CTE

So, I think it's clear where the wind is blowing with science and it's future impact on boxers' lisencure.