The struggles faced by former boxers after retirement are once again under the spotlight, with growing calls for better long-term support systems for fighters dealing with health problems, financial hardship and mental health issues once their careers end.
A new BBC documentary examining the life and death of former world champion Ricky Hatton has reignited debate around boxing’s responsibility toward retired athletes, while stories from past and present fighters continue to expose the harsh realities many face away from the spotlight.
Among the most striking examples is Olympic gold medallist Terry Spinks, who rose to national fame after winning at the 1956 Melbourne Games. The Londoner became one of Britain’s best-known sports stars of the era, attracting crowds wherever he went and enjoying celebrity status rarely seen in boxing at the time.
But behind the fame, Spinks later battled alcoholism and neurological decline. His cousin, Rosemary Elmore, eventually left her career to care for him full-time after he no longer recognised family members. Spinks died in 2012 aged 74.
Elmore believes boxing still lacks proper structures to support fighters once their careers and public attention fade.
Former British champion Jimmy Revie, now 78, is also living with dementia. His wife Louisa says meetings with fellow retired fighters help revive his spirits and keep old memories alive.
Louisa strongly supports the Ringside Charity Trust’s proposal to create a specialist 36-bed care home dedicated to former boxers. The project would provide tailored medical and nursing support from staff familiar with boxing-related conditions, while also offering social spaces where ex-fighters could reconnect and relive their careers.
The charity currently operates a helpline for retired boxers in crisis, but campaigners believe more permanent solutions are urgently needed.
Former boxer and coach Stephen Smith says many fighters feel isolated once their careers end.
“Your phone doesn’t go again once you retire,” Smith said, describing how quickly fighters can feel forgotten after leaving the sport.
The campaign has received support from major figures within boxing, including former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, who recently displayed the charity’s logo during his fight with Jake Paul.
However, disagreements remain over how such initiatives should be funded.
The Ringside Charity Trust wants the British Boxing Board of Control to introduce a compulsory levy on fighters earning more than £1,000 per bout, with contributions increasing alongside larger purses. Supporters have also suggested adding a small fee to every ticket sold at boxing events.
But BBBoC general secretary Robert Smith opposes mandatory payments, arguing that voluntary contributions are more appropriate.
Smith said the board already provides expensive insurance covering death and permanent injury, while also operating its own charitable trust for ex-boxers. He admitted, though, that supporting retired fighters remains financially difficult because the number of former boxers far exceeds the number currently active.
Smith also noted that attempts to introduce pension schemes in the past received little interest from fighters themselves.
Meanwhile, light-heavyweight Liam Cameron shared his own experience of life after boxing spiralled out of control following a cocaine ban in 2018. The Sheffield fighter said he struggled with alcohol, drugs and personal problems during his darkest period and felt abandoned by the sport.
Cameron has since rebuilt his career and now works as an ambassador for the Boxers in Need charity, helping fighters facing similar difficulties outside the ring.
Reflecting on the career and struggles of Ricky Hatton, Cameron admitted the situation forces many fighters to question what success in boxing truly delivers once the fame disappears.
For families like Spinks’, the debate goes beyond titles and trophies. Elmore recalled asking her cousin whether he would still have chosen boxing had he known how his life would end.
According to her, Spinks answered without hesitation: he would do it all again because he loved the sport.
The question now facing boxing authorities is whether that loyalty and sacrifice are being repaid with enough care once fighters leave the ring behind.