Rickey Womack Documentary - The Life & Suicide of Holyfield's Nemesis
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 ต.ค. 2024
- A look back at the life and boxing career of Rickey Womack. On a side note, his boxrec is incorrect. Womack's debut was against Bill Hollis...It was Womack's twin brother Mickey who had the draw against Sonny Jones which listed as Rickey's debut.
When Lennox Lewis fought Hasim Rahman in South Africa I spent the day with Emanuel Steward and he shared the story of Ricky Womack with me and my brother.
This Guys style was made for the Pro's,very aggressive&he knew his way around the 'Ring' even then..But the kind of fury that fuels a guy like him,can also be so self destructive!..I understand very well what it's like to be raised in a dysfunctional home!
Emanuel told me about that day.
He said you never managed to get that brown stain out of his drawers.
Despite that he said he loved going to your dry cleaners because of the coffee machine and biscuit tin.
@@shellyp9129lame and even kinda funny!!!
@@bryandungee1029kinda very funny !! He should be “ Mr. Steward “ to such as you !
So sad 😢
Boxing produces the saddest stories but also provides insights into the nature of life.
Any sport where getting beat is normal is going to produce some sad stories. Your mind has to be different already
@@seeya101oliASWHDFILnot really true on the last part at all. Average boxer toils away in obscurity with middling notoriety. There are 100k Ricky who never even got half his sad fame .
Remember Womack well. Should've had a great pro career, but choices are choices. Also remember reading about his untimely death. At the time, I was shocked. Based on a few articles prior to his death, he seemed to be moving in the right direction at the time. Proof that you really don't know what's happening in a person's life, and what they're going through.
Request: The Life & Times Of James Page. One of my favorite punchers with an unorthodox background. That left hook was something special, but his side gig prevented him from reaching his true peak.
It'll be awhile but I'll add James Page in, thanks.
@@RichtheFightHistorian 👍
Oh yeah. Forgot about James Page.
@@Gregsmith1 At least he lost before he got sent to prison. It's Crazy that Andrew Lewis, who defeated him, died in a bicycle accident in 2015.
The trauma he witness as a child and then being sent to foster care played a major role in his choices in life. Sometimes you can't win those battles alone. You need help through counseling (mental health).
Cus-damato: To see a man not beaten by a better opponent, but by himself is a tragedy.
Tanx rich....Marc Ireland 🇮🇪
My pleasure, Marc. Thanks for the D'Amato quote.
I remember him and even being interested in his comeback. He still had that good physique, but seeing him struggle with a totally shot Kenny Snow told me it wasn't gonna work out. Detroit had a lot of potential great fighters who couldn't avoid self-destruction, unfortunately.
I think then this maybe a testament to the necessity of mental fortitude. Although it's something that can be developed in the later years... the early years of brain development really shouldn't be overlooked.
@@tomcharles2987 For sure. It was probably less of a focus in the 70's and 80's, as a lot of great trainers like Steward and Duva had loads of complete head-cases on their hands. Older-school guys like that may have lacked something in the area of mental fortification in the areas of some of the newer challenges these generations faced that maybe the trainers didn't have. Or maybe they did stress that and some of these guys were just beyond reach.
@@bennylevine387 we can't all be 5600-0 like boxing kingpin and union leader charlie zelenoff
@@bennylevine387 Yeah I agree. I'm imagining if someone were scouting people for any industry, and you're trying to determine if this pick is the one to invest in... a lot of things can look great on the outside. But not everyone is considering the potential wiring of the brain (an individual's early life/brain development) and if it needs rewiring and/or can even be rewired. But if that person's brain needs rewiring and doesn't get that help, I imagine that makes it a bit more discernible to project the trajectory path of this individual or at least gives an idea of probability.
@@Hemingway5000 Good ole Charlie Z... long live the goat. Until something bad happens to him in the streets...
Its crazy as to how many tragic stories they are in the boxing world. 😢 Please keep bringing these mini-documentaries because I doubt if we would get them from anywhere else. Once again thanks.
Nobody in their right mind would want to fight for a living.
@@isaack2084 it’s a poor man’s game. 🤷🏿
You guys are all correct, nasty world sometimes like the mob etc
@@Number1DriversSeat yep
Nothing "tragic" about it. The guy was a bum and we're better off with him gone.
What I like about these video' is not so much the actual fighting, most of these fights can be found on youtube anyway, but the background stories. I knew bits and pieces about Ricky Womack and would love to see a 90 minute documentary about him.
Wow,another great video. I knew nothing of this man,though being a huge boxing fan during his era. Thank you for your work. Sadly the sport of boxing is filled with what could of been’s
Thanks, Ben. Yes, he was a great 'what if'.
A lot of troublesome behaviour people display is related to head trauma in early life, boxers, football players often suffer the consequences of brain injury that goes undiagnosed. Head trauma can change the way you think, your personality, decision making, mood everything.
Brain trauma is often overlooked and when the pineal gland in the brain is affected by it, a lot of things can change for you physically, mentally, emotionally, etc. It doesn't excuse the choices you make. I believe that's all up to us. But brain trauma certainly can make life a lot more difficult. One of my friends, who was a muay thai champion in Thailand, lives with depression and is an alcoholic now. I think his fighting style is what led to it... he had a chin and was a forward fighting heavy-handed puncher - take 2 to give 1.
I think it all depends on the person. You can't look at this dude's life and honestly think you can chalk it up to brain damage. Especially if you've ever experienced the abuse this guy faced as a kid from the two people he was supposed to be able to count on.
@@ededdison8965 it's caused by damaged brain cells in the brain tissue not the pineal gland, the pineal gland is liquid crystals in your forehead, all your brain cells are behind the pineal gland they die when the brain tissue bounces around the skull.
@@jeremylamovsky9868 agreed
there are plenty of a-holes that don't suffer from brain trauma... ricky was one of them... he was what he was...
Love watching Rich's clips. Really informative and so professionally done. The man should be on TV he's that good. 😎🥊
Thank you, Gerry.
I knew my fellow OG's are missing Howards football and boxing announcing.
He was so different, It's what made him interesting and fun to listen to
“Good evening this is
How-Ward Cou-Sell” 😂
that cadence was legendary
Not this OG.
@@TheBatugan77 Well there were a lot of empty headed im imbeciles in those too.
Thanks for the reminder.
Hope you are well @RTFH
Such a sad but not uncommon outcome here
You can clearly see the potential Womack had
Great work as usual RTFH
“Evander ended up with a big house
Rickey ended up in the big house” Emmanuel Steward
This boxing story hurts a lil. We fight our own devils and demons everyday and losing to them hurts as well. No one is perfect at the same time we strive. May you find peace in the next life Ricky, as the ones who know, we our best everyday not to self destruct.
PREACH ON THAT, GREAT WISDOM!
Excellent quality as always, Rich
Wow... The amount of extreme trauma post pro boxing (whether it be physically/mentally/financially/emotionally/early PTSD/imprisonment/early death/suicide) is insanely high. As much as I'm a fan of the sport it really makes me wonder....
Thanks, Ousama
As always, masterful and awesome content. Love it and keep up great work!
Thanks, Matthew, will do.
I used to have some of the same social problems Rickey had. Being withdrawn, giving one word answers, not looking at people, visibly stressed in social situation, always had headphones on -- until a smart counselor put a test in front of me and then a few more for our next meetings. Didn't tell me what it was for - turns out I'm autistic but highly functional and I scored very high in ability to camouflage. And up until that point people were always berating me for the way I am, I don't pick up on social cues so often I blurt things out and insult people without having the ability to see how insulting I'm being, among other things - and I just couldn't help it and always felt horrible because the way people saw me was NOT the person I am on the inside. I came off as an a-hole when I'm actually a really nice guy who'll give you the shirt off my back if you need it. Perhaps in these modern times a guy like Rickie may have been diagnosed properly and had his life changed because of it like I did. Very sad. Because it's possible that kid had some form of ASD or perhaps something else.
You're amazing Rich,i feel like time travelling everytime i watch your videos..
Seriously,you're one of a kind.the atmosphere,the storytelling ,the footage..absolutely fantastic.
You're very kind, b canon, glad you're enjoying the content.
Amazing work. These doc's are gold!
Thanks, Andre.
A floored genius. Tragic end to a talented man’s life. RIP. Very sad story.
Wow didn’t know Womack went out like that!!I l am from Detroit and I would run into the Kronk boxers and speak but Ricky was different I wouldn’t say anything to him because he always had this look like he wasn’t all the way there.Sorry it ended that way for him damn!
I remember an article in The Ring or KO magazine that showed Rickey was also working in a clinic/pharmacy. Then later read he shot himself. Wild life
I remember that as well, but vaguely recall that it was a law office. Not 100% sure.
wasted life !
@@Gregsmith1 you may be right. I recall the picture in the article he wore what appeared to be scrubs ..again ..it's been 20 years and I no longer have the magazine
@@alexdoe6338 👍
Thanks for this story. I never heard of him until today
Thanks for the story. I always wondered what happened to Womack, and tried to look him up, years ago, and didn't get much information on him. They said he was something else, and while on the 1984 on the Olympic team, all the others boxers were scared of him, not sure if Mike Tyson was, but it was said many of them spooked. And i do remember reading that the first time he met Evander Holyfield he walked up to him, and stepped on his shoe. A real bad dude.
The eyes are the windows to the soul , and that end shot told the story . Tragic , as suicide gives the enemy an eternity to torment you .
Great video coverage Rich 💯 Damn! What could've been?
Thanks, Samuel.
Boxing has some of the most interesting stories in all of entertainment. If someone devoted their life to making Boxing biopics, they would have source material for 3 lifetimes.
Thank you for this Rich. I'd hear of Womack, but knew nothing about his eventful but tragic life. Very much appreciated. Bless up bro 👊
My pleasure, Nick.
If only Ricky was aware that he was barely losing against a future legend of the sport perhaps he would have done things differently early in his pro career. Such a shame, great fighter
I had him winning the fight against Holyfield that decided who went to the Olympics … i think it was the wrong man who won there
Great video Rich, it didn’t disappoint thanks!
Sure thing, Raffy
Thanks for that video Rich. Another excellent piece and a very sad story. Unfortunately boxing seems to have so many of them.
How sad. I . . . to this day have NEVER seen a better Amateur Boxer. I mean this guy had it ALL. The really sad part , for me, was his statement about overcooking a steak as a metaphor for over cooking a man. He must have felt his whole prior life was a waste . No Olympic gold medal no title in the pro's. But he couldn't (apparently) grasp that there more to life than his past accomplishments. He had a skill set - no doubt but it didn't have to be IN the ring as a fighter . Hell look at Emmanuel Steward. You need not look any farter for a role model. What a trainer he could have been, He may have had impulse control issues but he was NOT an ignorant man. He could have /would have been a Great counselor for youth in corrections or juvenile institutions. He could have been an ultimate boxing coach. He had a LOT going for him ! He didn't close any doors permanent until he killed himself. I was so happy reading about his success in Ring magazine. I was devestated when I heard of his suicide. What a waste not because of the lost Olym[ic medal or pro boxing Title. But What a LOSS to the young men who would have looked UP to him and followed him through the fire to . . . who knows success in Boxing , yes, sure, but in life as well. R.I.P. Champ ~
I watched this when you released it but forgot to comment, thankyou for posting I been waiting for some context on womack and any footage that I had not seen this was great. When I spoke to sugarhill last year about womack he said he was the only guy in the Kronk who could put music on without it being an issue as music was usually banned or rap music he may of said. Thanks again for another great video
My pleasure, Alex.
Just baffling how he wasted his career and life that way, whatever was the cause of this self-sabotage is a sad case nonetheless.
“ baffling/ whatever the cause “? Did you not hear at the start his own father killed his brother whilst he was a boy , his mother was neglectful probably useless , oh and he he was shunted around various foster hones. ? Is it any real shock that he couldn’t shake this appalling start to life no matter “ his potential and imminent prosperity etc “ ?!!
Did you ever think that he was a psychopath. Because he has all the signs of a psychopath. Check the signs out and see
@@itsnotme3882 stop, yield, right lane ends. Checks out 👍🏻
@@serenityinside1 yeah I don’t think people realise how much of a impact a good childhood and parents can have on your life. Ricky never had that, he may of had steward, but then the damage had already been done.
@@aresjerry I see what you did there
I've not seen all that many amateur bouts, but Jesus Christ I can't imagine too many are as tough as the two fights they showed with Womack and Holyfield.
Yea I remember Rickey terrible. I don't understand how stuff like this could happen but it does. Thanks so much Rich brought back memories that had slipped away but I really enjoyed this one but sad
Brilliant vid Rich albeit a very sad story of what could have been for this gifted athlete.
So darned tragic. Emmanuel must have been flabbergasted…. To have the world at your feet..yet lose it all must have tortured him so..
Boxing is full of tragic very sad stories and its full of many good stories but the sad ones are really sad. Rip champion.
Great documentary as always...rich the undisputed documentary champion of the world ❤🥊💯🥊
So sad, this one hit hard. Thank you Rich ✌️
Sure thing, Jason.
Fantastic channel.... As much as im a fan of boxing its a brutal sport and a lot of boxers get forgotten about which is for me a travesty. I absolutely LOVE this channel its a real education. I know a lot of the fighters but equally theirs a lot i dont and i think its wonderful that you celebrate these warriors. KEEP IT COMING!!! BRILLIANT BRILLIANT BRILLIANT!!!! 😊😊😊😊😊
Thank you, Darren. Will keep 'em coming.
Thanks so much for this one Rich. I had no prior knowledge of Womack- truly a talent laid to waste.
Keep going and going !!
Will do, Martin. Thank you.
After hearing Womack’s story of going to jail I wonder if he was the inspiration for the Character Dame in Creed 3.
Thought the same
Womack isn’t the only boxer who went to prison.
@@thatbronzeboij thank you for telling me that. Before you told me that I never knew that.
@@elonjoanwilliams614could've fooled us
Yeah me and Ricky was in Ionia together back in the day all of us Would
Run the yard and train.We were in superior shape! In fact?
Me and ricky were the same age born on the same date. I also what skill with my hands and feet but chose to be a body builder , love staying in shape, Rest in peace , my brother, AKA, known as Mont, those who knew me know
This was excellent. Choices in life. 1 minute, any minute can change your entire life. One bad move and life as we know it will change forever. I've also learned this the hard way. I really wish part of a fighter's routine has meditation and positive role models to show these young men the way of life, and how life can turn so bad in an instant. God Bless, gr8 as always 🙏.
Thanks, John
Thanks for the video Rich ❤
My pleasure, John.
You can take the lowlife out of the ghetto but you can’t take the ghetto out of the low life. And I know that sounds mean but trust me I have tried many times to help these people because I grew up in the ghetto and some people just don’t want to be anything else but ghetto. They love it they’re proud of it they embrace it it’s almost like their heritage or their religion ghetto.
Hard too understand why we do what we do? Self destruction is sometimes the easy way out.😪
was self-destructing way before he checked out
@@pgroove163 yup! Self destruction before the suicide and the suicide itself.
omg I've never heard of him unfortunately RIP
the level of boxing of both against each other, put the today heavy weight fights to shame...that was a battle.
Sadly Womack never had a moral base in his younger years, simply the difference between he and Holyfield. All the physical skills, chin and determination, but no base of what is right or wrong. Evander had it, Ricky did not.
Evander was a much better boxer and it wasn’t even close
Great Story-- I never heard of this Guy but doing 15 in the Slammer will make you obsolete..
His family stayed down the street from me on Churchill he had a twin brother Mickey and his sister Betty Boo whole family looked alike.
Phil Berger wrote a great piece in the book boxing punch lines on Womack Holyfield.
Amazing video. I honestly had never heard of him.
Could you do a video on Marlon Starling the magic man ?
I have him scheduled in within the next two months or so, depends on the work schedule.
This will be a good one. Thanks Rich!
Sure thing, whitehurstcomic.
Rich, have you done a documentary on Oliver McCall? He was a rather odd figure in boxing who would seem interesting to profile.
Not yet...agreed he is going to be interesting but right now I'm more focusing on the 70s-80s fighters.
This is a sad story I mean it wasn’t like he didn’t have money. What compels him to rob a video store of all things when your gonna be lucky to get a couple hundred dollars and he could go to Emanuel Steward who probably would have handed him a couple of grand. I realize he had a tough upbringing but even with the loss in the trials to Holyfield he was still a name and within a couple of years would have been a top contender especially with his talent. Hard to figure out people and a sad ending I just hope he really found the Lord.
Wow....all that talent......he couldn't deal with it. He sabotaged his own career and life. I mean, who goes and robs stores for a few hundred dollars when they don't need to do it? Makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. What a shame. Top-notch video Rich...as always! Thanks.
Check out a boxer named James Scott he was an up and coming Light heavyweight fighting out of Miami Beach in the 70s. He was already fighting main event cards in the local scene and was about to make a jump to the national stage when he held up someone and maybe killed someone during the robbery. He ended up doing life and but was able to continue his career in prison and almost got a title fight but none of the champions wanted to fight him in prison.
Sure thing, Dale.
a seed was planted in his head as a child. a voice that told him he was no good and he never addressed it, sadly
If the Olympic trials fight highlights were supposed to show Holyfield beating Womack, they failed miserably.
I remember watching the 1984 Box-offs. First fight was about even but Holyfield got the better of rounds 2 and 3 in the second fight.
ANOTHER GREAT VIDEO RICH! 👍👍👍
HE DID HAVE AWESOME TALENT,TOO BAD WE DIDN'T GET TO SEE HIS FULL POTENTIAL.
...ARE YOU THE NARRATOR OF YOUR VIDEOS?
Thanks, Rigo. Yes, I do the narration.
@@RichtheFightHistorian
THAT IS AWESOME!!! YOU DEFINITELY HAVE THE VOICE AND STYLE FOR IT.
GREAT WORK!👌
@@rigofernandez830 Thanks very much, Rigo.
Another great video. ❤❤❤ Small question: Do you have videos on female fighters planned? Just curious.
Love the name.
@@granddaddyofthemall6320 Thanks. Lol
Not yet.
NO BROADS!!!!!😞😞😞
@@freddy8479 🤣🤣
Would you ever consider doing videos about famous boxers like Joe Louis?
Yes, I'll get to the more well known fighters in due course.
I love watching your videos they meet fail to amaze me my love for boxing grows more and more each day but I want to ask can you make a video on Ken Buchanan who recently passed away my coaches had the pleasure of meeting him he his and can you also make a video on a local legend benny lynch he was the first ever world champion out of Scotland
Thanks, Nm. It'll be awhile but I'll get to those fighters. Been a bit tardy in getting to some of the great fighters of the UK.
I recall his amateur days in the 80s, US amateur boxing was so much better back then. It's no wonder I don't remember anything from his pro career.
great episode, thx
Sure thing, Jean.
There’s a comment on here with the sentiment that one cannot change should one incur trauma at a young age, not true.
It is difficult but not impossible.
Head trauma is different, that’s damage to the car wheel, you can expect a bumpy ride. But what’s most common are poorly taught drivers of cars.
Hope the analogy isn’t lost on people.
Good luck and thanks for the doc
Não devemos julgar Ricky Womack, mais vendo sua triste história, nos faz lembrar do filme "On The Whaterfront" . Quando Marlon Brando diz:
_"Poderia ter sido um competidor, ter tido classe! Ao invés de um perdedor!
Felder looked like a dangerous guy for only your 2nd pro fight.
Excellent opening! Womack was awesome! RIP
It is too bad that he died.
I've never heard of him. Thanks for sharing this!
Sure thing, chemistryrussell.
This dude could fight!!!
Creed 3 was definitely based on a modified story of Womack.
RIP brother 🙏
Rest in Peace Rickey 🥊 🙏
I thought about Womack when I caught the trailer for the latest Creed movie
Thanks rich I appreciate your work letting us know about these sometimes forgotten fighter's. If you can albert super fly sandoval would be awesome story.
Thanks, I'll see about Superfly
Good call Rich, totally remember him from the early 80's!
Wow!! so sad
Great upload!
Thank you.
Childhood trauma and even prenatal trauma usually cause fast twitch muscle fibers and a certain rage that cant be taught.
Evader has always been a tough fighter 🥊🥊
rich delivering the goods as always.
Honestly as a fan of Boxing since the late 70s. I have never heard of him ( how ¿ )
I feel overcooked. Trying to get help at VA. Appointment not until the 24th of this month. Sad how long i have to wait.
Hang in there.
A tragic waste. Another informative video. I had never heard of Ricky Womack thanks for that Rich.
My pleasure, Lester
Thanks for the video, RICH THE FIGHT HISTORIAN
My pleasure, abudujana
man had an incredible physique
Yessir, buddy was decent
you can tell he had freakish strength. in another life this guy plays LB in the NFL
Just amazing ..rip
Damn Womack was a good fighter, good athlete even tho he was getting touched a lot.
Sad.
im gunna be honest. To me Womack wasn’t an extremely skilled boxer but god dxmn was he strong. he basically walked through everything that was thrown at him, and kept punching. thats a dangerous fighter
So sad.
He had them boys snoozing and sleepwalking 1:30 1:50
When a true pugilist shuts down an opponents offensive tactics, it's Game Over (cue the Pacman death music 😂)
That was powerful. In more ways than one.
Great video Rich, great video. It saddens me to hear how hard life has been for so many of these African-American boxers. If you're video feature is about a Latino fighter, there's a good chance the man is mature, resilient and ends his story pretty good. An Anglo-American fighter it's 50/50 that he is all of those things hold true...but, if he's an African-American, then the best that can be said is "talented" quickly followed by "tragic". There are of course exceptions but they prove the rule rather than disprove it (huge shout out to Billy Costello's story for being the best of the exceptions). From the outside I can clearly see something is wrong here.
That said, great videos as always sir. They are ll good stories and you tell them very, very well. Thank you.
Thanks, Get Smart. Costello was an ethnic mix, Italian/Indian...I don't remember if I mentioned that in the piece on him.
Would like to see your take on Troy Dorsey
Fighter these days don't encounter opposition like Hollyfield here, this early .. That's what made him, kept him sharp .. Today they met a serious opponent on the night of the belt fight, or not even than at times..
Holyfield