Saturday, February 26, 2011

Iran Barkley beat Tommy Hearns twice, now he's homeless

No one is guaranteed the high life forever. Iran Barkley knows that as well as anyone. A former champ in three divisions, Barkley, is now homeless. The same guy who handed Thomas Hearns (61-5, 48 KOs) his third and fourth losses, has five pennies to his name.

The N.Y. Post caught up with Barkley at a Bronx motel.

Barkley, 50, steps into the dim hotel lobby wearing his hopelessness. He's dressed in faded, baggy jeans and a fraying sweater. A wool hat covers his head. Gray stubble covers his unshaven face.

Over breakfast of eggs and grits, he caustically relates that a niece tossed him out of their three-bedroom apartment in the Patterson Houses project on Third Avenue and 142nd Street in The Bronx, where his mother, Georgia, raised him.

Unable to contribute to the household for months, Barkley came home last week to find his niece had changed the locks.

Barkley earned $5 million during his 63-fight career but like so many other athletes, he mismanaged his money. He spent extravagantly and lavished gifts on others.

With success came for tune. Barkley's $5 million in career earnings afforded all the finer things in life: a custom Mercedes, shiny jewelry and fur coats. He rented a pad in Hackensack and put money down on a house for himself and his family in Nyack.

"I had $40,000 cash in the closet," he recalled. "I used to keep money in the house. That's the way I am. I hate to go to banks and get money."

Barkley also blames promoters and the politics of boxing.

In the 1989 Ring Magazine Fight of the Year, he lost a split decision against megastar Roberto Duran. Barkley says his next fight only earned him $6,000 while Duran made $10 million to fight "Sugar" Ray Leonard. "The Blade" also never got a shot at Leonard, the biggest star of the era, who he says ducked him. 

Barkley still has a circle of friends that helps him out and feels like he's going to bounce back.

"Yeah, I'm homeless," the champ said, "but I mean it ain't gonna keep me down."

The fight game can be a cruel business. There is no retirement plan and promoters can't support all their former stars. Hopefully, Barkley can get back on his feet without doing something tragic, like getting back in the ring.

Lauren Conrad Arielle Kebbel Jessica Paré Leelee Sobieski Teri Hatcher

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