8 Muhammad Ali Opponents Who Suffered Tragic Fates

4. Rudie Lubbers

Rudie Lubbers was a 2-time Olympian who hailed from the Netherlands. His biggest accomplishment as a professional was winning the Dutch heavyweight title in 1971.

Lubbers had a 21-1 record prior to his bout with Ali, though he hadn’t exactly faced the stiffest competition. As a result, Muhammad Ali entered the bout as a 4 to 1 betting favorite. Lubbers was able to go the distance, but the match ended up being a one sided decision victory for Ali.

The Dutchman would go on to lose 6 of his next 13 bouts, before calling it quits in 1981.

Following his retirement, Lubbers severed nearly 4 years in prison for smuggling drugs in Portugal. After he had served his time, the former Dutch champ worked as a carny.

By 2009 Rudie Lubber had gone from fighting the most famous boxer in the world to being bankrupt and living in a shoddy caravan with 20 dogs.

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From 1999-2003 Jacques performed on the Florida independent pro wrestling circuit. He also has an amateur wrestling background and currently holds a certification in Krav Maga. Jacques graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2003, with a bachelor's degree in Political Science. He currently resides in Chicago, Illinois. Follow him on twitter @goodeals79.