For some, the answer is a bricks-and-mortar solution.
Jimmy Revie, a former British champion, now lives with dementia. The 78-year-old from London is cared for by his wife, Louisa, who takes him to meetings of ex-boxers to keep the fading flame flickering.
“When he goes to the meetings he comes alive because he sees all the old fighters, and they all say ‘hello Jim’ and they’re all friendly,” she says.
Louisa is a vocal supporter of the Ringside Charity Trust, which is campaigning to open a 36-bed specialist care home for retired boxers – a facility similar to those provided by the Jockey Club for former riders. Currently, the charity runs a helpline that helps fighters in severe distress.
“They’d have their own nursing staff that know about boxing,” Louisa explains. “They would know everybody. They want to do a cinema in there so they could watch their old fights.
“So it would be a better atmosphere for them. And I think they would flourish in there.”
Stephen Smith, a boxer turned coach from a family of boxers – including former world champions Callum Smith and Liam Smith – says retired fighters become “vulnerable” and can feel “forgotten”.
“Your phone doesn’t go again once you retire,” he says.
“It’s sad but if there can be something in place to help look after fighters after the sport it’s a massive, massive thing.”
The trust has high-profile backing; former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua wore their logo on his attire for his recent fight with Jake Paul. But, while the will is there, the way to fund it has proven difficult.
