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Famous Fighters Who Have Done Prison Time
- Austin Jones
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
Fighters Who Have Done Prison Time
In the high-stakes world of combat sports, fighters are no strangers to adversity. But for some, the battles haven’t just taken place in the ring or the cage — they’ve also faced them in courtrooms and prison cells. From wrongful convictions to shocking crimes, here’s a breakdown of some of the most famous fighters who have done prison time.
🥊 Boxing Legends Who Served Time
Mike Tyson
Iron Mike’s dominance in the ring was rivaled only by his turbulent life outside of it. In 1992, Tyson was convicted of raping 18-year-old Desiree Washington and sentenced to six years in prison. He served three before being released in 1995. The conviction shocked the sports world and marked a major turning point in Tyson’s career.
Floyd Mayweather Jr.
The undefeated champ was sentenced to 90 days in jail for a 2010 domestic violence incident involving the mother of his children, Josie Harris. Mayweather ultimately served two months in 2012. Despite the controversy, he returned to boxing and continued his reign as one of the sport’s highest-paid athletes.
Rubin “Hurricane” Carter
Carter’s story remains one of the most infamous cases of wrongful conviction in sports history. He was sentenced to life in prison for a 1966 triple murder he didn’t commit. After 19 years and multiple appeals, he was exonerated in 1985. His fight for justice became the subject of a Bob Dylan song and the movie The Hurricane starring Denzel Washington.
Clifford Etienne
Known for his explosive style in the ring — and later, for being knocked out by Tyson in 49 seconds — Etienne was sentenced to 105 years in prison without parole after a 2005 crime spree involving armed robbery, kidnapping, and attempted murder.
Chuck Wepner
The real-life inspiration behind Rocky, Wepner was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 1985 for cocaine possession. He served 17 months behind bars and another 20 months under intensive supervision. Wepner later turned his life around and remained a cult icon in boxing circles.
Adonis Stevenson
Before becoming a world champion, Stevenson was convicted of managing prostitutes and committing assaults in the late 1990s. He served 18 months of a four-year sentence and re-emerged as a top light heavyweight in the 2010s.
Dewey Bozella
Bozella spent 26 years in prison for a 1977 murder he didn’t commit. After being exonerated in 2009, he fulfilled a lifelong dream by winning a professional boxing match at age 52. His story is one of the most inspiring comeback tales in combat sports history.
Ricky Womack
Once a rising star, Womack was sentenced to 25 years for armed robbery. He served 15 years before his release in 2000. Tragically, Womack took his own life shortly afterward.
Reggie Gross
A once-promising heavyweight, Gross is currently serving three life sentences for contract killings committed in 1989. He remains incarcerated, with parole eligibility set for 2048.
🥋 MMA Fighters with Legal Trouble
Cain Velasquez
In 2022, the former UFC heavyweight champion was arrested for attempted murder after firing at a man accused of molesting his son. Though the intended target was unharmed, another man was injured. Velasquez was sentenced to five years in prison. After receiving credit for time already served, he is expected to complete less than two more years.
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War Machine (Jonathan Koppenhaver)
The former UFC and Bellator fighter was convicted on 29 felony charges, including rape, kidnapping, and attempted murder, after a brutal 2014 assault on his ex-girlfriend Christy Mack and her partner. He was sentenced to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 36 years. His fall from the sport is one of the darkest stories in MMA history.
Phil Baroni
Phil Baroni, known as "The New York Bad Ass," was a prominent figure in MMA, competing in organizations like the UFC, PRIDE, Strikeforce, and Bellator. In January 2023, Baroni was arrested in Mexico and charged with aggravated femicide after allegedly killing his girlfriend during an altercation in a hotel room in San Francisco, Nayarit. Authorities reported that the victim sustained at least 37 injuries, contradicting Baroni's claim that she had slipped and hit her head. If convicted, he faces a sentence ranging from 30 to 50 years in prison, according to the penal code for the Mexican State of Nayarit
Final Thoughts From FIGHT.TV - Fighters Who Have Done Prison Time
From redemption stories to tragic downfalls, these fighters serve as stark reminders that life outside the cage can be even more volatile than the wars fought inside it. Whether wrongfully imprisoned or justly convicted, their legacies are forever marked by the time they spent behind bars.
For more deep dives into combat sports history and headlines, keep it locked to FIGHT.TV — where the fight never stops.