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Wrestling legend thought to be victim, in danger

Posted: Sep 19th 2014 By: www.examiner.com

For decades Douglas ?Ox? Baker was one of the most terrifying figures in professional wrestling. Big, intimidating, fearsome and said to have killed at least two men in the ring with his dreaded and deadly ?hurt punch.? For many Baker epitomized everything that was real about the fairy tale that is pro wrestling. Baker was to be feared, he wanted the fans to hate him even though he, in some form or fashion, loved each and every one of those fans.

Baker had a long career in the ring, known largely for the ?hurt punch? and its deadly reputation, causing a riot in Cleveland, OH in 1974 and for his appearance in the cult classic movie ?Escape from New York.?

Ox Baker recently turned 80 years old and is in failing health, his last appearance at the Mid-Atlantic Legends FanFest in Charlotte, NC, finding him wheelchair bound and looking forlorn, his years on earth and his time in the ring showing on his infamous face.

For the better part of the last year Baker has been in and out of the hospital fighting any number of ailments including fluid build-up around his heart and lungs, battling pneumonia and infection. The hospital bills mount, the pressure of maintaining a household on a limited income, the skyrocketing cost of the numerous medications adding to the stress and anxiety. Baker would take any booking he could muster and bring himself to in order to keep everything going, to pay the bills, even if it meant leaving the hospital, doing the show and then returning to the hospital for an even lengthier stay as soon as he would return home.

It is difficult to imagine Ox Baker as anything other than the persona he has held for so many years that of a big, tough, someone you do not want to mess with guy. It is hard to think of Ox Baker as a frail, aged man dependent on so many for little things that we take for granted. It is even more harrowing to think that Ox Baker has been abused by those who are supposed to be caring for him.

Earlier this year Baker was scheduled for yet another appearance for a Mid-West wrestling company and he had to cancel. The reason that was told to anyone who would listen was that he fell and suffered some broken ribs, some bruising and he ended up in the hospital not only with those injuries but also due to pneumonia. The real reason Baker had to cancel is one that a number of senior American?s who are being cared for by ?hired help? suffer from, he was abused.

The broken ribs and other injuries Baker suffered were not from a fall but rather Baker allegedly being beaten by the boyfriend of his housekeeper.

There have been allegations that not only the boyfriend has abused Baker but also the housekeeper even though Baker credits her with ?saving his life? a number of times and vehemently defends her.

?Some senior?s live in fear of those who care for them and they will say almost anything, even if untrue, to keep from being abused further,? a local psychologist who asked to remain anonymous offered. ?It?s much like Stockholm Syndrome.?

Stockholm Syndrome is best defined as ?capture bonding? or the irrational but very real phenomenon where a captor identifies with and empathizes with their captor. The abuse is considered an act of kindness.

Baker was hospitalized for what was in infection in his back as well as fluid build-up in his most recent medical crises.

?I called and was told Ox had an infection and it was caused by a medicine,? a close friend of Baker?s said. ?The guy I talked to kept talking about ?rat poison, rat poison, rat poison? like the medicine was to blame for Ox being poisoned,? he continued.

?I?m afraid that someone is trying to poison Ox and at the very least, there is something very bad happening in that house,? the friend stated.

According to sources close to the situation it is believed that social services were called to investigate but Baker refused any offer of help from them.

?Ox is scared of that woman (the housekeeper) and I won?t believe any different,? the friend stated. ?He thinks she is his savior but a lot of people think otherwise.?

The boyfriend, who is alleged to have beaten Baker, did spend time in jail recently for events involving Baker. It is thought the reason for the jail stay had to do with the embezzlement of funds, over $3,000 is reported to have been misappropriated. While the boyfriend is said to have been released it is unknown whether or not he has returned to the residence.

Ox Baker, one of the scariest men ever in professional wrestling is now in one of the scariest positions that any number of elderly people have to face, suffering from the hands of an abuser thinking it is the only way for them to stay alive.

Calls to Baker have gone unanswered and there is concern that his calls and the numbers coming in are being screened.