I don't think this was a case of all brawn and no brains. And I think it was more then simply not carrying enough water. I think this is a case of a person looking for a survival situation. He was looking for a challenge, and he was possibly depressed. He was a driven man who had lost a title fight and a come back fight. He also sounds from the article like someone too proud to ask for help. Its a sad story of a person who had many of the traits need to survive (unwilling to give up) but still lost the mental battle for survival.

"Pride only hurts it never helps." -Winston Marseilles, Pulp Fiction