Boxers Prime years

[Momus]

Even if you establish an average age it is meaningless. Fighters develop and decline at different stages, and unlike most sports a single bad day at the office can ruin a career.

Concussions, tough fights and weight fluctuations will probably have more of an impact than age on its own.

[lefe]

Originally Posted by Skittlez

Assuming you never retired and allowed your body to heal up. If you fight non stop at the highest level (title fights), by age 37-38 you are pretty much pass it.

Wladimir in another 2 years will actually be on a steep decline and should seriously consider retiring after 2013 to avoid another Brewster/Sanders/Purrity which will hurt his legacy.

There are some exceptions like Sergio and Hopkins. But generally speaking and especially for heavyweights 37-38, you are done.

You are some expert too tell us that Wladimir in another 2 years will actually be on a steep decline and heavyweights at 37-38 are done.So Wladimir would be done in six months when he turns 37 and he must retire.

[lefe]

Originally Posted by Momus

Even if you establish an average age it is meaningless. Fighters develop and decline at different stages, and unlike most sports a single bad day at the office can ruin a career.

Concussions, tough fights and weight fluctuations will probably have more of an impact than age on its own.

Great comment.

[bballchump11]

Originally Posted by irishny

I find whenever your idol gets beaten hes suddenly "past prime"

Morales fans swear high up and low down that Morales was "shot at 28, thereby trying to discredit Pacquiaos victories

Tyson fans will tell you he was already starting to fade before he went to prison in his mid 20s, thereby discrediting Holyfields victories over him.

oh how did I know this was going to be brought up

[KidDynamite]

Tyson's true prime was from 85-89 and he peaked from 87-88. His athletic prime continued until he went to prison and after that he was still dangerous but clearly on the downside.

Detractors will say he was in his prime when he fought Holyroid despite being inactive for 4 years. Regardless of the fact that Holyroid cheated and should've been banned for life from boxing for PED's and using his head as much as his fists.

So from 18 to about 22 or 23 Tyson was in his prime.

Most boxers seem to be in their primes from their mid 20s until their early 30s.

[bballchump11]

anybody who knows anything about boxing or has seen Tyson actually fight, they'd know he wasn't the same physically after he got out of prison. Mentally he wasn't the same after Rooney left

[Skittlez]

Originally Posted by lefe

You are some expert too tell us that Wladimir in another 2 years will actually be on a steep decline and heavyweights at 37-38 are done.So Wladimir would be done in six months when he turns 37 and he must retire.

If it makes you sleep better at night, I can lie and say Wlad will fight on until he's 50.Actually he can in this era because it is full of retards.

We all love Wlad and we all know he is GOAT let's not cross into the lines of delusion and think for a moment Wlad at age 37-38 could survive against guys like Prime Bowe orYoung Lewis. Luckily FOR US klittards they don't exist in this era so our idol can go on forever

[ripcity]

It depends on the person.

[turbotime]

Impossible to determine. Lighter weight guys peak and drop off quickly. Heavier fighters are much more durable. Just how it is.

[Hands of Iron]

Originally Posted by irishny

Tyson was physically in his prime right up to his early 30s.

People just like to pretend hes some sort of genetic abnormality who reaches his prime at 22 and falls away because he started getting beaten.

If he fought Holyfield in 1989, the same thing would have happened.

Just becase he was knocking an Pinkon Thomas etc silly, doesnt mean he'd do it to someone like Holyfield.

Even before he went top prison he had problems with Razor Ruddock who Lewis destroyed.

Tyson simply wasnt the unstoppable machine that some like to believe. He didnt helpo himself by not training as hard as he could and partying, but physically he was just as good at 30 as 22.

Against Holyfield, he was the same weight and just as cut as he ever was in his early years.

To be totally honest, Tyson didn't have his fighting guts anymore when he got out of prison and I give Holyfield full credit just for the fact that he was such an underdog going into it. I'd even go so far as to say Tyson was afraid of the guy and how he was going to be humiliated going into the second fight. It was all over his face.

That said, 89-91 is a completely different fight. Tyson of the Ruddock fights was much faster in terms of his hand and foot speed, still threw thunderous counters off jabs, still went to the body consistently, had greater stamina and was very, very angry (particularly after Douglas). Holyfield was barely above 205 lbs at that point, was more prone to trading in the center of the ring, wasn't as physically strong and rock solid and hadn't gained the experience he put to use in '96 to fight the way he did in order to beat a lackadaisical Tyson. I can guarantee one thing: When Holyfield butts '91 Tyson, Mike isnt going to be looking at the referee for help. Holy had some damn quick mitts himself and was adept at fighting on the inside, but it's honestly a fight I see Tyson battering him for the better part of 12 rounds. He signed to fight him for HALF the money Holyfield was due to get. He wanted it bad.

[Skittlez]

Originally Posted by Hands of Iron

To be totally honest, Tyson didn't have his fighting guts anymore when he got out of prison and I give Holyfield full credit just for the fact that he was such an underdog going into it. I'd even go so far as to say Tyson was afraid of the guy and how he was going to be humiliated going into the second fight. It was all over his face.

That said, 89-91 is a completely different fight. Tyson of the Ruddock fights was much faster in terms of his hand and foot speed, still threw thunderous counters off jabs, still went to the body consistently, had greater stamina and was very, very angry (particularly after Douglas). Holyfield was barely above 205 lbs at that point, was more prone to trading in the center of the ring, wasn't as physically strong and rock solid and hadn't gained the experience he put to use in '96 to fight the way he did in order to beat a lackadaisical Tyson. I can guarantee one thing: When Holyfield butts '91 Tyson, Mike isnt going to be looking at the referee for help. Holy had some damn quick mitts himself and was adept at fighting on the inside, but it's honestly a fight I see Tyson battering him for the better part of 12 rounds.

Great post. It's sad because the 90's HW could have been their own 'fab four'. Maybe even surpass the 70's. If Tyson didn't go to jail and maintain say his Ruddock levels of skills and intensity. If Bowe kept in shape and didn't duck. If Lewis matured a BIT earilier.
Imagine if they all fought each other multiple times. Lewis Tyson Holyfield Bowe. That's a fab four right there. Not one of them would have had a career pass 1999 though. Probably all be shot by 97ish

[santiagoraga]

Originally Posted by bobotnaman

when is a boxer considered prime?
not too young and inexperience.
not too old and not physically hindered.

The 'experts' around here will claim otherwise, but no one really knows. Sure, there are obvious cases. But mostly it's just something people use to disparage fighters. It's a simple tactic which requires minimal evidence.

[Hands of Iron]

Originally Posted by Skittlez

Great post. It's sad because the 90's HW could have been their own 'fab four'. Maybe even surpass the 70's. If Tyson didn't go to jail and maintain say his Ruddock levels of skills and intensity. If Bowe kept in shape and didn't duck. If Lewis matured a BIT earilier.
Imagine if they all fought each other multiple times. Lewis Tyson Holyfield Bowe. That's a fab four right there. Not one of them would have had a career pass 1999 though. Probably all be shot by 97ish

I think those four, in terms of physical attributes, skill and ability surpass the 1970s and without much problem. Too bad it didn't pan out. Tyson would've won his title back in the fall of 1991, but it would've been brief in all likelihood. His legacy would be exponentially better than reality though. Maybe has enough to defend against Bowe before dropping the rematch or losing to '93 Lewis if the former wasn't warranted.

[J Griz 757]

Originally Posted by irishny

I find whenever your idol gets beaten hes suddenly "past prime"

Morales fans swear high up and low down that Morales was "shot at 28, thereby trying to discredit Pacquiaos victories

Tyson fans will tell you he was already starting to fade before he went to prison in his mid 20s, thereby discrediting Holyfields victories over him.

That happens allllllll the time here.

[Bogotazo]

Generally, 28-33 IMO.