I would have thought so too but according to the recently released 1940 US census he was only about 33 and 34 years old during the Ali fights. http://www.thesweetscience.com/news/articles-frontpage/15175-a-birthday-for-sonny-liston
For being a nearly 38 year old boxer, he didn't appear unusually old in the body or face. His slowed reflexes in the Marciano fight told a different story though.
I think that has as much to do with their style of fighting as anything else. You can add Marciano to that list as well. That type of style simply doesn't age well.
Thad spencer & jerry quarry. two sad storys, read there biographies. spencer, was ****ed before turning pro by that headcase eddie machen.
Absolutely! Undersized, relying on the combination the speed and power has a very short shelf life.I would also add that in activity is fatal to fighters of that genre.
No, not really. He was a scary monster who destroyed Floyd for the second time at age 33. In his day, that was getting old for a HW boxer, so I wouldn't say he aged prematurely.
Tyson looked older than his years, even when he won the title as a 20 year old. No wonder that his best years was so short. Prison couldn't have helped. When he came out, he was bigger, and more musclebound but his face had definitely aged a lot.
Ezzard Charles. By 1955 at age 33, he was completely washed up. By age 36 in 1958, he was losing to club fighters.
, Evidently he was only 33-34 when he was KOd by Ali in 1965, he was the oldest 33 year old boxer I've ever seen, that man did not age well at all..
Tommy Morrison, aged horribly but sickness and disease attacks the body so nothing you can do, RIP.. Leon Spinks, done at 26 Riddick Bowe Mike.Dokes Jerry Quarry I doubt too many would argue about Floyd Patterson being on the list...
:huh Patterson was fighting at a world class level until he retired two decades on from winning his world title. Another example of a fighter (and a fighter who in part relied on speed) defying the ravages of time.