Is Fernado Vargas the only boxer who was completely shot at age 28?

Can anyone in the know elaborate on Vargas?
What was the history with the back injury? I know some have speculated that the back was probably the reason for pushing him to big fights so early in his career, meaning the back problem was probably going to shorten his prime so he went for the paydays as soon as possible.
I remember reading somewhere that his weight issues were the result of a problem with his thyroid, anyone know anymore details? Was it something he was born with? Was it caused\worsened by abusing drugs like cocaine? He pretty much always looked a little soft around the middle.
I've watched his fight with Mayorga and it's pretty hard to believe he was only 30 years old, he looked so stiff, slow and bloated... He's STILL only 37!

 

He was a looooottt better vs. Ruddock than he was against holyfield.

his punch resistance was badly diminished for one thing. I'm pretty sure that his training for holyfield I was sub-par which didn't help.

 

I think by all accounts Nando got very fat between fights, partied very hard and when you combine that with some brutal KO losses you get a short career.

 

From Bleacher report 2009 article:
"First, he is no longer in his prime. Vargas has grown old and so are his skills, or what has left of it. His last fight, which ended in a loss to Mayorga, showed how Vargas declined in the later part of his career.

His injuries will punish him severely if he decides to go on with his decision to lace those gloves once more. On December 12, 2003, Vargas fought and dispatched an unknown Tony Marshall in seven rounds, but also injured a disc in his back.

Against doctor’s recommendation, Vargas went on to self rehabilitate his disc rather than have a surgery. As a result, Vargas was inactive for nearly two years.

 

Vargas being shot was from the illegal hand wrap cast beating chito Trinidad put on him.

 

David Reid, could of been a long time champion of not for his detached retina...

 

Erik Morales was pretty much shot (a shell of himself) after the 3rd Barrera fight. 28 years old.

 

Vargas used steroids for the De La Hoya fight, after that he started having back problems. Sometimes when people come off the steroids they have injury problems, and he was one. He was never the same after the back and became very medicore.

 

Tyson even though he was 29 post prison he was still good but he was a shell of what he once was.

he was a much better fighter at 20-21

Im talking way better

 

Trinidad cheating again

 

He wasnt shot after the third fight.. he just wasnt motivated and felt he beat Mab twice already and was ****ed he lost the second fight, and was forced into a trilogy against barerra...you guys come up with the darndest things

 

He was shot after the Paccquiao fight. Ever since that fight he looked different. His stamina and chin really started to go.

He could no longer make the 130 after the first Pacquiao fight without being drained.

And when he could no longer make 130 he was in trouble and couldn't use his size and height advantage.

He was ALWAYS the tougher and more badass guy. When that was taken away from him he stopped being Erik Morales.

 

He was never the same after Trinidad's fight.

 

Barrera was 30 when he beat Morales in the 3rd fight. He was 33 in the Marquez fight when he lost. He certainly had declined, but he was no shot fighter when he lost to Marquez.

That was a good, skillful, competitive fight. Don't know what the judges were watching when they had it 10-2.