i always used to consider 36 as old...and you would seldom see a good world class fighter over that age at world level... i know that different weight class's have a different 'old' level...ie..heavyweights can do better old than flyweights... but taking say middleweight / light heavy as an example...what would you consider old...i am thinking about 36 year old calzaghe...43/44 yr old hopkins...39 yr old tarver...39 yr old jones.. seems a lot of old...or what i regarded as old...fighting in big fights... ??
Old can be anything from 30 in the case of Erik Morales.. through to 35-36. In most situations, you reach your physical and mental prime from around 28-32 and then the decline begins. Guys like Hopkins, Jones Jr, Calzaghe - they're all absolutely religious trainers, gym freaks who take care of their bodies who were able to lengthen their careers by doing so. Hopkins and Calzaghe get even a few more years due to their craft and experience. But, hell, for me, if you've had 40 fights and you're past your 35th birthday, you're on the wrong side of old.
I dont think that Morelas was old and or shot when he started losing fights. I think that it was a combo of fighting better fighters, and not being as hungry as he once was. Confidence play a huge role in boxing and once a fighter loses it they start to lose fight but it most of the time has nothing to do with age or being old
back 50 years ago..or so... you would see someone like jersey joe walcott or archie moore really standing out from the crowd as an old fighter at world class level...it was a very unusual thing....what do you think has changed with time with so many old guys at top level?
Sport sciences, understanding things about optimum stress with optimum recovery for endurance and strength training, supplements (not to mention steroids that RJJ took earlier in his life) and specialised gym equipment that exists now. We simply understand more about peak performance, which is why you have every single sport having it's records broken one by one.
It seems like there are more "old" fighters today than there was years previous. Like another poster said, guys like Walcott and Moore were rare back in the day. But really , the reason there are more older fighters today, is because there is less competition today than back in Walcott or Moores day. Back then there were eight weight classes, one champ per weight class. The odds of being a champ were much less, and even harder for someone past their prime. But Hopkins is hardly a comparison to Archie Moore. Check out Bernards last few fights and compare them to Archie Moore vrs. Yvonne Durelle. Going up against Durelle, Archie was about the same age as Hopkins is now. The Durelle fight was very fast paced , and Arch actually outlasted the younger guy. Bernard couldn't keep up with Moore, especially over 15 rounds.
I agree, also I think fighters of the past in general had harder and more competitive fights. Even those that did get get to championship level were defending against genuine top 10 contenders.
slightly left of topic...how long would you say a fighter should train for a fight to be in top physical condition....ie..a challenger for a world title should train himself to be in his best condition for the fight for how long ?
Any fighter at such a high level should be at 75% + year round so a last minute oportunity cannott be wasted, but for a major Eliminator or such an as important event should take a full time priority for 10 weeks, Road work is a given (it goes without say) and at lest 4 hour a day of varied Gym work 6 days a week.. I always like a fighter to have a rest day where he does something Boxing orientated , but not physically demanding .. ie: opponent studying or yoga, tai chi.. relaxating stretching etc... even swimming to loosen up, just less stressful.. Listen to your body.. It needs a repair timeframe now and again.. Training days consisting of good warm up , stretches, shadow boxing, Mitt work, Heavy bag, speed bag.. Sparring with variety of different styles, Variety is good, you never know exactly what to expect all of the time so I never take a typical steriotype sparring partner, I like to see a fighter against a multitude of styles.. It keeps the guy versatile.. Sparring a lot more in the last 2 weeks and ending sparring 3 days before, and do mitt workout counting down to fight day.. Training ends 2 days before.. Fight day , keep everything light, keep his mind occupied any off boxing, take a refreshing walk on golf course or somewhere quiet , allow his mind to be clear of any out of the ring troubles and later (nearer to the fight) he will find it easier to focus well... Eat well early and load on carbs day before.. Eat a good last meal 4 hour before fight and walk it off well.. Its all a good plan to gain optimum performance at right moment.. I been thru it too many times to remember.. Its a great recipe......
as a rule of thumb 28 is about optimum before a flyweight to bantam is getting past it 32 for a feather to welter 34 light middle to cruiser 36 heavy there are exceptions to this rough equation .
what a great answer...:thumbsup so...is old a higher number these days based on better nutrition and conditioning ??....is a boxer of 36 in say 1960 the physical equivilent to a boxer of 40 today ??