Boxers who improved their stamina as they aged?

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by MixedMartialLaw, Aug 31, 2026 at 4:31 PM.


  1. MixedMartialLaw

    MixedMartialLaw Combat sports enthusiast Full Member

    2,353
    3,752
    Jun 30, 2021
    It was somewhat disturbing seeing the 21 year old Itauma wheeled out on a stretcher due to exhaustion, especially at an age when you'd think a trained athlete would have some of their best cardio.

    Have there been any notable boxers who started their careers with shaky cardio and then turned themselves into ironmen, or close to it?
     
    MixedMartialLaw, Aug 31, 2026 at 4:31 PM
    MixedMartialLaw, Aug 31, 2026 at 4:31 PM
    #1
  2. Flo_Raiden

    Flo_Raiden Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    22,190
    35,694
    Oct 12, 2010
    George Foreman is the first guy to come to mind.
     
    Flo_Raiden, Aug 31, 2026 at 4:32 PM
    Flo_Raiden, Aug 31, 2026 at 4:32 PM
    #2
    catchwtboxing likes this.
  3. MixedMartialLaw

    MixedMartialLaw Combat sports enthusiast Full Member

    2,353
    3,752
    Jun 30, 2021
    I thought of Foreman as well, but his career is such an outlier. Taking a 10 year leave from the sport and returning again near 40.

    It's hard to see him as a template for others due to that.
     
    MixedMartialLaw, Aug 31, 2026 at 4:34 PM
    MixedMartialLaw, Aug 31, 2026 at 4:34 PM
    #3
    MarkusFlorez99 likes this.
  4. MidniteProwler

    MidniteProwler Fab 4. Mayor of Aussie Boxing Full Member

    30,192
    34,328
    Sep 19, 2012
    Anthony Mundine I remember he faded down the stretch in his first 12 rounder with Sam Soliman then in the Ottke fight he was severely gassed in that 10th round before he was KO'd. He then went on to be in a lot of tough 12 round fights where he did very well.
     
    MidniteProwler, Aug 31, 2026 at 4:34 PM
    MidniteProwler, Aug 31, 2026 at 4:34 PM
    #4
    Sandman_ likes this.
  5. Sandman_

    Sandman_ The Phoenix flew & the Big Fish knew Full Member

    5,557
    7,581
    Feb 20, 2009
    Just about every decent fighter I can think of. Jai Opetaia won the first six rounds easy against Marius Briedis but struggled with the next six because his fighting background was against Australian domestic opposition. He needed to go 12 with a world class operator to improve his stamina. Daniel Dubois couldn't handle the pace Joe Joyce set in their fight. He had to fight outside his comfort zone to stay on even terms with him & couldn't sustain the pace for 12. That fight showed him that he needed to improve in that area. Itauma had never been past 6 & people are scratching their heads wondering why he gassed out? Please. I'm still waiting for Slow Eddie Hearn to get Teremoana a decent 6-rounder. This is a guy who ran out of juice halfway through the final round against Jalolov at the Olympics. Jalolov himself ran out of juice against Joe Joyce the first time he went to an Olympics & went home with nothing. The big Uzbek kid behind Jalolov ran out of petrol embarrassingly at the World Boxing Championships against the Kazakh in the final. Should have been DQ'd for a ridiculous amount of holding b/c he was too exhausted to keep throwing punches. Like Itauma, he'll improve. They all will if they're matched intelligently.
     
    Sandman_, Aug 31, 2026 at 4:51 PM
    Sandman_, Aug 31, 2026 at 4:51 PM
    #5
  6. Babality

    Babality KTFO!!!!!!! Full Member

    30,325
    16,454
    Dec 6, 2008
    Canelo.
     
    Babality, Aug 31, 2026 at 5:23 PM
    Babality, Aug 31, 2026 at 5:23 PM
    #6
  7. Aydamn

    Aydamn Dillian Da Dissappointment Full Member

    10,435
    7,830
    Jul 31, 2018
    Dillian Whyte
     
    Aydamn, Aug 31, 2026 at 5:42 PM
    Aydamn, Aug 31, 2026 at 5:42 PM
    #7
  8. NoChin

    NoChin Sir Filip Hrgovic - Building his statue in Croatia Full Member

    10,611
    8,725
    Aug 1, 2023
    Sir Lucas Browne.
     
    NoChin, Aug 31, 2026 at 9:58 PM
    NoChin, Aug 31, 2026 at 9:58 PM
    #8