Should there be a mandatory retirement age in boxing?

Case by case basis, obviously.

For instance, the fact that Dewey Bozella made his professional debut at 52 gladdens me.

The fact that Michael Katsidis at 35 is still going, however, or that he even fought past 32, saddens me.

 

Probably should be more stringent health checks beyond a certain point to determine whether someone should essentially be forced into retirement.

Furthermore, I think the creation of a good pension plan for professional boxing - similar to the one they have in tennis - would probably help things in that department.

 

There should be a mandatory retirement age. Hopkins is by far the exception that proves the rule, and it would be better to miss out on his late career if it meant preventing diminished fighters from taking beatings and sustaining brain damage. But sadly mandatory retirement and pension plans won't happen unless a single governing body runs boxing. Even the most wonderfully philanthropic of promoters would rather make money from a boxer in poor health taking beatings than offer him a pension. As it is, if older boxers continue after they've shown they can no longer compete at their former level they should be matched soft. If Roy Jones wants to tour the world fighting lesser fighters, great, but he has no business being in the ring with Glowacki or elite cruiserweights. Maybe making 40+ fights and a bit of a seniors circuit would be more feasible than enforcing mandatory retirement.

 

Obviously should be assessed by an independent doctor every 12 months once boxers turn 40. As someone pointed out though Katsidis should be forced to retire despite being younger than say Hopkins and Tarver.

 

i don't think it should be mandatory age limit but like someone said before should be vigorous tests at a certain age. A bit like when old people have 2 take driving tests, as some are really good at driving, while some need taken off the road.

 

This.

 

At what age should be made to retire?

 

I think the problem is more that corrupt commissions still think that guys slurring their speech and getting KO'd over and over are OK to be in a boxing ring still. We know commissions are corrupt. They let Martinez fight with no knees. They need a more stringent health check.

 

I think we're going to see a 50 something champ some day, maybe down to juice but I think it's possible.

 

No way.

 

Bernard, he say NO!

 

To tell someone who makes a living, pays his bills and supports his family off boxing. That he is too old to fight, even if he's fully capable to do so doesn't fit with me. It should be a base by base thing, and the truth is a younger fighter usually retires old pastime Fighters.

 

And this ^. The problem of pensions and post career support is a perennial and worrysome one, massively complicated by the fractured nature of the governing and sanctioning bodies and the selfishness of promoters (and management) aiming to make a maximum return on fighters with a limited and unpredictable shelf life. The idea of a fighters' union has been repeatedly mooted but also seems doomed to failure, partly complicated by the highly individualistic nature of the sport and the massive disparities in earning power of the combatants.

Ooops. Got carried away there! Yeah.... wot u said...