A few theories: 1) It's physical-- B-Hop started his pro career later, took the LEAST damage due to a defensive style, and had no serious injuries during his career. Other fighters are shot and FORCED to retire when they lose their physical gifts 2) Its mental Once a fighter stops beliving, its over. Vargas was better at 22 than he was at 27. Jeff Lacy, Tyson and others just declined as they lost and never recovered mentally. Any other theories on why some guys can continue and others can't?
3) Your wife tells you that you are starting to look ugly and should seek the aid of a plastic surgeon. Those who don't have a wife(or one that doesn't **** the gardener/pool guy), will continue. 4) When you need someone else to dress you. Those that can continue are those whose image it is to look silly. 5) When you realize that you make more money on commentating matches. Though it doesn't require the ability to make coherent sentences(some think it is better if you aren't able), it does require that you aren't too punchdrunk.
I think a lot of it is the amount of punishment your body can take. Each individual person has a limit and when that limit is reached its game over. That's why some fighters appear to 'age over night'. Age obviously has an effect (decreased speed, power, reflexes, stanima) but this is gradual over a long period of time and may not be so noticable from one fight to the next. But as your athleticism decreases due to age then you obviously take more and more damage in fights and sparring and you reach that limit of the punsihment you can take and then you are shot. Boxer's like Hopkins, Campbell and Tarver fought on so late in their lifes because they started fighting later in life. Obviously they aren't as athletic now as they were in there 20's but because they didn't take all that punishment so early in life they can fight on till later in life and are not shot at such a young age than say someone who turned pro at 20.
I can't stand when people say someone is shot or will never be the same again after their first KO loss. Look at Floyd Patterson - got KD'd a gazillion times in fights with Johansson and got KTFO twice against Liston and still fought on at top level for years afterwards - or what about Bat Nielson? He went life or death again and again only to fight even more ferociously the next time around.
I think plenty of it is mental, to be honest. Though once beyond a certain age (different for each fighter clearly) that has an impact.
I don't know if you include it in mental but I think motivation is of the greatest importance in the sport of boxing. Only motivated fghter can overcome psychological pressure and physical enforcements. Poor motivation - poor results. And the age is often indicator of motivation. For older fighters other things like family or whatever may have greater importance.
In order of importance, IMO: 1) Drive to continue and excel. 2) Genetic propensity for injury / inability to recover well. 3) Amount of physical damage taken. 4) Aging generally. 5) Abnormal factors. (i.e. putting on and losing a lot of weight, diuretic and steroid abuse, etc.)
i think its all mental with the right strategies and motivation some fighters could continue their boxing careers even with some physical limitations but i think they dont expect to win and they say things like "im gonna do my best"
