Why can fighters fight at older ages today but not in the past?

Yeah in regards to boxing I think it's still pretty archaic as many trainers are still tied down to the old traditional methods. From what I have seen of Usyk and Loma they are using more modern methods, probably due to their extensive amateur background, given them exposure and access to modern facilities. This is probably true of most top amateurs from countries with well funded boxing programs.

Boxing simply isn't as professional as many other sports, it's become tied down to one way of doing things while other sports have modernised, which is why in part boxing has declined and other sports have surpassed it.

Though of course having access to modern methods and the most up to date facilities and methods doesn't always equate to success, as boxing is a skilled base sport where overall physical fitness and capacity isn't the single deciding factor on who wins.

 

I agree that's why I say I am quite as not as into it as Serge even though I still think it's important. I think regardless in most cases the pro record still has bigger weight on a fighter but the amateur stuff is certainly interesting.

 

I think where boxing can gain the most is by monitor fighters so they keep training at a sustainable and fairly consistent pace. Ward is one who probably could have a longer career this way.

 

It's not that they physically couldn't, but the commissions back in the day had strict age limits (usually 35-38 years old) on how old a pro boxing competitor could be, which is why a lot of fighters from the past simply lied about their age if they could.

The Commissions would make exceptions if you were already a champion, but they tended to be firm on their age limit rules for non champions and even former champions. Guys like Bob Fitzsimmons, Langford, Willard, Tommy Gibbons, Braddock, Harry Wills, Jersey Joe Walcott, Elmer Ray, Archie Moore, Sonny Liston, etc.... had to lie about their age to get fights later in their careers. When fighters were aged out they were often forced to fight in obscure place for less money, since the most prominent states with the best venues wouldn't sanction them.

Here is a piece from 1921 talking about New York establishing a 38 year-old rule for pro boxers that stayed in place until the 60's.

New York State Boxing Commission Makes Ruling Which Affects Willard and Johnson

With one stroke of its mighty pen the New York State boxing commission yesterday made it impossible for any fight between Jack Dempsey and Jess Willard to be held in Madison Square Garden next fall or winter, as has been proposed. The Commission gave the knockout blow to Willard simply by passing a rule fixing thirty-eight years as the age limit for boxers seeking licenses to fight in the state.

This will bar some one else of prominence, too - Jack Johnson, who has seen forty-three summers and inters roll over his woolly roof. Jack was born March 21, 1878.

Willard owned up to thirty-seven at the time he fought Jack Dempsey, July 4, 1919, at Toledo. He's more than thirty-nine now, and the New York state commission seem determined that if he comes out of retirement to battle Jack again it will have to be in some other state.

Some of the boxing authorities wished to place the limit at thirty-five years, but after some argument, thirty-eight was the age agreed on.
https://imgur.com/kZRzUMW

Here is a piece from 1949 when Joe Louis planned to make his comeback. Louis when he made his comeback had a lot of trouble getting cleared to fight in most states, since he was already 35. For example Massachusetts had promoters offering tons of money to host a Joe Louis - Ezzard Charles fight in 1950, but the state wouldn't budge on Joe Louis already being 35 years old, so Louis had to fight Charles in New York in 1950 for way less money.

Is Joe Louis Too Old To Fight?

The question of whether the retired heavyweight champion of the world, Joe Louis, is too old to come back for the crown is being considered by the Massachusetts boxing commission.

According to the ruling on the age limit in the eastern state, 35 is the line set for boxing is that age. Louis is scheduled to fight in a "Tune-up" against John Shkor November 14th in an attempt to come back for a championship match with Ezzard Charles.

The State law is intended to protect boxers from physical risks the commission spokesman said in the question of whether Louis is too old to try a comeback in the state.
https://imgur.com/XtomwM3

 

I'm wondering: Is this really the prevailing opinion on this forum... that boxers today generally try to avoid having a go, so they can get through fights as effortlessly as possible? Is this how the majority here actually see today's boxing? I'd like to see other posters weigh in on this!