By Dave Sholler
Muhammad Ali once said, “Old age is just a record of one's whole life.” If the man formerly known as Cassius Clay is correct, it is conceivable that several veteran boxers still have some in-ring glory days left. However, just like Ali wore down late in his career, at what price will today’s senior boxers pay for brilliance? Can a savvy vet like Glen Johnson muster the inner strength to get off the canvas if young stud Chad Dawson plants him there? Likewise, does old Oleg Maskaev have the courage to stand in the pocket and trade blows with the nightmarish Sam Peter?
To answer these questions, one must fully understand the wars that a veteran boxer has waged. The amount of physical wear and tear teamed with the overall depreciation in skills truly defines how much gas is left in a fighter’s tank. With that said, let’s take a look at some of the members of boxing’s senior circuit. As we review their attributes, keep in mind that many are only a win away from championship ecstasy. And ask yourself whether or not these combatants should see the fuel gauge as full, empty, or downright broken.
GAS TANK HALF FULL
Glen Johnson, Age 39 (47-11-2)
While his body may look weary at times, Johnson continually finds ways to land bombs and frustrate opponents. After bowling through Hugo Pineda on January 5, Johnson has knockout victories in his last three outings and appears to be gaining steam. With an April 12 bout scheduled against WBC champ Chad Dawson, the gentle warrior is in the driver’s seat. Whether or not he can hang with the much younger Dawson remains to be seen. Still, folks like Roy Jones Jr. can attest to Johnson’s ability to change a fight with one punch.
Vernon Forrest, Soon to be Age 37 (40-2)
After rebounding from a potentially career-ending shoulder injury, Forrest has looked solid in his last two outings. Now toting the WBC Super Welterweight crown, Forrest is ready for a big-named opponent. Whether it’s Oscar De La Hoya or Ricardo Mayorga, Forrest is willing to prove that he’s got some tread left on his tires. However, even though he is hungry for a mega bout, no one seems to be overly eager to sign on to fight “The Viper.” As Father Time creeps up on him, Forrest must do all he can to land at least one super fight this year.
Oscar De La Hoya, Age 34 (38-5)
Let’s make one thing abundantly clear: the financial gas tank is always full for “The Golden Boy.” On the other hand, the in-ring dominance once sustained by Oscar appears to be at an interesting crossroads. Much like his 1999 bout against Felix Trinidad, Oscar was winning early rounds in May 2007 against Floyd Mayweather Jr. until he stopped throwing punches. Once the jabbing stopped, so did the point scoring. Therefore, whether he chooses Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton, or his next-door neighbor as his May 2008 opponent, Oscar must commit to combination punching set up by a jab. If he fails to do so, Oscar’s in-ring prowess could be challenged.
GAS TANK HALF EMPTY
Antonio Tarver, Age 39 (26-4)
It’s bad enough that he’s wasting his time fighting foes like Danny Santiago and Elvir Muriqi, but Tarver isn’t even Showtime’s “Magic Man” anymore. Given that his recent performances have left a lot to be desired, there’s no other way to measure the Floridian than by saying he appears to be running on fumes. After continually ducking Dawson, Tarver voiced his preference to fight fellow Florida resident (and super middleweight) Jeff Lacy. For both their sakes, here’s to hoping the fight actually gets stationed in the Sunshine State. Good luck filling seats anywhere else.
Oleg Maskaev, Age 39 (34-5)
While at times Maskaev has looked promising, for the most part fans are still waiting for “The Big O.” Play on words aside, Maskaev clings to his version of the heavyweight crown, with “cling” being the key word. Sam Peter, while inconsistent, should press the action enough on February 8 for the public to see how the aging Maskaev responds. Still, expect this fight to feature two fighters who run out of gas quickly. With that being said, if Maskaev manages to be in better shape in February, he could feasibly hold onto his crown against the unpredictable “Nigerian Nightmare.”
Joel Casamayor, Age 36 (35-3-1)
After hitting the deck in round one of his November fight against Jose Armando Santa Cruz, many wondered if the clock had finally caught up with Casamayor. The answer remains unfulfilled. A difficult southpaw, Casamayor may have the skills and wherewithal to remain a factor in the lightweight division, but he must prove it. Surrounded by the likes of David Diaz, Juan Diaz, and prospects like Anthony Peterson, Casamayor will get retired if he comes to the ring anything less than prepared or motivated.
GAS TANK ON EMPTY
Evander Holyfield, Age 45 (42-9-2)
Oh, Evander. Running on empty for much of the past five years, Holyfield must be some sort of Hybrid boxing vehicle. Even though his gas warning light has been on for years, Evander somehow gets a small electric charge that allows him to fight. Although Holyfield’s motive to retire as a world champion is admirable, promoters, managers, sanctioning bodies and athletic commissions alike should refuse to let him fight. He may be good at sweet talking boxing officials into permitting a fight, but someone needs to shut down “The Real Deal.”
Jose Luis Castillo, Age 34 (56-8-1)
Probably the most debatable member of this class, Castillo no longer appears able to fight at a championship level. Sure he scored a knockout victory over the forgettable Adan Casillas in his last bout, but the wars Castillo had with the late Diego Corrales severely accelerated his aging in the sport. A fan favorite for his grittiness, Castillo must be lumped in the same category as Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales. It was a memorable, arguably Hall of Fame worthy ride, but in the end, enough is enough.
GAS GAUGE BROKEN
Roy Jones Jr., Soon to be Age 39 (51-4)
Heading into a twilight bout with Felix Trinidad, it is hard to gauge what exactly Jones Jr. has left. After his bouts with Tarver and Johnson, Jones toyed around with lesser opponents to see how much game he truly had remaining. As he prepares for Trinidad, one must wonder if he is all bark, no bite. While he insists he wants to recapture a meaningful belt, time will tell if he’s Superman or Super Bad. A decisive victory over Trinidad would aide his title aspirations, but he will have some stiff competition if he wants to recapture a major world title.
Bernard Hopkins, Soon to be Age 43 (48-4-1)
Unlike Jones Jr., Hopkins’ gas gauge is broken for all the right reasons. Despite claims that his age would prove to be the biggest obstacle; Hopkins has sought out to show otherwise. Convincing wins over Tarver and Winky Wright demonstrated that age is but a number, leaving the Philadelphia native poised to add 168-pound king Joe Calzaghe to his hit list. While the outcome of a fight with Calzaghe will be tough to predict, no one can argue that Bernard will play the role of executioner in determining when his own career is over.
Juan Manuel Marquez, Age 34 (48-3-1)
While he isn’t the elder statesman that some of the others on this list are, Marquez has had his share of grueling bouts. However, while some fighters lose steam into their thirties, Marquez seems to have developed a nice pace. A March rematch with Manny Pacquiao could be history in the making and set up other profitable fights. Unlike Barrera and Morales, Marquez has also done a better job aging in weight classes that feature true bangers. Therefore, it would appear tough to judge just how long Marquez can be a viable force. One thing is for sure: he’s aging gracefully.
Got someone to add to the list? Email Dave Sholler, a Boxing Analyst for ESPN Radio affiliates across the country, at shollerholla4@hotmail.com. His column runs weekly on BoxingScene.com.
