Why was Mike Spinks considered "washed-up" at 32 but Wilder at 33 is in his prime?

Both undefeated and both 212 lbs heavyweights but Spinks was supposedly a has-been when he faced Mike Tyson in '88 but Wilder at a year older and with more fights is still in his prime?Boxing age and chronological age are not always synonymous. Different genetics, different lifestyles, different ages when fighters enter the sport, competition levels, punishment taken, etc.

Boxers age better than punchers. Which is why the original post is the wrong way around. Wilder isn't physically in his prime. Physically, he's well past it. He's relying on speed and power - and both are regressing. The only reason he's a better fighter now than when he was 28 is because he had no real experience at 28. Fk, he had no experience at 31! He's a defeat away from total collapse in the division.

Didn't you see, Fury rose from the dead and forced Wilder to back up. He also hit and hurt him and forced him to hold to see out the rest of the round. If you listen carefully on the Showtime telecast, you can actually hear the undertakers theme playing while Fury rises. That's greatness. Even the face Wilder pulled was shocked at this mortal being getting up like it was nothing. It will go down in history. As will Fury getting the greatest come back victory after all he had been through. No one has done it like that before. The robbery will just be ignored. The way it should be. Of course he didn't see. As soon as Fury went down he had his **** in his hand with his eyes shut.

Spinks had a good amateur career, was an olympic gold medalist, became the undisputed light heavyweight champ, and became the lineal heavyweight champ by becoming the first person to defeat Larry Holmes who was trying to tie and beat Rocky Marciano's record of 49-0. Spinks' 2 fights against Holmes were close, and Holmes got stopped by Tyson in 4 rounds, Spinks ended up getting stopped in the 1st. There was nothing left for Spinks to do except cash checks against lesser opponents. He could never beat Tyson, so he just retired. Too many fighters today try to take "tune-up" fights to make easy money and build themselves back up to another big money fight where they get knocked out again. Khan is about to get knocked out again this Saturday, how much is a fighter's health worth? Michael Spinks' only blemish is against a prime Tyson. He left millions on the table, but he left at the right time. Precisely. Spinks is the most underrated boxer ever! Would easily defeat Ward or a Calzahghe or Hopkins. No question, no debate. No of those pretenders would beat a all time great like Larry Holmes.

Both undefeated and both 212 lbs heavyweights but Spinks was supposedly a has-been when he faced Mike Tyson in '88 but Wilder at a year older and with more fights is still in his prime? Spinks was undefeated in his prime when he fought tyson and was coming off a run at cw. He was considered the number 1 p4p fighter at the time. Only casuals and noobs and bandwagon boys like to discredit spinks to hate on tyson.

Milage >> Age Spinks had fought 32 pro fights compared to Wilders 41, Spinks fought 226 rounds Pro rounds compared to Wilders 135. Not to mention Spinks had WARS at 175 before even moving up to HW. Not to mention Spinks 100 Amateur fights compared to Wilders 30

Michael Spinks started boxing when he was a kid as an amateur. Long before he turned pro. Long careers(pro and amateur) take it's toll. Spinks had knee issues, hence the knee brace in the Tyson fight. Modern medicine has helped these days, which is why "40 is the new 30" but injuries add up over time. On a side note, I ran into Michael Spinks while he was light heavy champ. I was at McCrory-Stafford and Spinks got on the elevator with me. Quickly all these things ran through my head to say like The rumor of him moving all the way to heavy. I wanted to suggest he tested the waters at cruiserweight first and a bunch of other things. But the only thing that came out of my mouth was "Hey Michael" Later he went on the win the heavyweight title in a huge upset. Guess I was glad I was at a loss for words.

Fighters in the same age peak differently much less different eras. Spinks has a long amateur career, was a battle tested all-time great at 175 and his body was breaking down too. this. teh guy had a hall of fame career at 175 lbs and he'd been fighting at HW for a long time. out of the ring for a year to boot. and, you know... fighting the fastest starter of all time at the weight, and maybe the best puncher in his last fight. wilder will never be a complete product. he just never learned to box. fell in love with his power. he wasn't moved terribly. he had ample opportunity to grow and develop, but he didn't. he'll get his clocked cleaned by joshua, or get beat up and UD'd by fury again, and start to diminish. might get in a lucky punch again, but i doubt it.

Back in the 80s, a fighter was pretty much in a heavy decline by the age of 32-33. There are lots of factors why todays fighters generally have a higher age ceiling. from 15rds to 12 helped. Fighters today fight less and do I dare go into science? PEDs, legal and non legal testosterone boosters help

tyson fury got knocked dead against a skillless, past prime, lhw he outweighed by 50 lbs. tyson dury is a bum Didn't you see, Fury rose from the dead and forced Wilder to back up. He also hit and hurt him and forced him to hold to see out the rest of the round. If you listen carefully on the Showtime telecast, you can actually hear the undertakers theme playing while Fury rises. That's greatness. Even the face Wilder pulled was shocked at this mortal being getting up like it was nothing. It will go down in history. As will Fury getting the greatest come back victory after all he had been through. No one has done it like that before. The robbery will just be ignored. The way it should be.

Wilder is 212 extremely lean hard muscular pounds while Spinks was a fat 212 pound light heavyweight. Tyson knocked Spinks into retirement and I don't think he ever fought again after that. Wilder is probably past prime now but he has never lost unless you consider the Fury fight a loss.

It has to do with the age you began boxing pro and the wars you are in. Wilder started boxing late than fights 38 bums a old 40 year old before he got exposed by Fury. Just like Mike Tyson was washed before 25 . Pipino Cueavas was World Champ at 18 than at 23 is knocked out by Hearns at 24 he was washed up .

Spinks had a good amateur career, was an olympic gold medalist, became the undisputed light heavyweight champ, and became the lineal heavyweight champ by becoming the first person to defeat Larry Holmes who was trying to tie and beat Rocky Marciano's record of 49-0. Spinks' 2 fights against Holmes were close, and Holmes got stopped by Tyson in 4 rounds, Spinks ended up getting stopped in the 1st. There was nothing left for Spinks to do except cash checks against lesser opponents. He could never beat Tyson, so he just retired. Too many fighters today try to take "tune-up" fights to make easy money and build themselves back up to another big money fight where they get knocked out again. Khan is about to get knocked out again this Saturday, how much is a fighter's health worth? Michael Spinks' only blemish is against a prime Tyson. He left millions on the table, but he left at the right time.

spinks looked like he had been drinking whiskey when he fought tyson,,its all about how you care for your body probably was, he needed the courage.

spinks looked like he had been drinking whiskey when he fought tyson,,its all about how you care for your body

He wasn't washed athletically just mentally. Broner is young but washed up mentally.

Spinks wasn't washed up, he he'd done about all he was going to do. He was never going to beat Tyson and the reward for fighting anyone else at the time wasn't worth it. Wilder is relatively fresh still, with more money, potentially, ahead of him than behind

tyson fury got knocked dead against a skillless, past prime, lhw he outweighed by 50 lbs. tyson dury is a bum

Not everyone is the same. take Amir Khan's for example, his prime years for performance were around 2010-2011, when he was 24-25. He peaked then, where as a lot of fighters haven't hit their peak by that age. Sergio Martinez seem to hit his peak around his mid 30's, where as a lot of Middleweights are done by then. Wilder hasn't had many tough fights and hasn't had years and years of amateur experience from being a kid. He's pretty fresh for a 33 year old.

Fighters in the same age peak differently much less different eras. Spinks has a long amateur career, was a battle tested all-time great at 175 and his body was breaking down too.