What Do You Think Of This?

[Sugarj]

Many things can affect a fighters longevity:

1) Dramatic weight loss/severe weight making: I've seen this destroy careers. De la Hoya/Ray Leonard/Roy Jones/Rid**** Bowe/Ricky Hatton come to mind.

2) Absorbing too much punishment: this can amount to two different things, firstly psychological, the fighters desire to win and compete is effectively knocked out of them. Secondly physical, the effect of serious punishment to the head and body can clearly affect an athlete's reactions/performance. Head punches can affect many areas of the brain's performance, reactions, concentration.......or worse. Body punches can damage the kidneys/liver etc.

3) Desire: Some boxers just get sick of the tough training and have no further desire to put their bodies through the training camps or the fights. It requires a tremendous level of dedication, mental and physical to remain in world class for several years.

[BennyST]

glen johnson isnt who he says he is.

I know. I figured it out too. He's actually Daisy De la Hoya *gasp* just with some paint on his/her face and body. Really spun me out when I found that out.

[turdleburgle]

I know. I figured it out too. He's actually Daisy De la Hoya *gasp* just with some paint on his/her face and body. Really spun me out when I found that out.

you trying to be funny? words of advice pal.Aussies aint funny

[Heru]

Many things can affect a fighters longevity:

1) Dramatic weight loss/severe weight making: I've seen this destroy careers. De la Hoya/Ray Leonard/Roy Jones/Rid**** Bowe/Ricky Hatton come to mind.

2) Absorbing too much punishment: this can amount to two different things, firstly psychological, the fighters desire to win and compete is effectively knocked out of them. Secondly physical, the effect of serious punishment to the head and body can clearly affect an athlete's reactions/performance. Head punches can affect many areas of the brain's performance, reactions, concentration.......or worse. Body punches can damage the kidneys/liver etc.

3) Desire: Some boxers just get sick of the tough training and have no further desire to put their bodies through the training camps or the fights. It requires a tremendous level of dedication, mental and physical to remain in world class for several years.

You forgot Erik Morales (shot before 30) and Cory Spinks (got even more confirmation that he'd blow up to 200+ in between fights).

I know 1 and 3 almost go hand in hand.

Cotto is a good example of #2.

I know from personal 3rd person experience that a lot of fighters are walking around at 30 pounds above weight regularly, this to me is the main reason why fighters primes are getting shorter and shorter.

Fighters should be alerted to it and mandated to stay at least 20 pounds within weight by their manager, promoter, trainer, and/or adviser.

you trying to be funny? words of advice pal.Aussies aint funny

Your comment was trollish, so you got an appropriate response.

[Steak]

I think you came close to hitting the mark...the problem is not the fighters gaining huge amounts of weight, its losing all that weight in a short and dangerous amount of time.

When you have very strict weight management, your body has little to no water weight, which is far worse than simply not eating food. And yet at the same time, boxers have to train during this dehydrated state, and then fight the next day. That kills your body in the long run.

imo thats why fighters that in the old days had longer reigns, despite having way more fights...they didnt really drain themselves. a lot of guys came in naturally below the weight limit without try to drain themselves to make it...Ray Robinson comes in mind. fighters didnt kill themselves to make weight, because it was illogical: Same day weighins would murder you if you went through bad weight loss/dehydration. Day before weigh ins let you fill up again and get a 24+ hour break, which somewhat gives you a size advantage and mangable losses due to weight drop.

Thats why Morales got shot so fast, having to kill himself to make weight and then going through wars with Pacquiao.
Thats also why Duran had such a long career despite blowing up between fights...he just didnt give a damn most the time, and fought at whatever weight he happened to be.(Thomas Hearns fight excluded).

Of course, there are other factors, especially damage, that shortens a fighters career, but imo the crash diet weight loss kills the longevity of fighters nowadays. I think sparring is a HUGELY overlooked killer of a fighter's career:lots of sparring is just as damaging as an actual match.
Oh yea, and that could also suggest why Heavyweights in general have much longer careers: They dont have to make weight whatsoever.

Thoughts?

[JAB5239]

I think you came close to hitting the mark...the problem is not the fighters gaining huge amounts of weight, its losing all that weight in a short and dangerous amount of time.

When you have very strict weight management, your body has little to no water weight, which is far worse than simply not eating food. And yet at the same time, boxers have to train during this dehydrated state, and then fight the next day. That kills your body in the long run.

imo thats why fighters that in the old days had longer reigns, despite having way more fights...they didnt really drain themselves. a lot of guys came in naturally below the weight limit without try to drain themselves to make it...Ray Robinson comes in mind. fighters didnt kill themselves to make weight, because it was illogical: Same day weighins would murder you if you went through bad weight loss/dehydration. Day before weigh ins let you fill up again and get a 24+ hour break, which somewhat gives you a size advantage and mangable losses due to weight drop.

Thats why Morales got shot so fast, having to kill himself to make weight and then going through wars with Pacquiao.
Thats also why Duran had such a long career despite blowing up between fights...he just didnt give a damn most the time, and fought at whatever weight he happened to be.(Thomas Hearns fight excluded).

Of course, there are other factors, especially damage, that shortens a fighters career, but imo the crash diet weight loss kills the longevity of fighters nowadays. I think sparring is a HUGELY overlooked killer of a fighter's career:lots of sparring is just as damaging as an actual match.
Oh yea, and that could also suggest why Heavyweights in general have much longer careers: They dont have to make weight whatsoever.

Thoughts?

Good post!

[Heru]

I think you came close to hitting the mark...the problem is not the fighters gaining huge amounts of weight, its losing all that weight in a short and dangerous amount of time.

When you have very strict weight management, your body has little to no water weight, which is far worse than simply not eating food. And yet at the same time, boxers have to train during this dehydrated state, and then fight the next day. That kills your body in the long run.

imo thats why fighters that in the old days had longer reigns, despite having way more fights...they didnt really drain themselves. a lot of guys came in naturally below the weight limit without try to drain themselves to make it...Ray Robinson comes in mind. fighters didnt kill themselves to make weight, because it was illogical: Same day weighins would murder you if you went through bad weight loss/dehydration. Day before weigh ins let you fill up again and get a 24+ hour break, which somewhat gives you a size advantage and mangable losses due to weight drop.

Thats why Morales got shot so fast, having to kill himself to make weight and then going through wars with Pacquiao.
Thats also why Duran had such a long career despite blowing up between fights...he just didnt give a damn most the time, and fought at whatever weight he happened to be.(Thomas Hearns fight excluded).

Of course, there are other factors, especially damage, that shortens a fighters career, but imo the crash diet weight loss kills the longevity of fighters nowadays. I think sparring is a HUGELY overlooked killer of a fighter's career:lots of sparring is just as damaging as an actual match.
Oh yea, and that could also suggest why Heavyweights in general have much longer careers: They dont have to make weight whatsoever.

Thoughts?

I agree, it falls right in line with my thoughts, but a bit more specific. Promoters would fight same day weigh-ins tooth and nail, but it would probably be better for the fighters and sport.