WBC To Create an Age Limit of 39 For World Title Bouts?

[Mr. Ryan]

I think the reason it seems so shockingly brutal as a rule is the fact that it destroys the idea- illusion or not- that a man can keep fighting until he decides to quit. The boxer would no longer make the decision if he can battle it out; even if often to wrong decision is made. There's a certain freedom that comes with no age limit...we never know how far a boxer will battle, how long his career will wage on....with this rule- forty and you're done. The end. It's the finality of it all that gets to me.

There is an age limit of 34 for amateur boxers so there is some sort of precedent by which to go on.

[Njord777]

There is an age limit of 34 for amateur boxers so there is some sort of precedent by which to go on.

Not to get too philosophical or anything...but..I feel like in many ways what happens inside a boxing ring is a microcosm of regular life. Inside that ring everything is made more simple- two men battle- a test of determination, perseverance and strength. Outside of boxing there's so much gray area; things aren't black and white...morality is sketchy, etc. In boxing a very primal urge- aggression- becomes a dance in which we can easily understand everything that is occurring as we watch it. It's more simple that the rest of life. I don't think people really want to have the limitations in professional boxing of knowing when the ride is over. I mean, we all know eventually a boxer will have to quit- but the uncertainty of when that is going to occur creates a mystique. Will he be able to fight into his 40's? Will we watch him refuse to quit and get battered as weary athlete past his prime? Some people even live vicariously through their favorite fighter and to hear the ticking clock, knowing their career is almost over...well...that just plain isn't fun.

[ИATAS]

Archie Moore disapproves this message
(25-2-2 after his 40th birthday)

[Mr. Ryan]

Not to get too philosophical or anything...but..I feel like in many ways what happens inside a boxing ring is a microcosm of regular life. Inside that ring everything is made more simple- two men battle- a test of determination, perseverance and strength. Outside of boxing there's so much gray area; things aren't black and white...morality is sketchy, etc. In boxing a very primal urge- aggression- becomes a dance in which we can easily understand everything that is occurring as we watch it. It's more simple that the rest of life. I don't think people really want to have the limitations in professional boxing of knowing when the ride is over. I mean, we all know eventually a boxer will have to quit- but the uncertainty of when that is going to occur creates a mystique. Will he be able to fight into his 40's? Will we watch him refuse to quit and get battered as weary athlete past his prime? Some people even live vicariously through their favorite fighter and to hear the ticking clock, knowing their career is almost over...well...that just plain isn't fun.

I agree that the decision should be up to a fighter. But what happens when that fighter is clearly unable or unwilling to make wise decisions on his own? It's like the responsibility of a bartender who doesn't serve patrons who are clearly too intoxicated to drink further. Someone has to make the correct call, and often times it isn't the fighter.

By closing the door on title shots for older fighters, it will reduce the temptation for fighters to come back past their primes for that one last payday, which for every George Foreman story produces a Jerry Quarrey or a Roberto Duran story.

[Mr. Ryan]

Archie Moore disapproves this message
(25-2-2 after his 40th birthday)

There is a reason fighters like Archie Moore are regarded as remarkable and outstanding, because results like that are not typical.

[ИATAS]

I agree that the decision should be up to a fighter. But what happens when that fighter is clearly unable or unwilling to make wise decisions on his own? It's like the responsibility of a bartender who doesn't serve patrons who are clearly too intoxicated to drink further. Someone has to make the correct call, and often times it isn't the fighter.

By closing the door on title shots for older fighters, it will reduce the temptation for fighters to come back past their primes for that one last payday, which for every George Foreman story produces a Jerry Quarrey or a Roberto Duran story.

Don't fighters have to be medically cleared to fight though? Maybe they can have stricter rules as far as that goes. But age is just a number and every fighter ages differently, depending on a number of things (boxing style, genes, how many beatings they've taken, conditioning over the years, etc.).

[Njord777]

I agree that the decision should be up to a fighter. But what happens when that fighter is clearly unable or unwilling to make wise decisions on his own? It's like the responsibility of a bartender who doesn't serve patrons who are clearly too intoxicated to drink further. Someone has to make the correct call, and often times it isn't the fighter.

By closing the door on title shots for older fighters, it will reduce the temptation for fighters to come back past their primes for that one last payday, which for every George Foreman story produces a Jerry Quarrey or a Roberto Duran story.

I agree. Often- and boxers admit this daily- the decision to quit is a hard one to make. Boxers, like an alcoholic at a bar, find themselves addicted; they want more of the cheering fans, of the spotlight- of the money. There would be a generous safety implemented if these men were protected from damaging themselves late in their career.

The rest of my thoughts might sound harsh, though: real life doesn't have an off button. I mean, I said it- boxing is a simplified version of the world, but part of the appeal is the dark reality of it. When you get punched, you get hurt. When you get cut, you bleed. When you feel the power of a KO artist- you get knocked out. It's the grimy- often horridly violent- aspect that keeps so many fans, even if its not their sole reason for watching, attention.

In some way there's a dark beauty in allowing a man who is clearly past his prime to fight. It's devastating for the fighter...but it's poetry in its own somber way. A man once in his prime- once a champion- once beloved, to see how far he has fallen...to watch him get battered, to swell, bruise and suffer...it's viewing a man lose to age in a way we can't do in any other facet of life. I'm not saying we should want to see this happen...but the fact that it does; that it can....it's brutal and yet, like a car wreck, captivating.

Someone said it perfectly- when George Foreman fought Micheal Moorer he was getting battered. Big George was proving to everyone why something like mandatory age limits should be enforced. Micheal was nailing him with things that Foreman shouldn't have gotten hit with. He was being pummeled- and then, like a miracle, that one shot burst through the limitations of age and the cold, undeniable fact that he was past his prime and he won. George Foreman, who shouldn't have fought then- he was too old, too weathered- didn't just beat Micheal Moorer, he beat time. He beat age. That's why it's so historic.

It's a shame that we might lose that chance forever. Yes, it would be in the boxer's benefit....but to lose even one more George Foreman like victory against our own mortality...that's a ****ing shame.

[hello2007]

this just goes to show the wbc sucks why do fighters even regonize that belt its ****

[roundingace]

If the age limit is 39, I understand why Calzaghe is retiring. He won't have any opponents left to fight

LMAO - priceless.

[Mr. Philadel]

plus, it's ****** because the person has to be medically cleared to fight. Shouldn't matter if its a championship bout or not, if someone is in good physical and mental condition they should be cleared to fight, regardless of age. If they are 40+ and showing signs of physical or mental problems, then they shouldn't be cleared to fight, championship bout or non-championship bout. It's like saying 40 year old baseball players can play in the regular season but not the world series.

thats Real Talk natas! nice post homie!!