Young Prime vs. Old Prime

[oldgringo]

A lot of boxers have success when they are still young and just entering the peak of their physical careers. Their young prime is usually seen as being the best time for them to win. Tyson, Rid**** Bowe, Roy Jones, Felix Trinidad, etc...

It seems that a lot of guys however are having more success later on in their careers when they enter a second prime or their old prime. Evander Holyfield, James Toney, Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Bernard Hopkins.

Ali was amazing when he was younger and beat the likes of Liston, Moore, and Patterson quite easily. When he was older though, and was in what could have been called his second prime, it seems he had more success beating guys like Frazier, Foreman, Norton and Foster.

What do you think is the better period for fighters? Their young prime in which they are in peak physical/skills condition...or their older prime in which their skills have diminished a bit, but they are mentally at the top of their games?

[BadMagick]

The young prime. Their bodies are more able to sustain damage, and repair itself. They can just do so much more. As they get older, they become more intelligent fighters, and that's how they survive, but the first "prime" is definitely their best. That's why most people refer to that as their "prime," they were at their best during that time. It's impossible to really say whether Ali would beat Clay or not, but I think we all assume that Ali would lose to Clay. (being that when he was Cassius Clay he was at his physical peak)

[hollister]

I think young prime not always necessarily beats older prime (Foreman) but it's their physical prime, so I concider that their prime. Ali fought off of pure physical ability and conditioning until he was banned from boxing. When he came back, he was just so much more resourceful, and that is what enabled him to still be successful (well, that and his ability to take a beating).

[!! Mr. Soprano]

Tszyu said: "Tszyu at 35 would beat Tszyu at 25" But those are just words.. I say it depends on a fighter. Some deteriorate (Tyson, Bowe, Holyfield) and some learn how to use their ring experience (Hopkins)

But then again.. it's very hard to rely on just the experience at the HW.

So I'd say weigh class is the main factor.
Foreman relied not only on his ring smarts, but also had a better chin and bigger power.

[!! Mr. Soprano]

Tszyu said: "Tszyu at 35 would beat Tszyu at 25" But those are just words.. I say it depends on a fighter. Some deteriorate (Tyson, Bowe, Holyfield) and some learn how to use their ring experience (Hopkins)

But then again.. it's very hard to rely on just the experience at the HW.

So I'd say weigh class is the main factor.
Foreman relied not only on his ring smarts, but also had a better chin and bigger power.

And how about OldGringo Vs. YoungGringo. Who wins?

[sisforshaq]

depends completley on the fighter, Look at Benard through his 20;s and Benard through his 30's into 40's. Sure he only has 2 losses over his career but the way he fights defines the sweet science and shows everybody how if great training and a good mindset cimbined with superior boxing skills/knowledge you can be a champ at almost any age. Mike Tyson on the other hand lost his mind, I dont like him at all and still consider him worse overall than Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield (not of recent of course) but if the guy can really set his mind to a goal (which is HW title) with some great training, he can still be a champ.

[Prize_Fighter2K5]

its kinda hard to explain this because when bernard hopkins beat trinidad B-hop was at his old prime and tito was still kinda in his young prime...same with chavez and DeLahoya...Delahoya was in his young prim and gave chavez a beating...so i dont really know who wins out of old prime or new prime.!

[Sir_Jose]

Jose at 23 beats Jose at 17, Thats just a fact.

Its different for every fighter so you cant really say. Some guys just peak late for one reason or another.

[JUYJUY]

Young Prime, but only as long your fighting regularly enough, so that means no time to waste (and obviously don't ease up in the gym).
If you can be younger AND more experienced than your opponent then that is the ultimate. Cassius Clay didn't hesitate turning pro as a teenager and fought regularly enough that he peaked at just 24 years old against Cleveland Williams. Mike Tyson turned pro at 18 years old and fought every month or so, by his early 20's he was the closest thing to invincible that we've ever seen in a boxing ring.

I think the key is to be in your physical prime with as many fights as possible already under your belt! That is when fighters truly peak, fighting very regularly at a young age over developing years, that is how you get closer to what your best peak can be.