is 30 the new "prime" in boxing

[Sam Donald]

more and more fighters turning pro later in their careers

also, u got guys like kovalev, ggg, mattyhsee at the top of the game at age 30

do u see this happening more in the sport

we are getting less fighters turning pro at 18/19 and becoming 23year old stars such as broner

what do u think..would u turn pro at 18 or 23-26 as a lot of fighters r doing these days

[JaYDeuce11]

Damn TripleG is 30 already?
But hey you know what they say it aint about the age it about the wars you been in.
Look at Mayweather and Hopkins, they never took much beatings and can still stay consistent.
Guys like Mosley, Cotto, Morales, Barr era and now Pacquiao get old quick cu they been in a ton of wars

[Craveman]

Look like similar situation with getting a job. Before you needed experience to get a job, then it was qualifications to get a job, now its qualification and experience. So similarly I think boxers turn professional when they are absolutely ready after amateurs. That's my take.

[JAB5239]

It is an unarguable fact the human body starts declining after 30, this is why the average age of retirement is 33 for professional athletes.

[Sam Donald]

It is an unarguable fact the human body starts declining after 30, this is why the average age of retirement is 33 for professional athletes.

Maybe it depends on when they picked up the sport...

If they started at the age of 7 and working hard pretty much every day for 25 years...then yes..early 30s..ur gonna be finished

[taansend]

About 20 years ago when I was still a boxing geek (as opposed to a jaded old fan) I went through champions from history at various weights.

The lighter the fighter the lighter the peak/champion.

I can't remember the details but Flyweight champs were something like 23 on average & heavyweights were 30.

But the OP is right, life has changed. The human race is moving in two directions. Half of us are getting fitter & wiser about nutrition & health & the other half eat McDonalds.

OK, that's a bad joke but you know what I mean. Especially in America. I see familes where the mum & dad are mid 20's with 4 kids & all six of them are fat.

Then I see 60 year olds who look like they are 40.

Bernie Hopkins recently spoke about this and he mentioned my favourite store, Trader Joes

[JAB5239]

Maybe it depends on when they picked up the sport...

If they started at the age of 7 and working hard pretty much every day for 25 years...then yes..early 30s..ur gonna be finished

I disagree Sam. The body is going to start declining during this time frame no matter what. I'd have to go back and find them or research it again, but I've posted several links here and at ESB about this. Fighters are not able to fight longer in years today because they're evolving but simply because they fight far less often. I will say that better diets help keep many inactive fighters fit in comparison to years past when fighters fought more often. I also have very little doubt PED's are extending careers considerably.

[Someone88]

It is an unarguable fact the human body starts declining after 30, this is why the average age of retirement is 33 for professional athletes.

Boxing is different than other sports though. Some fighters after a certain point in their career don't fight more than three times a year. That's why some can extend their primes.

[Someone88]

Maybe it depends on when they picked up the sport...

If they started at the age of 7 and working hard pretty much every day for 25 years...then yes..early 30s..ur gonna be finished

Yep that's a good point.

[Someone88]

I disagree Sam. The body is going to start declining during this time frame no matter what. I'd have to go back and find them or research it again, but I've posted several links here and at ESB about this. Fighters are not able to fight longer in years today because they're evolving but simply because they fight far less often. I will say that better diets help keep many inactive fighters fit in comparison to years past when fighters fought more often. I also have very little doubt PED's are extending careers considerably.

In most sports peds are used, but still in combat sports the athletes can sometimes be in their peak when they are in their thirties. The research is sort of inconclusive too, I remember reading that it might be because of inactivity. If the research was done on people who kept physically active with a healthy diet the results would be different.