is 30 the new "prime" in boxing

[AFTER HOURS]

I dont think so.

[bklynboy]

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

Part of it is experience. It takes time (rounds and different opponents). Todays fighters fight much less frequently than years ago so that maybe one of the reasons they are reaching maturity at a later date.

[boliodogs]

A fighter's physical prime is the same as it ever was. That would be between the age of 24 and 29 on average. Of course that varies from man to man. If a fighter gets a late start then they may not be at their best until they are older even thought they are in their physical prime or past it. If a fighter takes good care of themselves they can stay near their physical prime until they are 35 or sometimes even 40 years old but they are not quite as fast or strong as when they were in their twenties. For the best possible career a fighter should get started early. They should be fighting pro by the time they are 18 or 19 years old. That way when they hit their physical prime at 24 or 25 they have plenty of experience to go with their peak speed and power.

[DreamFighter]

I don't think the human body starts declining at 30 no matter what, there are other factors. If you mean at some point in the thirties then that makes more sense. For regular people who trains consistently and are healthy, I think they can maintain a good level of fitness for a lot longer than a person who doesn't.

sure they can maintain it, but someone in their twenties who puts the same work in to maintain it is generally fitter and better shape. so essentially, you are making a statement that's non applicable to the question - the younger man still has the physical advantage, since both young and older benefit from maintaining fitness.

The scientific links for, say, lung capacity beginning to fall past 30, are too easy to find if you want links posted (Shock, N. (1962). The physiology of aging. Scientific American, 206, 100-110.) and are so common knowledge now that they cant be argued with.

Injuries take longer to heal as you get older and rarely is 100% functionality restored anyway, you have built up a longer history of them at any older age, so your body is always going to be a little bit worse for wear each time you get one. Time runs in only one direction, you don't lose injury history, you only accumulate, sadly enough.

[itsafight]

The fighters you named are just a very small fraction of those fighting throughout the world though and every one of can or has had the PED question mark next to his name. My point is, give every fighter from every era the same level playing field and you will not see a difference in when a fighter is suddenly past prime...there would be a pretty close average in my opinion.

I do however agree with you PED quote. Im tired of it myself. There is no way to control it so just make it legal and regulate it.

PEDs in boxing is a serious threat to boxers. Boxers risk enough getting into that ring, going in there with a dude who has superhuman strength is pushing it. Like someone said, the worst case scenario for a clean track and field athlete is missing out on a medal, for a boxer it's his life.