Is Boxing an Old Man's Game Now?

[The Gambler1981]

Boxing is an old man's game only if allowed to be as such, the young guy has to be real so you run into more guys who are not truly top end guys than you do real guys.

Young guys can push a fight to places an old guy pretty much can't go, it is not always easy. Lots of young guys fall into the trap thinking they can play chess with an old man (which is always a mistake), when they need to focus on the physical things they can do that the older guy can not keep up with. A lot of that comes down to poor training, and if the guy training you knows less about boxing than the fighter you are facing (and the plan is not keep it simple and young man the old guy) tit is pretty easy to see why guys get outmaneuvered.

[soul_survivor]

Why is the trend somewhat different in the lower divisions?

[Spray_resistant]

Perhaps, but that alone won't always win you a boxing match. Experience, boxing IQ, and the proverbial skills play a larger part than just being in your psychical "prime."

Then I guess its a lack of participating which used to be so prevalent in the past.

[soul_survivor]

Then I guess its a lack of participating which used to be so prevalent in the past.

What do u mean?

[The Gambler1981]

Lack of real strategic thinking trainers, if a young guy is fighting an old guy they are relying on their trainers brain to help them out.

If your trainer is not able to out think (or match wits with) the guy you are fighting there is a huge problem. Unless that fighter is straight up too much man for the older guy (Porter-Pauli comes to mind) on the physical side then the brain plays an important role and the veteran is almost always going to have the edge there.

[Weltschmerz]

Fighters became 'older' faster in previous eras as the fighting was tougher, more fights, longer rounds.. Simply a tougher game. Fighters now are much more protected in all aspects, with trainers, promoters, sports science, medical improvement, fewer fights, etc. This isn't to say fighters didn't fight until they got 'old' in earlier days, take Archie Moore for instance, fought into his mid 40s with a career of over 200 professional fights.

[Infamous]

Fighters seem to want the glory without putting in the work these days..therefore the talent level,heart and toughness has dropped

I thank Money, Haymon, and Arum for that... it's all for the money now... only up and comers fight legit comp now... once they're on top tho they fight s.hit contenders... look at Garcia...

[djcomplex]

we live in a diffrent era now where age is not such a factor, if u condition urself well and a master student of the game u can out last a ''keith thurman''

[H-Tok]

Fighters seem to want the glory without putting in the work these days..therefore the talent level,heart and toughness has dropped

This.

And they're fed bums by the dozens, rushed into fame with no real foundation and once they get a real opponent, they're dealt with with ease.

Money & Fame is all they care about;
Losing & being worthless is all they end up being.

New Age Boxing.

[Mr.Fantastic]

i think the talent level of fighters in recent years has decreased

atlas said hopkins would not have been a champion in the 1980s

less youngsters are boxing

boxing is less popular

boxing is a tough sport

It hasn't. The problem is that people only look at the divisions that has a popular boxer or two. Specially if American/Brit.