Age in boxing

[Cutthroat]

Why do Europeans wait so long to turn pro?

How can you survive all those years financially? Were guys like GGG working at some corner store or something before going pro? I'm curious about where these guys worked at now lol, that must be weird working next to some world class athlete.

That's the biggest thing, money. The sooner you turn pro the sooner you can make it, probably what keeps Americans from having lengthy am careers.

[Larry the boss]

Floyd been pro since he was 19...Wlad since he was 20 and both are still on top.....Jmm also since 19..all fought waaaaay better comp then GGG...i am missing your point

[tjones1989]

Why do Europeans wait so long to turn pro?

How can you survive all those years financially? Were guys like GGG working at some corner store or something before going pro? I'm curious about where these guys worked at now lol, that must be weird working next to some world class athlete.

That's the biggest thing, money. The sooner you turn pro the sooner you can make it, probably what keeps Americans from having lengthy am careers.

They worked at burger king, sers. Time Bradley worked as a dishwasher before he made it big. Most boxers don't make it big and require a second job to support their boxing career.

[Cutthroat]

They worked at burger king, sers. Time Bradley worked as a dishwasher before he made it big. Most boxers don't make it big and require a second job to support their boxing career.

Yeah, Jennings is still working at a bank. I don't know how they stay away from the $$$ though, with their education and time they have to spend training they have probably have **** jobs before turning pro...

I'm not sure how the education system works in Europe now that I think about it. In America your education can cost a **** load of $$$, without shelling out that money chances are you're stuck working at Burger King.

[creekrat77]

Hopkins theory is those with an extensive amueter background usually burn out faster.For instance Roy jones and meldrick taylor. Hopkins claims because he and guys like duran, sergio martinez, and larry holmes started later they were able to carry on into their 40's

[fighter1234]

Garbage thread, you used a few fighters as an example but one can easily find many other fighters to refute your premise like Hopkins, Floyd, Pacquiao, etc.

[boliodogs]

No, A fighter ages like everyone else and they age the same whether they are amateurs or pros. You just picked out a couple of fighters to prove your point out of thousands of boxers and it doesn't prove a thing. What about Mayweather? he turned pro early and was a world champion by 21 and he is aging very well. Taking a bad beating does no fighter any good regardless of their age or when they turned pro. If a good fighter turns pro when they are young they can be a champion when they are still young. If they turn pro at a late age they are already older and past prime when the win a title. The average man is at his physical peak between23 and 30 and starts to slowly go down hill after 31. GGG should have turned pro years before he did. He is the best fighter in the world but with an earlier start he could have done even more by now.

[jmrf4435]

"Garbage thread, you used a few fighters as an example but one can easily find many other fighters to refute your premise like Hopkins, Floyd, Pacquiao, etc."

Not everyone is like Hopkins, Floyd, and Pac. Some of you bring up all time greats as if they are average boxers, or have the same surroundings as average boxers. A lengthy amateur career is necessary in so many ways in the ring in terms of avoiding being taken of guard. I think a fighter is much better off in the pros if he can afford the ability to take it slow in the amateurs and learn the craft. The pros have a way of ruining young fighters, not to mention the responsibility needed to handle the large sums of money that young fighters often lack. Turning pro later in general may be the better route, unless you have the right people and camp around you.

[boliodogs]

Taylor was 29 years old when Pavlik KOed him. Taylor had never even been knocked down before Pavlik knocked him out. So Taylor was not in all these wars from turning pro early. Taylor was brought along slowly and carefully but some fighters are more prone to brain injuries. Anyway Taylor is once again a world champion although not the best middleweight in the world. Pavlik did not turn pro too early either. Neither Pavlic or Taylor showed too much dedication to boxing and training hard and it cost them but turning pro too early had nothing to do with it.