Does Advanced Age=Gunshy?

[Tony Trick-Pony]

Wlad has always been technical and not a go-for-broke kind of fighter and he's still in great shape, but I do have to wonder if a younger version would have taken more of a chance. And this goes with lots of the aging fighters who have stayed in great shape and remained high in the rankings. Mayweather and Hopkins did it, but their knockout ratios plummeted. When Roberto Duran fought in his 40s, he got few Kos. Even take Pacquiao who hasn't scored a KO in years. Then you look at their younger versions and they were way more willing to mix it up. It just seems like the killer instinct goes, even if the skills remain.

[Larry the boss]

Ever heard the term"CANT PULL THE TRIGGER"??
there were times in the fight Wlad literally just stood there and would not swing..now Fury's head movement did take Wlads jab away but Wlad simply did not punch at all

[Tony Trick-Pony]

Ever heard the term"CANT PULL THE TRIGGER"??
there were times in the fight Wlad literally just stood there and would not swing..now Fury's head movement did take Wlads jab away but Wlad simply did not punch at all

Oh that does happen for sure and that was the case. I still wonder if he were younger and with Steward in his corner, if things would have went differently. Steward's interview where he calls Fury the future of the division had to rattle Wlad a bit if he saw it.

[Ray Corso]

When an old fighter is in with a mover and can't find his range he can't trust his instincts anymore. The only chance Wlad had after the 8th round to be able to land is to "punch with" Fury but he doesn't have those skills to slip with a tight small move and come back with combination punching. He was never taught those finer points and at this stage he will not try to punch with anyone he thinks can hurt him.
He needs to call it a career, to go out on a decs. loss to a guy 10 years yoiunger is no shame at all. At 40 whats the point of going on, you were champion for a long time you have nothing to prove to anyone and your own integrity stopped you last night from going after the kid. Walk away with a very good career in hand! Go help your brother become king or whatever they do there.

Ray

[Tony Trick-Pony]

When an old fighter is in with a mover and can't find his range he can't trust his instincts anymore. The only chance Wlad had after the 8th round to be able to land is to "punch with" Fury but he doesn't have those skills to slip with a tight small move and come back with combination punching. He was never taught those finer points and at this stage he will not try to punch with anyone he thinks can hurt him.
He needs to call it a career, to go out on a decs. loss to a guy 10 years yoiunger is no shame at all. At 40 whats the point of going on, you were champion for a long time you have nothing to prove to anyone and your own integrity stopped you last night from going after the kid. Walk away with a very good career in hand! Go help your brother become king or whatever they do there.

Ray

Very good breakdown there. I agree. He could try for a rematch, but if he was going to pull the trigger, I think he would have done so last night. In fights like this, the rematch usually just copies the first which would only waste time. He's been on top for nearly ten years and has nothing to be ashamed of. The younger guys always rise up eventually. Passing of the torch.

[Eastcoast]

You could see it with Bute last night as well. He'd have opportunities to let his hands go and couldn't/wouldn't.

[SterlingStained]

not if you are a "slick" defensive american fighter.

its called boxing wizardry.

[Real King Kong]

not if you are a "slick" defensive american fighter.

its called boxing wizardry.

There's a difference. Imo mayweather looked gunshy in the pac fight and to a lesser degree in the 2nd maidana fight.

[SalimShady1212]

No, years of under-usage of hooks and uppercuts does that. He hasn't had to in years and is now unable to do so.

[Redd Foxx]

Age naturally brings about caution, in all the things you do in life. What Wlad did was much deeper though. You could see it in the Jennings fight so it wasn't all Fury. But, Tyson's moment made it worse. Something is broken in Wlad's head as he KNEW he had to do something serious (and let's be honest, that right hand was there ALL DAY) but he just couldn't pull the trigger. If he seeks the rematch he desperately needs to see a sports psychologist to unlock whatever is holding him back.