How come HWs can be successful picking up boxing at a late age,but not lower weights?

[HitmanTommy]

I've always wondered this. I've heard quite a few stories of heavyweights picking up boxing in their late teens and being successful at the elite level, but I very rarely hear the same thing in the lower weight divisions. Seems like most elite fighters at the lower weight divisions have been boxing since they were kids/preteens.

Why is this? I'm talking about being successful at the elite level.

[Eff Pandas]

Cuz power is the last thing that goes & all the normal physical attributes that age away & that makes someone a high level lower weight fighter typically don't have as much importance in the HW division.

[Blueboy3]

Well it's simple at lower weight classes like Welter you're fighting more guys that been doing it since childhood rather than guys that took boxing as a last resort

[Redd Foxx]

Same reason a lot of bodybuilders don't hit prime until their 30's. Muscle is something you can keep developing and the HW division is about power. It's not like cardio or speed in that it starts to fade in the late 20's. A boxer in his 30's is not only in prime strength, he's more experienced.

The reason smaller guys are old in their 30s is that they rely more on speed and cardio.

[Roadblock]

Because the lighter weights are faster and its way more skillful, power goes along way at HW and we are in the era of super heavies where size over whelms skill, you need way more precision in the lighter weights to be top level, the current HW world champs skill set would get slaughtered at say LW-WW-MW, HW technique is average by comparison so its easier to break into.

[Earl-Hickey]

It's a bit of a myth.

Lewis and Wlad are really the two who reached "prime" late on in their careers and that was more down to the time it took to perfect their styles. Vitali did ok in his late 30s.....against guys like chisora and charr

Foreman beating some tin cans and then chinning glass Jawed Moorer after being battered for several rounds isn't evidence of heavyweights getting "better with age"

For the most part they are prime late 20s to early 30s like everyone else.

[Armchairhero]

As has been said, brute power can cancel skill and cardio

[KTFOKING]

It's a bit of a myth.

Lewis and Wlad are really the two who reached "prime" late on in their careers and that was more down to the time it took to perfect their styles. Vitali did ok in his late 30s.....against guys like chisora and charr

Foreman beating some tin cans and then chinning glass Jawed Moorer after being battered for several rounds isn't evidence of heavyweights getting "better with age"

For the most part they are prime late 20s to early 30s like everyone else.

You're debating something different from the OP. He's saying how are HW boxers able to pick up boxing at an later age and be successful such as Wilder and Joshua for example. Both entered the gym around the age of 18 and were able to reach the top. Compared to lower weight fighters where you don't see this as much.

[HitmanTommy]

You're debating something different from the OP. He's saying how are HW boxers able to pick up boxing at an later age and be successful such as Wilder and Joshua for example. Both entered the gym around the age of 18 and were able to reach the top. Compared to lower weight fighters where you don't see this as much.

Yes, that's what I'm asking.

Interesting answers so far.

[tonysoprano]

When you don't have to make or cut weight it's a hell of a lot easier on the body.

It's a young man's sport at the lighter weights because a man in his 30's is going to find it much harder to make weight than guys in their late teens, early 20's. The male metabolism just doesn't allow it.

Therefore HW's can afford to start later in life.