EVERYBODY ages differently, and fighters are no exception. In fact, fighters –compared to the rest of us mortals, are more predisposed to disparate forms of aging contingent on several variables.
Fighting style is a pivotal determining factor. An in-your-face brawler who takes no prisoners inside the ring is like a fast-burning candle who will wax out faster than his flame can burn.
A boxer on the other hand who adopts a more conservative approach is more likely to have a longer career.
HOPKINS. A fighter that easily comes to mind is the legendary Bernard Hopkins. When he was younger, Hopkins was more of a puncher, but as he matured, he morphed into a cunning, cerebral boxer thereby lengthening his career.
Last time he fought, I was at ringside at The Forum in Inglewood, California. He lost badly to Joe Smith Jr. as he was knocked out of the ring, but boy, what a career he has had. At least he went out fighting for a light heavyweight title at the age of 51.
PACQUIAO. Manny Pacquiao (60-7, 39KOs) recently turned 40 and this Sunday he will be fighting 29 year old Adrien Broner (33-3, 24KOs).
Broner is a four-weight division champion and his style is best described as a “poor man’s Floyd Mayweather”.
Despite not getting the nod from the judges, Pacquiao fared well against the real Floyd, so I expect him to win via decision against “The Problem”.
Five years ago, I remember singing high praises for Broner as he looked to be the second coming of Floyd with the same cunning defense and sharp reflexes.
But Broner is known to balloon between fights and not take good care of his conditioning. Ironically, Broner got old early.
Consequently, he suffered losses to elite fighters like Mikey Garcia, Shawn Porter and Marcos Maidana.
This Sunday, I expect a paradoxical encounter between an “old” fighter who took care of his body and remained young, and a “young” fighter who wasted away his prime years and got old early.
Like I said, everybody ages differently.
LAST ROUND. It’s on my childhood best buddy who is now based in New South Wales, Australia, Dexter Belarma Regudo. Cheers Do!