Japanese boxers

[icelava]

I'm just done with hajime no ippo. I was rather puzzled that boxers report their retirement at relatively young ages. Don't boxers go longer than that?

[Javer]

Actually, most boxers continue their careers longer than they do in HnI. Way longer than they should. Guys like Shimabukuro and Kobashi, who retire relatively early -- they're rare. More common are the Hammer Nao types, who fight until their bodies have suffered irreparable damage. The life of a boxer, though very strenuous, is hard to quit.

Tyson is a good example. He keeps coming back and coming back . . . first for more matches, then downscaling to exhibition matches, then public workouts. Ali let his career go on longer than it should have and suffered permanent damage. Holyfield is still trying to reclaim the heavyweight title, and what is he? 45? It's really kind of sad, with some of them.

[DarkKanti]

You forget though Javer, smaller fighters don't fight as long. And, most Japanese boxers fight in these small weight classes.

The strain on the body of staying in the lower weight classes often times shortens a boxer's career. You won't find too many fighters above featherweight sticking around above the age of 30. Look at what happened to Erik Morales. He's only thirty and he's nothing like he used to be.

I think Icelava's only watched the anime and is more talking about Date's talks of retirement and how everybody thinks he's too old (29 or 30 I can't remember). Alot of the small time fighters like Shimabukuro and Kobashi do end up retiring early. Not too many fighters stick around unless they feel they have a good future in the sport.

Usually though, how age affects a boxer varies from person to person and how much punishment they've taken in the ring.

[Javer]

I didn't actually see any part of his question that specified Japanese boxers. >_>;; I was gonna ask about that, but . . .

You're right, though, I misspoke. I was only thinking about exceptionally successful boxers, the ones who get in The Ring and all. Come to think of it, probably most don't last very long.

Dammit, quit taking my one subject away from me. XD

[DarkKanti]

Since we're on the topic...

Have you heard of the Venezuelan (but living in Tokyo, Japan) Edwin Valero, who is (as of a little while ago) 21-0 (21), with 19 of his KO's coming in the first round, and is the current WBA Super Featherweight Champ? He's not licensed to fight in the US because of a failed MRI test (He crashed his motorcycle or some such thing), so he's currently living and fighting out of Japan.

There's rumours of a possible Valero/Pacman fight in the works for Late '07 or Early '08. The two should make for fireworks in the ring if the fight ever gets signed.

[icelava]

I am not asking with regards to those who have suffered permanent and disabling injuries, but yes over the psyche of the likes of Date, Kimura, Aoki, and even Vorg. Since i do not follow boxing (or even more specifically japanese feather/light weight catergories), I was wondering if their potrayal of japanese boxers is accurate.

That is something i have a strong doubt. I would have figured as an athelete dedicated to boxing as a professional, so as long as one remains fit, would continue in that line. It's almost like saying that Valentino Rossi has to retire since he lost the MotoGP champanship to Nicky Hayden in 2006, and if he continues to remain 2nd place for 2007.

[f1rst children]

That is something i have a strong doubt. I would have figured as an athelete dedicated to boxing as a professional, so as long as one remains fit, would continue in that line. It's almost like saying that Valentino Rossi has to retire since he lost the MotoGP champanship to Nicky Hayden in 2006, and if he continues to remain 2nd place for 2007.

Racing cars doesn't have repeated head trauma as an integral part of the sport, though.

You can't just look at age when judging when a boxer should retire. Part of it should also be looking at how the fighter loses, or even wins. Is he absorbing a lot of punishment? Is he able to adequately protect himself? If a George Foreman at 40 can protect himself better than a Roy Jones at 36, then Jones needs to retire more than Foreman. The fact that Roy Jones is in much better shape than Foreman and could run circles around Foreman on the treadmill is basically irrelevant.