Boxing
When is he too elderly to box? There is no clear answer
History provides enough examples to keep the argument alive. George Foreman regained the heavyweight title at the age of 45 by defeating Michael Moorer, while Archie Moore remained at the highest level of fighting even into his 40s.
In lower weight classes, fighters have also extended their careers beyond the expected range. Roberto Duran won the middleweight title at the age of 37. Azumah Nelson and Eder Jofre won the titles at the age of 37. Daniel Zaragoza and Gianfranco Rosi continued to win belts at the ages of 37 and 38, respectively.
Bernard Hopkins demolished younger, faster champions like Jean Pascal and Tavoris Cloud while still in his 40s. By winning the world title at the age of 49, he further pushed back the “Foreman Line”.
Hopkins proved that if a fighter mastered the “Senior Man” style, relying on the economy of movement, psychological warfare, and defensive fundamentals, he could effectively “bend time,” as he often said.
However, for every Hopkins or Foreman, there are hundreds of players whose names are not in the history books because they were caught up in the sport’s lack of limits.
Other champions found success in their 30s, reinforcing the idea that age does not affect every fighter in the same way. Sugarboy Malinga won the super middleweight title at the age of 36.
Juan Martin Coggi won at the age of 34, while Luis Estaba and Dado Marino also won titles in their 30s. Even in the lighter weight classes, where speed is often considered decisive, fighters such as Santos Laciar and Samuth Sithnaruepol were able to hold titles into their twenties, extending careers that otherwise might have been shorter.
These results often serve to reinforce the belief that experience and style can offset age. They are real, but they do not reflect the typical result.
Defensive wizards and ponderous hits tend to last longer. Speed and reflexes are the most vital elements, which is why we rarely see 40-year-old flyweight champions, but heavyweight and airy heavyweight history is full of them.
Often it’s not about age, but about mileage. A 30-year-old who has fought in ten wars may be older in boxing than a 40-year-old who rarely gets hit.
Because boxing is a business, a fighter’s name often outweighs his capabilities. Organizers will continue to book tickets for the legendary name as long as it continues to sell tickets, even if the aforementioned “time and shelf life” has clearly deteriorated.
Nelson didn’t hesitate when asked about his comments. He said Hamed was “delusional” and said the criticism only confirmed how far their relationship had fallen apart.
“I thought this kid was delusional,” Nelson told Sport Boxing. “After Giant I thought this kid hadn’t changed, and when I saw the show I thought you’ve definitely gotten worse.”
Nelson said he recently ignored two messages from Hamed on WhatsApp and is not interested in renewing the friendship.
“I turned him off. I don’t associate with him,” Nelson said. “If you look like an idiot, you feed him.”
The former cruiserweight champion made it clear that while he still respects Hamed’s achievements in the ring, he no longer respects him as a person.
“Do I admire what he’s accomplished? A lot,” Nelson said. “But as a person, I lost complete and utter respect for him.”
Much of Nelson’s anger appears to have to do with Hamed’s criticism of overdue coach Brendan Ingle, to whom both players attribute their careers. Nelson said he couldn’t accept the way Hamed spoke about a man he believed gave everything to the gym.
The public feud has escalated into one of the ugliest old-fashioned feuds in British boxing, with two former world champions now trading personal shots instead of memories.
It’s challenging to watch because these two are icons of the golden age of English in Sheffield. When you see former stablemates exchanging shots this overdue in life, you usually get the impression that there’s a lot of unhealed history behind them.
Naz’s “snake” comment clearly hit a nerve, but Nelson’s reaction suggests his real problem is his perceived lack of respect for Brendan Ingle. For Nelson, Brendan was the man who kept him afloat when he was struggling. The sight of Naz attacking that legacy seems to be a deal-breaker.
Nelson willingly gives Naz flowers for what he did in the ring, but closes the door on him himself. It’s a shame to see them at odds, especially since they were once the face of the same team, but Nelson seems to have found a lot of peace by simply pressing “block” and moving on.
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