What's happening to all the technical fighters?

Roy Jones Jr, Ali, Leonard, Mayweather, Toney, Hearns, Benitez etc. All started their careers super young and got big fights early on in their careers.

Mayweather was 21 when he fought Genaro Hernandez
Roy Jones was 24 when he fought Hopkins and 25 when he fought Toney
Leonard had foughten Benitez, Hearns, and Duranx2 by the time he was 25

You know what kind of fighters I like out there right now
Dirrell, Berto, Gamboa, Rigondeaux, Dawson, Donaire, etc

THe cubans are starting their careers after 25, and besides Chad Dawson most of the athletic, quick guys aren't even fighting legitimate contenders until they are 25. IMO this is making them worse. They need to get that experience young.

That's why these fighters need to develop other talents, Mayweather isn't where he is simply because of his athletic gifts, he has totally readjusted his style, same with guys like Pacquiao who aren't even that technically talented. I think promoters kind of have to let these kids go out and prove themselves, and not hold them back against limited athletes.

The dirrell brothers and the Petterson brothers are perfect examples of this.

Well #1 The Cubans are old because they have to defect from their country to turn pro.....something Americans may have to get used to.

#2 The prodigies like RJJ, Floyd, etc just aren't coming around as often...I think the next guys who are of their class are: Rau'shee Warren, Demitrius Andrade, and maybe Raynell Williams or Hylon Williams.

There is no hope for the American heavyweight at this time though.....no one can freaking punch worth a damn

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by scousekilla

Speed is one of the first attributes to go with age, so naturally guys who rely on speed will do better at a young age and get worse as they grow older.

There's still lots of decent technical fighters out there
Steve Molitor
JoJo Dan
Jean Pascal
Lucien Bute
Randall Bailey
Paulie Malignaggi

---

Not that I disagree but you're obviously Canadian, eh? ;D

Today's fighters don't fight enough to fully-develop and maximize their potential and talents.

A fighter can't learn his craft well fighting only 2 or 3 fights a year like nowadays.


Plenty of fighters used to fight 15 to 25 fights a year.

You'd have 24 year old fighters in their physical primes with about 70 pro fights already behind them and the accompanying wealth of experience from fighting all these different styles.

.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lyle

Well #1 The Cubans are old because they have to defect from their country to turn pro.....something Americans may have to get used to.

#2 The prodigies like RJJ, Floyd, etc just aren't coming around as often...I think the next guys who are of their class are: Rau'shee Warren, Demitrius Andrade, and maybe Raynell Williams or Hylon Williams.

There is no hope for the American heavyweight at this time though.....no one can freaking punch worth a damn

---

I can name a number of athletes with skills and athletic abilities that match that of Floyd Mayweather and in some cases RJJ.

Andre Berto, Andre Dirrell, Andre Ward, Yuriorkis Gamboa, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Chad Dawson. These are all guys right up there athletically.

There are also Degale, Gavin, Omar Henry, Demetrius Andrade, Gary Russell Jr, Rau'Shee Warren, Anthony Dirrell. But these guys are still young and still have their whole career ahead of them.

I think Andrade and Russell Jr(if he starts using footwork) could be something special. Omar Henry looks like MIguel Cotto. Gavin and Degale are excellent brittish fighters, and Rau'Shee Warren I have always put a ton of stock in him, but he might not go pro until after 2012 which will make him 25.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lyle

Well #1 The Cubans are old because they have to defect from their country to turn pro.....something Americans may have to get used to.

#2 The prodigies like RJJ, Floyd, etc just aren't coming around as often...I think the next guys who are of their class are: Rau'shee Warren, Demitrius Andrade, and maybe Raynell Williams or Hylon Williams.

There is no hope for the American heavyweight at this time though.....no one can freaking punch worth a damn

---

What about the Bronze medalist out of the Olympics? He just started boxing a couple of years before the olympics, he's athletic, 6'6, and hits like a train.