How long should a Great Boxing career last? (# of title defenses)

[Bill Paxtom]

Does the weight class matter? Amount of title defenses? 10 years? 15 years? Who will set the bar to discussion?





Inspired by Ykdad's Berto-Lopez thread

This is a trick question. There is no correct answer.

[Spicoli]

Once you set a quota then all you have is a guy running up numbers I believe. Quality over quantity.

[Max Power]

Well longer it lasts the greater if everything else is equal.

But in practice there are other factors like Quality of opposition.

The number of quality opponents beaten at championship level is the best measure because some fighters like to pad up their record with bums.

Also it's weight class specific. The lighter the weight, the more fights you can have against quality opposition.

Obviously at HW one fight is worth far more than a fight at any other weight.

[SlimTrae]

Also it's weight class specific. The lighter the weight, the more fights you can have against quality opposition.

.

Good point.

The smaller weight class usually have more fights or options. So would that mean they can burn out quicker?

A feather @ age 30 is equivalent to a HW @ age 35? (if their level of comp assumed is the same?)

Specific- the thread Berto-Lopez was stated Berto may not be able to fight top opposition. But I questioned- maybe he has?? 10 years in the game, 3 -4 years to get title shot.
When he did -won & held it for a about 4 years.

NO right or wrong answer - I just question: Isnt that sufficient to call him at least a durable champion?

Flip the script_ if a fghter holds any belt(s) longer than 5 years, doesnt that open up the argument that it HAD to have been padded? Or that the class was weak as hell?
Kind of a double edged sword question I guess! If a fighter loses a title after 4 years then he aint shit. But if he holds it longer than 5, well he fought soft opposition.

Just wondering if you or anyone here can present a case where someone did more in 10 years than someone in 20 years? Once again no right or wrong; all opinions welcome!

[SlimTrae]

Does the weight class matter? Amount of title defenses? 10 years? 15 years? Who will set the bar to discussion?





Inspired by Ykdad's Berto-Lopez thread

This is a trick question. There is no correct answer.

I remember commentators talking about Morales loss to Pac as a sign that smaller fighters usually began to fade on the early side of 30.

JMM since then is an example that goes contrary-
JMM born 1973 makes him 43 years old.
fighting since 1993 (22years)

How many feather weights turned welter have had careers this damn long? By general guess he's been in about 20 championship fights.
I would say he IS NOT the norm.

Overall I see it this way:
Standard athletes amatuer (college ball, NCAA, Boxing Olympics) turn pro around 20-22 yrs of age?
Football & Basketball players usually move into their prime around 26-30 yrs of age.

Making the downside of the careers around 30, then when we look at pro ball players to boxers like ALi & Holmes, to QBs like John Elway, Troy Aikman seem to all fizzle out around 37-40yrs of age.

Or am I incorrect & there aren't many GREATs pass this age?
It seems like generally speaking athletes are past their past by age 35. And only hanger-ons , delusional or broke athletes continue past the age of 40.

Then on another note- I've read plenty of stories stating the fight style can prolong/shorten ones career like the blast U out fighting styles of Frazier to Tyson.
Not really a trick question, but maybe a subjective one?