Quote Originally Posted by cdanielb
i have never seen a boxer that was really great,retire from the game seemingly with all their facultys and skill levels still sharp.
i wonder why if they make millions per fight if they don't hang them up after so long,like micheal jordan.
i hav'nt seen one do it yet except linix lewis.
Athletes stay past their prime in all sports. They stay until they are average, or perhaps slightly above. In boxing though, it becomes painfully obvious (literally) that a fighter is past their prime because it's a one man show, and they get physically punished for it by a lesser man.

In hockey, a once great defensemen may be outdone by an average young forward on a breakaway... someone who wouldn't get by them 8 years ago.

A baseball player may not steal the bases he used to. He may not react as quick to that sharp ground ball up the middle and miss it.

In boxing he gets his head beat in, he gets knocked down, knocked out, and bloody.

That's why we point at boxers for having this problem... it's all athletes. Their sport is their life, and they want to keep doing it for as long as they can.