Am I too old?

[nickatbristol]

Hello all,

I'm going to be 27 in September.

I used to be involved in the bodybuilding game quite signficantly about 4 years ago. I currently weight 78kg but back in bodybuilding/powerlifting I went all the way to 100kgs at 5'9.

I feel faster, fitter and healthier now that I am a lower weight and don't lift weights any more. I train at a couple of reputable clubs, 1 in particular is well known.

I am not looking for a career in boxing, but it would be good to get a few bouts under my belt and a win or two. I've always been dedicated to training and nutrition, particularly when I really assert myself. I'm a busy man though, I run a business, and got an active social life. Still, I can get down to the boxing gym for 2 2-hour group sessions with sparring a week, and 2 1-hour self-motivated sessions at a 'normal' gym.

Fighting experience... very minimal, just trained at the boxing gym twice/ three times a week for almost and year now and tried to spar as many times as possible. I would average 4 rounds of 2 mins sparring a week since I started, give or take 5 or so weeks where I didn't spar, and then about 5 or 6 weeks where I sparred at least double that amount.

I had some trouble with my nose before christmas, think I broke it actually, but it's all part of the game eh.

I just feel old, slow and without much prospects in a room full of fitter, younger athletes. Most guys are between 16 and 25, with a few older heavyweights.

I feel that the trainers aren't willing to invest time into me really, maybe if I was 21, this would be different.

Is this age discrimination or do I need a wake up call?

Any 25+ people on here who haven't competed yet or are thinking about competing?

[Ghost]

Which country are you from?

[nickatbristol]

UK

[Ghost]

And no you are not too old.

There are plenty of boxers out there over forty. George Foreman won a title at 45.

If you you do not have any fight experience, try amateur boxing for a year to see if you have temperament for it.

[armyash]

if you're good enough and putting the hours in down the gym dont see why a trainer wouldnt invest time in you. I think it's 35 the cut off point for amateurs in Uk to compete.

[Shamrock]

I went back to it at about 35 after a 10 year break I had to push myself harder than the kids but I could still hack it. Different for you starting new at 27 and I'd say it would take something special for you to get to any sort of pro level where you were making money.

If it's the desire to fight that's got you interested though then amatuer may be enough to quench the desire. I boxed in the North East and some of the unofficial bouts we had against rival clubs would have sold on PPV !!!

If the trainers aren't taking you seriously you have to show them how serious you are - work harder than the rest at the gym and any decent trainer will accept that and give you what you need - if they don't might be woth looking for a new gym where they will.

Good luck and keep us up to date with how you go on

[greynotsoold]

Maybe you could look into a white-collar type of format, unless there is an amateur program that would match you with people of similar age and experience. Otherwise, the problem you'll run into will be with people that have been boxing since a young age; they won't be thinking about what to do, so much, and you would be. Starting late means it takes a lot longer for things to become automatic.

[keithallew]

Maybe you could look into a white-collar type of format, unless there is an amateur program that would match you with people of similar age and experience. Otherwise, the problem you'll run into will be with people that have been boxing since a young age; they won't be thinking about what to do, so much, and you would be. Starting late means it takes a lot longer for things to become automatic.

I've been boxing now for a year and am now 42 years old. I never thought about things becoming automatic would be slower with age, but it makes sense since the youngsters are 'programmed' to pick things up more quickly when younger, e.g. language. I have found that my progress is slow compared to younger fighters in my gym - this may be due to the youngsters receiving more coaching but probably/possibly also due to a delayed muscle memory.

[Gray Lion]

If you start thinking you are to old, you will be to old. I was still boxing into my late 30's. I am 68 and still get in the ring to do some sparring. I can't take the hard hits like I use to, so the other fighters hold their hard punches on me, and I do tire, and I am slow, but I can still hit hard, move around, and show a young fighter a trick or two. Nature will slow me down but I don't intend to surrender to a rocking chair. How does that poem go about "do not go gently into the night"?

[BigSkinny87]

If you start thinking you are to old, you will be to old. I was still boxing into my late 30's. I am 68 and still get in the ring to do some sparring. I can't take the hard hits like I use to, so the other fighters hold their hard punches on me, and I do tire, and I am slow, but I can still hit hard, move around, and show a young fighter a trick or two. Nature will slow me down but I don't intend to surrender to a rocking chair. How does that poem go about "do not go gently into the night"?

You Sir are a hero and inspiration! Sparring at 68, your body must have held up exceptionally well. My father is 69 and has very bad arthritis and joints, he no longer can play tennis, but golfs 3 days a week!

[Memphis]

Nick hows it going mate. Im a Bristol boy, used to train at a few gyms around town many moons ago, Empire, BBG, where you training?

I wish I was 27, would give it another crack.