Am I too old?

[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.