Fighers who got Old at a young age

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 09 Aug 2004, 15:14

Although I think both were over thirty, but David Izon and Obed Sullivan went from decent fighters to completely shot in a very short space of time and not after particularly hard careers.

Meldrick Taylor is a good one, as is Tyrell Biggs.

REAL_DEAL · Post by **REAL_DEAL** » 09 Aug 2004, 15:21

good thread by me

Alex · Post by **Alex** » 27 Mar 2005, 17:09

KOJOE90 wrote:
tegenm wrote:20's British boxer Nipper Pat Daly turned pro at 11, and was washed up at 17.
Turned Pro at 11!! That's interesting, did he have to lie about his age? or was that allowed in those days? Anyone know when the current UK age limit was introduced?

Sorry about the lateness of this reply, just came across this thread. My Grandfather Nipper Pat Daly actually had his first pro fight at about 9, which probably makes his the youngest professional debut in boxing history! So far I don't have an exact date for this, but will hopefully uncover the full details in time.

As shocking as it sounds to us today he did not have to lie about his age, as there were no restrictions on the age of professional boxers and boxers weren't licensed. There were however restrictions on the age of title fight contenders and as a result he was never given the chance to fight for the British title, which he had earned.

He was certainly as the thread title states "old at a young age" and becasue of his natural talent for boxing did not experience a normal childhood.

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 27 Mar 2005, 17:37

*Alex* wrote:
KOJOE90 wrote:
tegenm wrote:20's British boxer Nipper Pat Daly turned pro at 11, and was washed up at 17.
Turned Pro at 11!! That's interesting, did he have to lie about his age? or was that allowed in those days? Anyone know when the current UK age limit was introduced?
Sorry about the lateness of this reply, just came across this thread. My Grandfather Nipper Pat Daly actually had his first pro fight at about 9, which probably makes his the youngest professional debut in boxing history! So far I don't have an exact date for this, but will hopefully uncover the full details in time.

As shocking as it sounds to us today he did not have to lie about his age, as there were no restrictions on the age of professional boxers and boxers weren't licensed. There were however restrictions on the age of title fight contenders and as a result he was never given the chance to fight for the British title, which he had earned.

He was certainly as the thread title states "old at a young age" and becasue of his natural talent for boxing did not experience a normal childhood.

9 years old, that amazing! I presume child labour laws were somewhat different these days as well?

With regards to age restrictions for title fights I 'think' it's still or was still very recently 21 to fight for the British Title? Hence one of the reasons Hamed never fought for one.

Thanks for the feedback, interesting stuff.

Alex · Post by **Alex** » 27 Mar 2005, 18:09

Yeah the age for title contenders was 21 and was brought in I think about 1928, as there was talk of him being matched with flyweight champ Johnny Hill for the title (aged just 15), before the law came in.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 27 Mar 2005, 19:57

Christ, that's fornicating amazing, was he fighting against grown men at that age?!

Correct me if I am wrong, according to boxrec, your grandfather is still alive, if so then he must be a fornicating physical marvel.

Wales · Post by **Wales** » 27 Mar 2005, 20:11

with little or no boxing traiing (about 2 years) I KNOW THERE AINT ONE 9 YR OLD IN THE WORLD that would beat me, surely he fought pro against other youngsters?

states · Post by **states** » 27 Mar 2005, 20:19

He's hardly shot, but I'd say Vargas probably got thrown in too young. Certainly I guy I'd consider to be older in ring years than real years, you know?

Edit: Always good to read the thread properly, and see that someone's already made this point.

Alex · Post by **Alex** » 27 Mar 2005, 20:20

By the age of about 14 he was fighting grown men and the best men in Europe at that! He beat German, Italian and Belgian champions, as well as one recently dethrowned British champ, two men who were British champs within a couple of years of fighting him and one who became European champion!

Jack Kearns was so impressed after seeing him spar with world middleweight champ Mickey Walker that he wanted to take him back to the states, and in 1929 tried to arrange a world title fight between my grandad and Battling Battalino - world featherweight champion. My grandad's manager of course (for fear of losing his big money ticket) wouldn't allow him to go to America.

He died in 1988, not sure of the exact date, but when I find it i'll add it to boxrec.

dondada · Post by **dondada** » 28 Mar 2005, 05:36

Michael Gomez looked gone last time out. He's moving up in weight so that might help him.

Regardless, he's certainly an old-fashioned looking 27-year-old!

Wales · Post by **Wales** » 28 Mar 2005, 08:28

By the age of about 14 he was fighting grown men and the best men in Europe at that! He beat German, Italian and Belgian champions, as well as one recently dethrowned British champ, two men who were British champs within a couple of years of fighting him and one who became European champion!

Jack Kearns was so impressed after seeing him spar with world middleweight champ Mickey Walker that he wanted to take him back to the states, and in 1929 tried to arrange a world title fight between my grandad and Battling Battalino - world featherweight champion. My grandad's manager of course (for fear of losing his big money ticket) wouldn't allow him to go to America.

Impressive!! Did you ever speak to your grandfather about his boxing days?

tonyevs · Post by **tonyevs** » 28 Mar 2005, 11:34

Ryan Rhodes

tonyevs · Post by **tonyevs** » 28 Mar 2005, 11:52

No disrespect to Nipper Pat Daly but I notice almost all his opponents had less than 10 fights, the large majority less than 1.
This throughout his career of 112 fights.

What was the amateur scene about then because the age and record suggest more amateur scene than pro, or was he the original Buck Smith.

Freiheit · Post by **Freiheit** » 28 Mar 2005, 12:09

The records from back then is not even close to be complete so they might have had more fights.

Tantum · Post by **Tantum** » 28 Mar 2005, 13:03

Livingstone Bramble.

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 28 Mar 2005, 16:10

Lloyd Honeyghan, Pipino Cuevas, John Conteh, Donald Curry...
Curry never looked the same after the Honeyghan fight imo... Conteh was only about 28 when he was finished.... Honeyghan looked shocking after the Starling fight and really shouldn't have fought after the Breland fight. Cuevas was more or less shot at 23... but like Benitez had been fighting at or near the top since the age of 15.

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 28 Mar 2005, 17:10

The decline of Donald Curry was due to a number of factors in my opinion.

(1) A very long amateur career (400-4??) before turning professional.
(2) Weight making problems at 147lbs.
(3) Never mentaly getting over the lose to Honeyghan.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 28 Mar 2005, 18:46

there's two more to figure in there.

He was overrated, and had very poor defensive technique, and relied far too much on his reflexes. Once he went up the weight divisions, he didn't have the punch resistance to handle people.

He was a big sniff head whose love for quaylo fucked him up.

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 28 Mar 2005, 18:56

Mando Ramos was another one who burnt out very quickly....

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 28 Mar 2005, 19:21

jamesmcdonnell wrote:there's two more to figure in there.

He was overrated, and had very poor defensive technique, and relied far too much on his reflexes. Once he went up the weight divisions, he didn't have the punch resistance to handle people.

He was a big sniff head whose love for quaylo fucked him up.

The latter of the two is more likely, Curry had a good chin the pounding he took vs Nunn was testimant to that.

I don't think he was overated just had a short carrer, kind of like Tyson. Tyson was ranked above Chavez and Leonard in the P4P rankings in his prime, just because he didn't last as long as either I don't think meant he didn't deserve that position or was overated. Same with Curry, the guy was superb.

Graham Brett · Post by **Graham Brett** » 29 Mar 2005, 05:45

John Mugabi

Washed up at 29, and probably past it a year before that.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 29 Mar 2005, 06:00

Graham Brett wrote:John Mugabi

Washed up at 29, and probably past it a year before that.

Not a bad call, although he was 30 when he lost to Norris. At 29 his only world title.

Mind you he did face two big punchers in Norris and of course the G man

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 29 Mar 2005, 06:27

And a certain Mr Hagler.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 29 Mar 2005, 06:39

jamesmcdonnell wrote:And a certain Mr Hagler.

Didn't get flatterned in a round by him though.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 29 Mar 2005, 06:42

No, but what he got was worse, he got a sustained battering, especially over the latter half of the fight. He took shots which would have felled a horse, but just refused to go down. I think that fight must have taken a lot out of him physically.