champions who got a late start

BrocktonBlockbuster49 · Post by **BrocktonBlockbuster49** » 11 Jun 2005, 19:10

There Have been A lot of Champions or great fighters who didnt start there career until later and by the time they were a top contender or champion, they were in their 30's.

So im asking you to name fighters who did well after a late start to their career.

ROcky Marciano- the man didnt even think about pro boxing until age 24. and by the time he was a top contender he was 28. HE fought nearly all his championship title defenses aafter age 30. Imagaine if Marciano had started earlier at around age 20 or 21 he would have been fighting his best years at age 26. Marciano when he kncoed out layne and louis he was 27 and I thought that was his peak. not when he was 30, 31 beating ezzard charles.
Ron Lyle- Because of Prison, he got a late start and fougt his best fights in his thirties. he fought for the title at age 33 and still was beating ali. he also almost knocked out formeman when he was in his thirties., What if he has started sooner??? maybe he would have won a title. who knows how good he could have been at 27

Larry Holmes finally won the title at 28, and foguht most of his defenses after he was 30. had he started sooner, he may have been having all his title defenses when he was in mid twenties.

Name some other fighters that either got a late start or didnt become a contender or champ until they were after their "prime" years.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 11 Jun 2005, 21:26

James "Bonecrusher" Smith

Tantum · Post by **Tantum** » 12 Jun 2005, 03:28

Marciano turned Pro at 23, won the title at 29, held it for 3 years with 6 defenses.

Larry Holmes turned pro at 24, won the title at 29, held it for 7 years and had 20 title defenses.

ShoeShine · Post by **ShoeShine** » 13 Jun 2005, 13:18

Tarver was like 28 when he turned pro

BrocktonBlockbuster49 · Post by **BrocktonBlockbuster49** » 13 Jun 2005, 13:57

mARCIANO HAD ONE FIGHT AT 23 THEN went back to amatuers then went back to pors at almost 25. He didnt even start getting trained by charlie goldman until he was 25 so he did have a late start.

Most of holmes biggest fights were when he was in his 30s because he won the title at 28.

babyhuey · Post by **babyhuey** » 13 Jun 2005, 14:24

"joltin" jeff chandler out of philli
fought twice as a amateur and turned pro at ...23...???
he was later inducted into the boxing hall of fame

ferocity · Post by **ferocity** » 16 Jun 2005, 03:01

Jesse James Lejia - I think he was 19 or early twenties, but he grew up around boxing, I think his dad was a boxer.

ferocity · Post by **ferocity** » 16 Jun 2005, 03:09

My earlier post got me thinking, heres a few questions and your opinion, please.

If a boxer started boxing say at 14 years old, stayed in the boxing gym for 1 month and a half then quit. Came back to the gym 3 months later then quit, again.

Follwed this cycle till 16 years old. Quit for 4 years. Came back to the boxing gym. Stayed in the gym almost 1 year finally got 5 amature fights, then quits again. Starts boxing again at 24 years old becomes a pro again quits, then starts boxing again at 26 . When asked how long has he been boxing what does he say?

babyhuey · Post by **babyhuey** » 17 Jun 2005, 02:32

your asking boxers and fight fans to do math...????
some of us have took alot of punches ya know.....
i have enuff trouble finding the letters on my keyboard....

just playing....just say "on and off since i was a kid"