BoxRec

Which world class boxers started boxing at a late age...

Ray Mercer.

Rocky Marciano - 23 as an amateur.

I think Andreas Sidon had no amateur experience and had first pro fight in 1999, aged 35 I think. He was German Champion.

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=014572

Matt Skelton started his boxing career aged 34/35 , although he had been on the K1 circuit for a while before that.

Jean Marc Mormeck started pretty late i think and only had around 13 amateur fights (11-2).

Tom Podmore.

Tarver turned pro late although had a long running am career

Former Europeon Super Feather champ and IBO Champ , Affif Djelti.
Boxed pro for the first time at 31yo, looks as if he still had to learn alot as he lost his first 4 fights , 3 by DQ

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=006036

Hopkins.

Mercer is definitely my favourite late starter.... won the Olympic gold medal less than 3 years after starting to box then the WBO world title 3 years later....

It's not coincidence that they're all heavier weights. I can't think of many lighter fighters who started late, bar John Davidson, who briefly held the WBO Featherweight title. I remember reading an interview with him where he said he'd first stepped into the gym in his early 20s...
Anthony Mundine is another as well. Had made it big in rugby league before deciding to follow in his father's footsteps...

helps being fit as a fiddle, a lad came to our gym who'd been released by Wrexham football club, he progressed really well in the amateur gym due to his fitness, even with only a little technical ability he could fight for 3 mins per round in a 3 or 4 round sparring session (although sounds pants its very good for someone just starting out). Set him up nicely although the trainers pushed him too far too quick and i think he lost interest.

E wrote: I think Andreas Sidon had no amateur experience and had first pro fight in 1999, aged 35 I think. He was German Champion.

Sidon has been active in kickboxing since his childhood I think

Australian Anthony Mundine had no amateur career and was playing professional rugby league before going straight into boxing as a pro.

Kermit Cintron is another without an amateur background but hasn't quite made it yet after getting destroyed by Margarito last April.

Carl Thompson is another with no amateur experience who turned pro at 24, or there abouts. Obviously his background in Muay Thai training with Master Sken will have helped.

He has made up for his late start by fighting at a high level into his forties. A true physical marvel.

I didn't know Carl was from a Muay Thai background. Kind of explains his footwork as most former thai boxers have poor boxing footwork.

However, he has amazing punch power for someone from that background, most Thai boxers never develop a lethal punch.

johnswan1 wrote:Australian Anthony Mundine had no amateur career and was playing professional rugby league before going straight into boxing as a pro.

Kermit Cintron is another without an amateur background but hasn't quite made it yet after getting destroyed by Margarito last April.

YEah Mundine is something amazing....surely he must have been training or sparring for years before he went pro?

E wrote: YEah Mundine is something amazing....surely he must have been training or sparring for years before he went pro?

Mundine would have been around boxing gyms from an early age due to his father being Tony Mundine a quality Middleweight from the Monzon era, also alot of the Aussie Rugby league sides do boxing training as part of their fitness programs.

there was another guy who fought at heavy , it was quite recently. He went something like 11 wins 11 kos, but i can't remember his name.
Think he is back in Rugby League now.

Tough guys, League players. Paul Bonson was another one who switched, albeit with less success, to boxing. Gary Mason went the other way, if I remember, although not much came of it.

Didn't Nigel Benn take up boxing in the army when he was 24 - 25?

topper123 wrote:

E wrote: YEah Mundine is something amazing....surely he must have been training or sparring for years before he went pro?

Mundine would have been around boxing gyms from an early age due to his father being Tony Mundine a quality Middleweight from the Monzon era, also alot of the Aussie Rugby league sides do boxing training as part of their fitness programs.

there was another guy who fought at heavy , it was quite recently. He went something like 11 wins 11 kos, but i can't remember his name.
Think he is back in Rugby League now.

There's a couple of ex-boxers in league. Brian McDermott, long-time prop for Bradford, was a heavyweight for a bit (his boxrec lists just one fight, though). Solomon Haumono, rather large Islander chappie who's playing for London now, went 8-0 (8 inside) in Aussie a couple of years ago.

topper123 wrote: there was another guy who fought at heavy , it was quite recently. He went something like 11 wins 11 kos, but i can't remember his name.
Think he is back in Rugby League now.

remember it was Solomon Haumono, he went 8 wins with 8kos, now back with London Broncos rugby league

Old news...

Coconut wrote:Old news...

yep shows how much notice i take

dopey wrote:Didn't Nigel Benn take up boxing in the army when he was 24 - 25?

Think he was nearer to 17-18 when he inlisted and followed in his brothers footsteps.

Chris Eubank started fighting later on.