Why do boxers carry on to long?

After years of improvement, climbing the ranks and proving their credentials, every boxer hopes to reach the pinnacle of boxing. Engaging in battles that will be talked about for 100 years. Achievement after achievement, victory after victory, and when does it end? The worst person to ask would be a boxer. They still haven’t figured it out.

Very quickly, a boxer goes from a respected and feared Champion, to a has been that acts as a stepping stone for the new breed. Most of the EBUs top fighters are aging, though still formidable.

Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones Jr, Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Larry Holmes, Manny Pacquiao, Sugar Ray Robinson and Ricky Hatton are amongst the biggest names that accumulated more losses than necessary, and didn’t know when to stop. Boxers always seem to believe they can top their best achievements. David Haye is the best current example. We know they cant. Slowly, where we once had respect, we have pity. So why do these warriors find it so hard to call it a day.

Fear. They fear change. They have been doing something for most of their lives, and suddenly they are expected to change. They have been extraordinary and are now expected to be ordinary.

Denial. How many times have they believed in themselves when no one else did? How many times did they shock everyone. They weren’t shocked, they knew. They really believe that they can recapture past glory. Why wouldn’t they believe it? They have done it time and time again. Why would they listen to others? They have proved them wrong so many times.

Money. When they finally realise that they don’t have it anymore, they look for money fights. If you box ever 6 months and get 2 million per fight, your lifestyle is likely to be lavish. 2 million has only got to last 6 months. And if you run out you just sign another fight. Some boxers are done by 28, and others last until 38. They just don’t know. So they look at best case scenario. When they start to fade at 30, they aren’t financially prepared.

The acclaim. When you are told how great you are from a young age, that has a lasting impact. You will find it hard to walk away from that. Most of us will never know personal talent like a champion does. They find it hard to walk away from something that they are good at, generates vast sums of money and gets them respect.

Steve Irwin.