When most athletes reach the age of thirty-three most start to realize that they are no longer able to compete in the same way they did ten years ago. It’s simply part of life and it is no surprise at all. They usually start to lose their athleticism and physical attributes such as speed, power, and reflex. But there are certain athletes that go beyond the limits of science. Michael Jordan defied the impossible and became even greater as he got older becoming the only NBA player to score 50 or more points at age 40.
In boxing, athletes usually reach their peak between the ages twenty seven and thirty and then begin slowing down soon there after. This is the time when youthful boxers must use their age as an advantage. But again, there are some boxers who continue to defy this logic. There are few who dig deep to uncover a fountain of youth in the abyss of there souls. Current superstar boxers such as Juan Manuel Marquez, Sergio Martinez, and Floyd Mayweather Jr. are all over thirty-three years old and have preserved their skills and have arguably even gotten better. The same goes for Sugar Shane Mosley and Bernard Hopkins. For Manny Pacquiao, would this be similar fate?
Sparring Partners
Before we touch that, there are many problems that the opponents of Pacquiao have yet to solve. The first and most telling factor is that there is no boxer in our present generation that could emulate exactly how Pacquiao moves. When searching for a sparring partner for a Pacquiao opponant perhaps trainers should hold a open casting call for actors. How could anyone prepare for the Pac-Monster if they cannot find someone who could mimic Pacquiao in training? So far there really haven?t been any sparring partners who come close to fighting like Manny. Story continued on page 2……
