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When an uninformed boxing
wannabe expert called me
screaming about the fact that we
are allowing Francois Botha at
48 years of age to fight Uwe
Hueck, I had to take a deep
breath and explain to the person
that this is a charity
exhibition fight to raise funds
for boxing gyms in Khayelisha,
Cape Town which have minimum of
poor equipment.
Once calmed, the person
enthusiastically endorsed the
fight saying that more fighters
should be doing charity
exhibitions and give back to the
sport that gave them so much.
So, yes, firstly we need to
thank, commend and congratulate
Uwe and Francois for doing what
they are doing, but then the
question made me think somewhat.
When is the right age to call it
quits in boxing? Of course it
depends on many factors such as
genes, longevity, fitness,
punishment taken over the years,
slowing down of reflexes, not
taking punches as well as one
might have years before and many
more.
I remember as a former school
headmaster debating a similar
issue. Does one set an age limit
or does the headmaster determine
the quality of the teacher
irrespective of age? Roy Jones,
Bernard Hopkins, George Foreman
and even Francois Botha fought
past the age where they should
have stopped, or did they?
Of course it is difficult to
simply hang up one's gloves and
move away from adoring fans,
mega adrenalin, potential
paydays and the flashing lights
of fame, but I think that the
answer should lie with the
honesty of a fighter with
himself.
One knows deep down when enough
is enough, and coupled with the
medical staff in boxing and the
boxing commissions, one would
hope that sanity prevails and
fighters retire timeously rather
than becoming death statistics.
So is there a definitive age to
stop boxing – probably not. Is
there scientific proof of taking
enough punishment to warrant
fighters retiring – getting
close but still probably not.
Are commissions expert enough to
decide when to renew a boxer's
license or not – again close but
not definitive.
The answer is simple: Common
sense, the advice of close
friends, and one's family's
wishes. Those should be the
deciding factors.
What do you think?
Until next time, keep boxing.
Howard Goldberg
PRESIDENT: World Boxing
Federation
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