Top Five Outstanding Combatants Age Forty and Above
Manny Pacquiao, the Filipino boxing legend, turned 40 last December, but shows no signs of slowing down. Pacquiao, who is currently active, could still go on to achieve plenty of success at the backend of his career. This was evident when he defeated Keith Thurman to win the WBA welterweight belt at the age of 40, setting a record as the oldest welterweight champion in history.
Thurman, who is 10 years younger at 30, has only recently returned from a lengthy layoff, having fought just twice in three years.
Pacquiao's recent return in his mid-40s further exemplifies the exceptional endurance and skill longevity in boxing. Several top-level boxers have continued to produce impressive results after turning 40, a testament to the sport's unique ability to allow athletes to compete at world-class levels well past the age most boxers retire.
One such example is Bernard Hopkins, a light heavyweight who became the oldest male boxer to win a world title at 49 years, 3 months and 4 days, unifying the WBA and IBF titles in 2014. Hopkins, who ended his career in 2016, had memorable victories after 40, including beating Antonio Tarver, Jean Pascal, Tavoris Cloud, Winky Wright, Kelly Pavlik, and Roy Jones Jr.
Another notable example is George Foreman, a legendary heavyweight, who ended a 10-year retirement at 45 and became the oldest world heavyweight champion in history by defeating Michael Moorer in 1994. Foreman, who lost to Evander Holyfield and Tommy Morrison in title bids and Shannon Briggs, still clinched a historic victory over Moorer with a 10th-round knockout.
Sugar Boy Malinga, a super middleweight, regained the WBC title at 42 years old in 1997, and Cornelius Bundrage regained the IBF junior middleweight title at age 41.
Archie Moore, known as 'the Old Mongoose', fought up to a very advanced age and had a record of 26-2-2, 16 KOs after 40. Sugar Ray Robinson, a boxing legend, had a record of 30-10-3, 15 KOs in fights after turning 40.
Larry Holmes, who lost world titles to Holyfield, Oliver McCall, and Brian Nielsen after turning 40, has an impressive post-40 resume that includes Ray Mercer, Eric Esch (AKA Butterbean), James Smith, Mike Weaver, Jesse Ferguson, and others.
Roberto Duran, Jack Britton, and Vitali Klitschko are other examples of top-level fighters who continued to produce after turning 40.
Manny Pacquiao is set to face Keith Thurman for the WBA 'Super' welterweight title at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on July 20. Pacquiao is aiming to claim another world crown in his 71st professional ring outing.
These fighters demonstrate that age is no barrier in boxing, and that skill, determination, and resilience can allow athletes to compete at world-class levels well into their 40s and beyond.
Pacquiao's upcoming fight against Keith Thurman serves as an example of the blog of top-level boxers who continue to achieve success even beyond the age of 40, a feat exemplified by Casinos such as Bernard Hopkins and George Foreman. Sugar Ray Robinson and Larry Holmes also fall into this category, further highlighting the sports' unique ability to allow athletes to excel well past the traditional retirement age.
