Former heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman, who made history by defeating Lennox Lewis in 2001, has a rather bleak outlook on Tyson Fury's future in the ring. At 53, Rahman is preparing for a comeback fight, aiming to become the oldest heavyweight champion in history. However, he believes that Fury's prime is over, and his career might have already been ended by his trilogy showdown with Deontay Wilder.
Rahman's opinion is particularly interesting given his own comeback attempt. He lost his last professional bout in 2014 but is now confident he can surpass George Foreman's record. In his view, Fury's career might have been prematurely ended by the intense trilogy with Wilder, which took a toll on both fighters. The American boxer suggests that the series of fights left both fighters' careers in tatters, and he doubts that we will ever see the prime Tyson Fury again.
Rahman's assessment is based on Fury's performance against Arslanbek Makhmudov in April, where he outpointed his opponent unanimously. He believes that this fight was where Fury's career might have ended, and the 37-year-old's recent performances have not been as impressive as before. In my opinion, Rahman's assessment is a bit harsh, but it does raise an interesting question about the longevity of professional boxers.
What makes this situation particularly fascinating is the contrast between the two fighters' ages and their respective careers. While Rahman is aiming to make a comeback at 53, Fury is 37. This raises a deeper question about the impact of age on boxing performance. Personally, I think that while age might affect a boxer's speed and endurance, it doesn't necessarily mean the end of their career. What many people don't realize is that proper training and nutrition can help boxers maintain their performance well into their 40s and beyond.
If you take a step back and think about it, the boxing world has seen many examples of boxers who have made successful comebacks later in life. One thing that immediately stands out is the case of Bernard Hopkins, who became a two-weight world champion at 46. From my perspective, this suggests that age is not the only factor determining a boxer's success. What this really suggests is that the boxing world is full of surprises, and it's never too late to make a comeback.
