Why are all boxing coaches senile old men?

All the great ones have been guys in their eighties, Futch, Arcel, Benton, Manny etc.

In practically no other sport is there a situation where 70+ coaches are the best of the trade. Sports usually develop, both physically and tactically, and usually the old guys are not the first ones to pick the changes up.

Usually in all sports new maverick coaches appear from time to time. Those loud, cocky young radicals who force to challenge the view of the game. Not in boxing.

Even if we accept the cdoggish notion that boxing is an exception and the sport has been on downhill since 50s, it would still be amazing that no young guy is able to learn the craft. Not by himself, nor by listening to these old dudes.

Is boxing coaching all about motivation and are the old people the most trustworthy in that sense, or what is it?

 

Because the young guys are still fighting and the middle age guys are promoting or taking s break from the sport

 

Why isn't this the case in other sports?

 

Because boxing usually makes you an senile old man far before your time.

 

None of those guys became famous trainers in their 80s... they were all famous much younger

 

But they retained their status up to eighties unlike in any other sport

 

Roach
McGirt
JD Jackson
Birmingham
Breland
Steward

All top trainers who enjoy or once enjoyed high praise without being elderly

In general, elderly figures have accomplished more than their younger counterparts and thus are held in higher regard ultimately. But i do not agree with the premise that in order to be a top boxing trainer, one must be elderly.

 

Solid examples. A coach can indeed be a top trainer at relatively young age. Not the most respected, but successful nevertheless.

However imo the point still stands considering that a) top trainers do work til their eighties in boxing but nowhere else and b) hardly ever do we hear in boxing that a trainer is too old or old-fashioned to the trade.

 

I think it is probably because fighters want their trainer to have a good rep and be connected. And at the same time, it is the junior trainers who do all the work. So they get energy of young trainer with fame and familiarity of old ones.

 

Only Futch and Arcel did

The other two died first and both were at their peaks younger

In American football, Don Shula and George Halas both coached forever

 

Tradition.

 

Also they do tend to be extra senile from the fighting career.

 

I think it's that but also if a guy is still training fighters full time at an advanced age it probably means they not only love it, but don't have anything else going on in their personal lives. (or training is away of avoiding it)