Boxers who started late and made a mark in the ring: Late bloomers

Boxing is one of the most famous sports in the world. Over the past decades, it has acquired massive popularity and a fan base from all over the world. The competitors in the sport are known as boxers and are highly talented with great fighting skills. Although most of them have been training and improving their skills from a young age, there are some boxers who started late in life and have managed to make a mark in the ring.

However, getting into a sport like boxing later in life and still managing to carve out a booming professional career is a challenging task. Only a few legends in history have done so and have emerged as victors in the arena. And like any other sport with late bloomers, boxing is no different.

Top 10 boxers who started late

Although most boxers who started their journey young are the best in the industry, some late bloomers have defied the odds and have gone down in history as the greatest of all time.

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According to various online sources, Sports Brief has compiled a list of the top 10 boxers who started late and made a mark on the ring.

10. Dwight Muhammad Qawi

• Career years: 1978-1998
• Started at: 25
• Achievement(s): 3-time world champion
• Weight division(s): Light heavyweight, heavyweight, cruiserweight

While in prison, Dwight started training as a boxer, and when he was released, he joined the arena professionally. Despite starting at 25, he had several records and success to his name and thus proving that with determination, focus, and hard work, everything is possible.

Before retiring, he had taken home the WBC and Ring Magazine belts while competing in the Light-heavyweight category. Additionally, the renowned legend bagged the World Cruiserweight Title to seal his reign.

9. Ken Norton

• Career years: 1967 - 1981
• Started at: 24
• Achievement(s): NABF Heavyweight champion
• Weight division(s): Heavyweight

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Norton is one of the heavyweight boxers who started late and went down in history as the greatest challenger to the legendary Muhammad Ali. In his 14-year career, he met with Ali head-to-head on three occasions, and in doing so, he won in the first round.

Although he lost the following matches with Ali, their close fights cemented his will and determination in the ring, even though he was a late bloomer.

8. Ray Mercer

• Career years: 1989 - 2008
• Started at: 27
• Achievement(s): Inter-continental, the NABF, and the WBO heavyweight champion
• Weight division(s): Heavyweight

The renowned legend Ray Mercer is among the heavyweight boxers who started late in life. He is known for his diversity since he did not only compete in boxing but also in MMA and kickboxing.

Making his debut at 27, he is one of the oldest late bloomers in history who created a unique kick-off in his career. Although he was quite old to venture into a rough sport such as boxing, he still managed to go unbeaten until he lost to Larry Holmes in 1992.

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7. Clinton Woods

• Career years: 1994 - 2009
• Started at: 22
• Achievement(s): 3-time IBF light-heavyweight champion
• Weight division(s): Super middleweight, light heavyweight

Among the most famous boxers who started late is Clinton Wood. He is known for defending his IBF light-heavyweight title for four years before his retirement in 2009. Woods made an impressive run despite joining the arena late in life.

With his solid record, he is considered one of the best boxers who started late in the sport's history.

6. Sergio Martinez

• Career years: 1997 - 2014
• Started at: 22
• Achievement(s): WBC Super Welterweight, WBC, WBO, Ring Magazine, and Lineal Middleweight champion
• Weight division(s): Light middleweight, welterweight, middleweight

Sergio Martinez is one of the middleweight boxers who started late and ended up in the history books with some of the greatest ever in the sport. He ventured professionally into the boxing world when he was 22, and in doing so, he shocked the world with his tremendous skills.

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The renowned legend had an outstanding record of 51-3-2 which saw him accomplish numerous achievements throughout his career.

5. Anthony Joshua

• Career years: 1997 - Present
• Started at: 22
• Achievement(s): IBF, WBA, WBO, IBO, and Super World Heavyweight champion
• Weight division(s): Heavyweight

With several career achievements and awards, Anthony Joshua first appeared professionally in boxing when he was 22. Considering the heights he has climbed as of 2023, he is the best in the world.

Even though he suffered a major defeat to his rival Andy Ruiz Jr, he has always been at the top of his game since joining the sport.

4. Sonny Liston

• Career years: 1953 - 1970
• Started at: 19
• Achievement(s): Heavyweight champion
• Weight division(s): Heavyweight

Sonny Liston is one of the most famous boxers who started late. Although starting at 19 might seem early to some sports, it is rather late in boxing.

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However, the renowned legend has gone down in history as one of the best boxers, with a record of 50-4 in his 17-year career.

3. Bernard Hopkins

• Career years: 1988-2016
• Started at: 18
• Achievement(s): WBC, IBO, Diamond IBF, WBA, Super, and IBA World Light-Heavyweight titles, IBF, WBO, and IBF World Middleweight titles
• Weight division(s): Middleweight, light heavyweight

When a debate about Light-heavyweight legends comes to light, Bernard Hopkins is undoubtedly the first name that comes to mind. While participating in two categories in an era where legends walked the arena, he curved a successful path for himself.

The renowned legend is among the famous light-heavyweight boxers who started late and took home countless titles.

2. Deontay Wilder

• Career years: 2008 - Present
• Started at: 20
• Achievement(s): WBC heavyweight champion
• Weight division(s): Heavyweight

Wilder is among the best boxers who started late, and at the moment, he is making his way to the top of the boxing pyramid. He is known for his power punching skills that can easily knock down even the mightiest opponents.

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Starting his professional career at 20, he has become a force to be reckoned with, and in doing so, he has become one of the greatest heavyweight athletes to grace the ring.

1. Rocky Marciano

• Career years: 1947 - 1955
• Started at: 24
• Achievement(s): NBA champion
• Weight division(s): Heavyweight

Among the pro boxers who started late is Rocky Marciano, one of the all-time greats in the sport's history. In his 8-year career, he went undefeated in 49 matches and had a whopping 43 knockout wins, thus securing him a place at the top of the list.

Although he started at 24 and retired after eight years, his career statistics are unmatched even when compared to athletes that started at a young age.

Can you start boxing at a late age?

Although there are several stigmas and misconceptions about being a late bloomer in a career like boxing, anyone can start training to be a professional at any age.

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Legends such as Marciano and Lisbon ventured into the sport late in life and have worked miracles in the ring.

Is it too late to start boxing at 30?

As they say, age is but a number, so anyone with the will and determination can start a boxing career despite their age. In fact, at 30, if someone works hard enough, they can be physically fit to venture into different sports, including boxing.

The boxers who started late and eventually made a mark in history are some of the greatest inspirations for future generations. Despite the stigma accompanying choosing a career later in life, these fighters defied the odds and became the greatest boxers in history.

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