Most dedicated "off season" trainers?

Holyfield. Appeared very fit in every single appearance anywhere post career. And although he was totally shot in his recent fight (if you can call it that), he WAS in excellent shape. He seems like he's just dedicated to fitness regardless.

 

I wouldn't go so far as to say that it is beyond dispute.

A good spear fighter will usually beat a good sword fighter without armor, but there are ways of dealing with them.

If you fight somebody with a halberd, the first thing that goes through your mind is "what the f*** am I doing here?", but there are ways of dealing with them.

 

There was a British Colonel in World War II, called Mad Jack Churchill, who used to fight with a broadsword!

No prizes for guessing why he picked up the moniker mad.

To answer your question, the obvious choice would be the medieval longsword.

The debate about what was the most badass sword of all time, among Hema enthusiasts, usually comes down to katana or medieval longsword.

As somebody who has taken hits from blunted versions of both these weapons, I can tell you that it doesn't feel like being hit with any other kind of sword.

It is like the difference between being punched, and hit with a brick.

I have used sharpened versions of these swords to cut up reed mats, and the results are scary!

 

Don't forget the longbow and bagpipes.

 

Can’t vouch for what he did but Floyd Patterson was another boxer who never looked out of shape.

His physical appearance at age 37 for the second Ali fight in 1972 was very impressive with much of his hand speed still retained. . For mine, he actually shook Ali on a few occasions with lightning fast combos during that fight. A great P4P puncher and enough steam in absolute terms to keep his bigger HW opp. more than honest.

 

Mayweather. Although he seems to love fast food (McDonalds), he seemed to always be in shape.

 

Carl Froch keeps in very good shape. He would do triathlons in between fights and still works out now I believe.

 

As two handed sword go do you prefer longsword ahead of the bigger zwei hander and claymore, and katana ahead of no-dachi and nagamaki? And if so, is it because they are easier to wield?

 

The first Ali-Chuvalo fight took place on 17 days notice and still both guys showed great shape over 15 rds. Chuvalo looked like a guy that always was in shape and so was Ali pretty much during the 60's (the exception being after the first Liston fight when he took a break to travel around and blew up to 231 lbs).

 

I typically use a two handed longsword, of the kind used during the Wars of the Roses.

My trainer sometimes uses a zweihander, but he is about 6' 10''.