How is a 38 year old man who heavily relies on movement still dominating?

Usyk just dismantled a young prime heavy hitter with ease. How is he able to do it still? Wlad I understood, he used his size and held like a female dog. Usyk is finding ways to adapt and still fights clean. Truly a boxing genius and arguably the GOAT. I know @AdamT was punching air on sat.

 

Usyk’s just a badass. Cut from a different cloth. Incredibly smart, has very good speed, has a phenomenal work ethic, always has his endurance on point and I’ve said this a thousand times… hits harder than many give him credit for.

The epitome of a warrior.

 

He is still quicker than his opponents. HW's really not known for their speed. Plus he is crafty.

 

It's hard to answer this question without sounding dismissive, but Usyk is coming up against the likes of Joshua and Dubois, who are both as robotic and defensively inept as any world-level heavyweight I've seen for decades. Coming up in weight makes him more agile, and he's also just much technically better than anyone at HW by quite some distance. He's also running over old ground with boxers he's already figured out, half of his HW resume is Joshua and Dubois.

 

Manny Pacquaio at 46 arguably just won a fight against a 16 years younger WBC welterweight champ. Age ain't nothing but a number, if you have the mindset.

 

Usyk is deceptively smart using distance, much like BHop was. He also counters well and sets traps. It doesnt hurt that this HW crop is on the weaker side, but Usyk wouldve competed in any HW era

 

Clean lifestyles, fundamentals and dedication.

Guys like Usyk, Beterviev, Hopkins can remain competitive because they take care of themselves and they have good boxing fundamentals.

Boxers who relies too much on athleticism tend to fall off a lot faster, like Roy Jones, Judah and Hamed.

 

38 is not old like he said , plus he a top class athlete boxing is in his DNA ..

He trains hard , he trains for high tempo and movement because that's his style ..

 

Aging is still undefeated at about 117 billion to 0, no matter the mindset of all those people.

Still, at lower weighclasses it counts more as with heavyweight.
Many heavyweights showed decline of even being completely done after the age of 36, but some managed to hold on for longer.

Louis was 37 when he won his last HW titlefight by KO6
Lewis was 37 (TKO6)
Vitali's last win was at 41 (TKO4) and he still dominated his opponents. His body just gave out on him with injuries and his political career took priority.
Pretty damn sure he would have completely trashed his mandatory if the fight had still happened, because his opponent would have been jab magnet Stiverne.
His brother Wladimir was 39 when he last won, but already clearly showing decline.
Holmes looked done at 39 when Tyson knocked him out in 4 rounds, but he schooled a then undefeated Mercer at age 42. Didn't look all that bad against a prime Holyfield at 43 and McCall at 45 in lost titlefights.
Holyfield clearly showed signs of decline from 39 on, but almost managed to recapture the corrupt WBA title at the age of 46 against 49-1 Valuev. Doped up to the brim probably, but still.
And of course there's the man, the myth, Big George Foreman, who went on a rampage in his second career ultimately resulting in a 10th round KO victory over Moorer at age 45. Eventually getting robbed on the cards against Briggs for the lineage at the age of 48, one and a half month shy of his 49th birthday.

 

Because he's the best ever.

 

Youth and size are overrated. "Skills pay the bills."

 

Usyk and his team are clearly working in unison like a well-oiled machine.

There’s a disconnect with most fighters, their trainers and their corners.

 

Because Usyk is fully aware of his advantages and disadvantages and has used both to fully capitalise against his opponents

Big power puncher? No problem. I will circle away and constantly reset him

Good mover? No problem. I will break his rhythm

Pressure fighter? No problem. I will set traps and make him gun shy

 

Because he is a genius, his feet are clearly a bit slower than they used to be, so how he adapted instead is by being more economical with his movement, instead of jumping around like a gazelle, he’s taking very small steps back to just about avoid punches, Usyk’s counterpunching has gone to another level in the last 3 years or so, partly because he’s adjusted his footwork to be less flashy but more economical, it’s still very flashy don’t get me wrong!