Is it possible for any fighter to be better after age 35 than before?

physically, no. technically, of course. there comes a point where your physical deterioration is too much to still employ your new found technical mastery, thats when your done improving and its all downhill from there.

 

I think Wlad K peaked at the age and Lewis. Calzage and JMM for lighter weights peaked at 35/36. So can be done.

 

Examples:

Jersey Joe Walcott, who was at his absolute peak at age 37.

Bernard Hopkins, who was at his very best at age 39.

Archie Moore was a world champion into his early forties.

 

That is nicely summarized.

 

I think boxer's prime usually falls between 25 and 31 and by 35 they are usually fairly declined and ready to retire. Most of the examples I can think of like Marquez, Mayweather, Martinez, and Hopkins are in the era of miracle PEDs. But even then, the drugs didn't make them quite as good as they were in their primes.

 

Name these miracle PEDs.

 

That's a good question. I guess it will have a lot to do with how a fighter carries himself outside the ring. Reckless fighters outside the ring like Hatton and Pavlik expired soon after reaching their primes, while disciplined fighters like Floyd, Jmm, and Hopkins are fighting at a high level still while being past their prime. So it's possible if you live a healthy lifestyle.

 

Improving certain areas of your game doesn't mean you are better and more effective overall.

Naturally, you will gain experience as you age and have more fights under your belt. Fighters may tweak their game and improve in certain areas. They adapt because they have to because of the decline in physical gifts. This helps them remain effective at older ages.

It's more common now for fighters to remain champs and fight at a high level for a variety of reasons. Their own abilities to begin with, the quality and style of opposition, some boxers starting at later ages, possible PED use, etc...But it still remains extremely rare for a fighter to peak at the age of 35 or higher. For those who fight an elite level at 35 and up, most of them were even better when they were younger.

 

Lifestyle and psychological as well as physical factors such as injuries has ALOT to do with it. You can be in superb physical condition, but if you're not focused you'll lose fights you weren't supposed too.

I agree in Jmm's case he was at his best at 126-130, he threw less combinations in his last fights and seeked the ko/tko more, focused more on power.

In Maravilla's case, I disagree. Martinez found his groove and did peak late in his career. His speed, power, defense, timing, and ring IQ all were clicking at their best at that point. Williams was just as tough and durable as Margarito and was a better boxer, so Maravilla besting Williams proved how much Maravilla had improved since his loss to Margarito and how much better Martinez actually was.

Jersey Joe Walcott was another who peaked into his late 30's early 40's. Great fights with Charles and Marciano.

 

This.