S and C coaches, advanced understanding of nutrition, smarter training, move from 15 round fights to 12, all add up too increased longevity.
A big % already do, PED do little...except in Heavyweight where I feel PEDs are good for heavyweights... Especially if they train properly to make sure the gains suite their style
Today's guys have not found some miraculous fountain of youth. With all things being equal, a good young man will beat a good old man, there are very few exceptions to this and when there are, those exceptions are rightfully lauded. So why isn't this happening? Main reason being, the old farts are just not being challenged, whether by a lack of freely available talent or by very shrewd career management. Usually a bit of both.
Yes, it is suspicious. Wlad and Floyd haven't quite crossed the line yet (age wise) but it is remarkable that they are basically not deteriorating at all. Being THIS good at 35+ was pretty uncommon back in the day. I mean, Foreman and Holmes managed decent comebacks in high age but Floyd and Wlad have basically no competition in their weight classes with Floyd being in one of the hottest divisions around (147/154). The other ones are even more suspicious. Sadly, I belong to those who believe that juicing is not exception but the standard. Not accusing anyone on that list explicitly of juicing but I'm convinced PEDs are a real thing in boxing and having half a P4P list consist of 35+ yos is unprecedent I might say.
a lot of people talking about S & C coaches. Sport science hasn't really moved on sport that much TBH. They were doing pretty similar training and nutrition back in the day, they just didn't come up with catchy names for it. My guess would be that a lot of the S & C coaches are actually giving their athletes the right sort of 'supplements' to enhance their longevity.
Because they have never been into wars like the old days.. also most fighters today fought only once in a year or two compared to the past where they fought a couple times in a year.
The truth is boxers are best measured by the punches taken. This group has kept in shape and seldom had tough fights. They did not get fat, or lazy. As such they were good to go into their late 30's and beyond. Other factors such as improved medical surgeries, larger gloves, and less rounds have extended modern boxers shelf lives.
It's funny though how in the past, fighters seemed to fight for longer, at a higher pace than today though, even with all the PEDs. I mean they used to fight, what 100 rounds in Jack Johnson days? Ridiculous.
It easier for fighters these days to have greater longevity. For one they fight less and they are not having to fight 15 rounds. Do you think Hopkins would be still as good as he is at 50 if he had fought over 200 fights like Archie Moore? The proliferation of titles and weight divisions has also meant divisions are not as competitive as once before, when you had just one or two titles. It's easier to get to a title shot because you are not having to fight the same intensity of opposition on the way up. Then when you have a title you don't have to face every threat because not all of then will be going for your title. This makes it easier to keep fighting at a high level for longer. You can pick and choose opposition, making easier fights and less wear and tear on the body. You also have the fact fighters now have better after care, ice baths, physio's, better medical care to fix injuries or prevent small injuries becoming worse. That combined with better understanding of training, diet etc and we have fighters peaking later for longer. You have seen it in other sports as well.