What fighters in history were in their physical prime post age 33 ?

Hopkins was still in his physical prime at 33. That's 3 years before the Trinidad showcase. He's declined since then, of course, but I don't think there was ever any real sign of deterioration until a few years passed 33.

 

Hop definitely was prime against William Bo James - he was 31 by then - i watched this fight yesterday.

When Hop fought G.Johnson he had the same speed, stamina and the same legs as when he won the title - age 32.

As far as i remember the last time Hopkins was in his prime was Echols 1 - he was 34 by then.

Although it's been a long time since i watched those two fights - maybe he started to show some signs of slowing down a fight or two earlier.

 

Martinez maybe?

 

I think he was still in his physical prime for Echols.

 

Big people mature later -- offensive linemen in the NFL often hit their primes around 30, while running backs and even QBs are often on the decline (at least physically with QBs, though many improve mentally and read defenses better, etc., from sheer experience).

So I think the answer would have to mostly be limited to heavyweights. Ray Mercer comes to mind -- he was a better fighter around that age even though he also lost important fights to Holmes, Lewis, etc. I'm not sure he would have ever beaten that level of opponent.

 

A gauge would be if the 33 year old guy signs contracts for fights against the pedigreed youth and reflexes. And then see how they do and compensate for the gap in reflexes and wear and tear. Usually, matches are made against contemporaries instead and not the up and comers.

What 33 year old heavy is going to deal with the reflexes of a Cassius Clay or Mike Tyson?

 

You are talking like 33 years old heavyweight is like 53 years old.At 33 years old fighter is still in prime years.I remember Bernard Hopkins fight with De la Hoya.Hopkins was 40 years old and De la Hoya 31.Emanuel Stewart said that Hopkins had reflexes good as De La hoya.For you fighter is only good if he is early 20s.Why than we have most of today champions in their 30s.There are more and more examples that athlethes can be at the top level in their late 30s or even 40s but for you no:too late,to old you can't do it...Bernard Hopkins,Archie Moore,Vitali Klitschko,Sergio Martinez,Floyd Mayweather,Juan Manuel Marquez,Cornelius Bundrage,Antonio Tarver,Joe Walcott... proved you wrong.