The New Prime

[fan johnny]

Jim Lampley said before the start of the Martinez fight announcing the age of Martinez and Dzinziruk at 35 & 36, that the mid thirty's is now the "New Prime". He cited his evidence was that fighter's conditioning was getting better and better at this later age.
Personally I think this was is just hype BS.

I think there are two aspects to a fighters peak. 1. the maturity of his boxing skill. 2. his physical conditioning.

I think a fighter is at his optimal peak is when these to aspects are at their best and I also think many fighters never get to that point or one peaks before the other. George Foreman hit his peak physical conditioning as a young man, but was able to mature his boxing ability to fit his old body at a later age.

[El Kabong]

I would also throw in their psychological/mental state as well, there have been SEVERAL fighters that have not rebounded after a 1st big loss only to regain their path later in their careers, also drugs, alcohol, problems at home...those can affect a fighter trying to reach their full potential as well...look at Buster Douglas, he hit his absolute prime in 1 fight....a lot of things had to go right, and wrong, for him to get to that point