Your opinions: Has boxing progressed or regressed:Modern vs 60's-80's

[VatoMulatto]

It's progressed. They were saying boxing had regressed back in the 60s. It's just a myth that lingers about boxing and some fans seem to pick it up and hold onto it, I don't know maybe to make themselves stand out.

You know they're saying the same thing about football right now. There's a big debate on about whether Messi is better than Pele and people side with Pele. It works exactly like boxing, the older they are the more renowned they become. Their myth grows and people willingly choose to believe it. Look at the pattern it runs: Ronaldo is better than Messi, Pele is better than Ronaldo. The larger the myth the larger the support, and boxing feeds on that sort of thing. Saying boxing is dead or devolving is just part of boxing culture which has been around since the year dot.

[ELHURACAN58]

Progressed overall.

More countries are getting into boxing and it's getting harder for fighters to become champs in their early 20's.

Originally Posted by croz
It's progressed. They were saying boxing had regressed back in the 60s. It's just a myth that lingers about boxing and some fans seem to pick it up and hold onto it, I don't know maybe to make themselves stand out.

You know they're saying the same thing about football right now. There's a big debate on about whether Messi is better than Pele and people side with Pele. It works exactly like boxing, the older they are the more renowned they become. Their myth grows and people willingly choose to believe it. Look at the pattern it runs: Ronaldo is better than Messi, Pele is better than Ronaldo. The larger the myth the larger the support, and boxing feeds on that sort of thing. Saying boxing is dead or devolving is just part of boxing culture which has been around since the year dot.

Its the same with every sport. As the decades pass two things I see.

1)More countries have developed in sports over time, equalling a larger field of talent.

2)Everyone seeks to be better so new skills, new diets, new training are invented to make someone better.

In terms of boxing from these two perspectives have progressed. What bothers me is the fact that by time with evolution we are supposedly becoming weaker physically, since we as our fathers work less hard everyday, so our limbs get smaller and we lose more bones as the years pass.

So basically by a scientific point of view, we might be at a physical disadvantage against our ancestors.

[WolfGirl]

The best will be competitive in ANY era.

It's the guys they fought on their way to the top that have regressed.

Good post. Although the heavyweights(outside of k2) of this current era is seriously appalling.
I just finished reading an article on how Alexander Povetkin is the 3rd best heavyweight of this era. Honestly, I think he is. I just can't imagine Povetkin against even a Golota or a Mercer.
The Golota who fought Bowe might have killed Povetkin(assuming Andrew don't self destruct)

[KidKwik]

Well the higher weight divisions have regressed. Welterweights and down really make all the money now which is the polar opposite of what happened in boxings golden age

[RINGG]

Boxing has regressed. But there are some good fights happenin!

[joesaiditstrue]

is this a joke? boxing was insanely popular 30-40 years ago, we had mike Tyson's punch-out on NES, closest we've had since then is Paulie malignaggi playing little Mac in the wii commercial

[prinzemanspopa]

It's most evident among most young American fighters,which is a testament to how downright awful the amateur boxing system is within that country.Plenty of these guys are really athletic,sometimes explosive,but they're just plain ******ed when it comes to the actual fundamentals of boxing.

[Miburo]

It's on a fighter-by-fighter basis. There haven't been any drastic advances in boxing technique since the late 40s. It all depends on who decides to use it. Overall there was a greater quantity of really skilled fighters in previous decades however.

[damuttz112]

Tyson used to be the highest paid athlete in America more than Mayweather, Times have changed.

[onetwopunch]

Good post, but I have to disagree about the Lennox part. Lennox and Wlad are in part victims of their size when it comes to dissecting their overall chances against the smaller guys of the 60's-70's era. Some people mistakenly think that because they are bigger, they are naturally slower or have less boxing skills and just rely on strength.

Lewis is not a slow lumbering 6'5-6'6 245 pound fighter that only have one style. Lennox is a very agile 6'5-6'6 245 pound supreme boxer/puncher/jabber with an array of styles that make him a nightmare for most ATG'S when he is firing on all cylinders.

Lewis can bomb you out via Golota/Ruddock/Grant, imposing his shocking strength and immense powers or he can outbox you 10-2 against a still elite version of Holyfield or toy with the likes of p4p puncher Tua.

Lennox's jab is a thing of beauty to watch in that it is not a straight jab but it comes in variations. Wlad's jab is probably more powerful and Holme's is more accurate but neither have the sheer follow ups of Lewis.
He will jab than quickly convert that very jab into a hook or straight left/right. He will jab than quickly turn it into a body combination.

Lewis had underrated defense as well, he is a masterful counter puncher and against Briggs the entire shoulder roll was on display.
Lennox slipping/shoulder rolling Brigg's punches than smiling at him and following that up with a massive KD was beautiful.

He's inside fighting might not be on par with Bowe's but it was still very very lethal and he throws that upper cut with vicious intent.

With all due respect to Frazier/Norton I just don't think they can over come someone of Lennox' size,strength,power,and boxing skills.

He was a great technican as well and that is actually what the main criticisms was when it comes to Lewis.

NY TIMES repeatly bashed Lennox during his fighting days calling him

"a giant who boxes instead of slugs' and 'why can't we see more Golota Lennox displays, why does he have to be so tactical'

Lewis is truely a very very unique heavyweight and Wladimir comes from that same mold of agile fast moving boxing giants who also happen to have power and ring generalship.

I respect your opinion, but in my eyes if Lenox couldnt really dominate a past his prime Evander..then I cant see how he would be able to step into the ring againts the great heavy weights of the past, Lenox was a good heavy weight but I dont think he would be able to hang with the likes of a prime Foreman,Shavers or Frazer Norton etc..

And yes Lenox had a nice heavy accurate jab, and his right hand was nothing to sneeze at either. But his chin wasnt all that and I cant see how it would hold up againts a hard hitting dynamic HW.