A guy at work and I were arguing today about Ali vs. Tyson, and then somehow we got onto the topic of old school fighters (1930's-1970's) compared to the new school fighters (1980's to today) and his argument was that new school fighters have more endurance and are faster and stronger, so he feels that they are better. On the other hand, my argument was that old school fighters had more determination, heart, and all around toughness. I can see new athletes in other sports being able to perform better than old school, such as football or basketball, but fighting is something different all together.
Anyway, my question is, which school is the better school. I know that this is kind of an open ended question, but i'm sure some of you out there understand.
Now this is an interesting match-up. If we think of an early Tyson (with his jabs, and his bob and weave style) as a Frazier type fighter then I think we could say that Tyson would give Ali trouble.
But how mentally tough was the Cus D'Amato era Tyson? Come round 6,8,10,12 if the fight's outcome was still on the line would he have been able to dig down deep and do his best fighting? Or would he have self-destructed? And self-destructed doesn't necessarily mean biting Ali's ear it could simply be throwing nothing but wide hooks and being countered to death.
Keep seeing Tyson as compared with Frazier, think the only likeness is the height IMO.
Tyson was average to poor on the inside whereas Frazier was one of the best HW fighters on the inside. I was always disappointed that Tyson didn't develop his inside skills I would think it would project him a few places up most ATG lists mine included.
Well everyone is entitled to their opinion but I really really really don't think he would.
Now this is an interesting match-up. If we think of an early Tyson (with his jabs, and his bob and weave style) as a Frazier type fighter then I think we could say that Tyson would give Ali trouble.
But how mentally tough was the Cus D'Amato era Tyson? Come round 6,8,10,12 if the fight's outcome was still on the line would he have been able to dig down deep and do his best fighting? Or would he have self-destructed? And self-destructed doesn't necessarily mean biting Ali's ear it could simply be throwing nothing but wide hooks and being countered to death.
old school fighters were generally better but I think prime Tyson could have beat Ali, I really do. He is the exception to the rule though, Ali beats Lennox Lewis/Vlad/Vitali/Bowe/Holyfield etc
that says a lot
Probably the key difference is the use of film. Today’s fighters dissect their opponents and train for weeks, if not months, on how to neutralize and exploit the tactics and weaknesses of their opponents. This is something that could never be done.
Put today’s fighters back in the 20s and 30s; expect them to fight every 6 to 8 weeks and have no film to study their opponents and see what happens. Bring Henry Armstrong and Harry Greb (1910s and 1920s) to the present; give them a modern trainer used to working off film, give them months to train for each fight and see how they do.
Film is a very good point and often overlooked. Good fighters are good problem solvers the more information they have in advance the less suprises.
There were great old school fighters who with modern advantages would still have a huge impact now. Likewise there are great modern day fighters who would have a huge impact in olden times but would struggle with the conditions of that time.
The old school guy's of the 50's 60's and 70's make today's fighters look like wimps, old school guy's fought 15 rounders, sometimes 4 times a year (most of the guy's today fight once or twice a year) they didn't cherrypick and fought sometimes with half their grill falling off, they didn't stop fight's back in those day's, like they do now, guy's today have steriods, andro, creatine and use nutritional experts and can't even make it 12 rounds, without gassing out, old school guy's trained on steak and eggs, and were all around tougher men..
This can be the start of a long discussion. In general earlier fighters had the advantage of fight experience (they fought more); the fight game was much tougher than it is today and they generally stayed in better shape. I don’t think training and conditioning is superior today (especially at heavyweight). Probably the key difference is the use of film. Today’s fighters dissect their opponents and train for weeks, if not months, on how to neutralize and exploit the tactics and weaknesses of their opponents. This is something that could never be done.
Put today’s fighters back in the 20s and 30s; expect them to fight every 6 to 8 weeks and have no film to study their opponents and see what happens. Bring Henry Armstrong and Harry Greb (1910s and 1920s) to the present; give them a modern trainer used to working off film, give them months to train for each fight and see how they do.
old school fighters were generally better but I think prime Tyson could have beat Ali, I really do. He is the exception to the rule though, Ali beats Lennox Lewis/Vlad/Vitali/Bowe/Holyfield etc
Modern training techniques are good , being in your prime with the experience most of today's fighters don't have by the end of their careers might be even better though.
new school has unskilled overrated trashy fighters like
Antonio Margarito
Carl Froch
Nikolai Valuev
Ricky Hatton
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr
Ricardo Maryoga
Hasim Rahman
etc
So anyone who says new school is better than old school, needs to get a clue
his argument was that new school fighters have more endurance and are faster and stronger, so he feels that they are better
tell ur friend reading about the rules the old skool fighters fought under... 40 + rounds with thin horse hair gloves...
tell ur friend that duran & co. fought in the 15 rounds era with better opposition & less cherry-picking...
Okay, let me get this straight: He's saying their endurance in better when one of the fighters in question is Mike Tyson? This is the same Mike Tyson who consistantly gasses out after after six or seven rounds of a twelve round fight? Comparing him to Ali who in his prime could set a brisk pace for FIFTEEN rounds? Huh? This isn't even mentioning someone like Joe Frazier who set a blistering pace from the opening bell and kept it up until the bell ended the fifteenth.
Poet
there was talk of bobby czyz against tyson back in the 90's but dont think tyson wanted to fight him. You got to respect bobby