Could today's fighters adapt?

[JAB5239]

Could today's fighters (doesn't matter division) adapt to the rules and rigorous schedule of the 20's, 30's, 40's and 50's? I'm of the opinion styles change because rules change. But fighting 2 or 3 times a year to fighting 8, 9, 10 times a year would be challenging. Would Floyd Mayweather have been able to keep that grueling schedule with brittle hands? Could Fury getting woefully out of shape between fights?

I'm of the opinion overall they could. Floyd (just as an example) may not. Not because he wasn't great, but because the same medical technology wouldn't be there.

I also believe fighters of the past would adapt and flourish today. Punching and movement really haven't changed, and they're grit was undeniable.

Anyway, who are some fighters that you think would or would not adapt to the past era's?

[JAB5239]

Here's another question. Do to the lack of medical technology, how many great fighter might there have been if technology was where its at today.?

[them_apples]

If you dropped them in as they are right now, they get slaughtered by those eras.

you can’t put a guy who fights 2 easy fights a year in with a guy who in some cases is fighting 45 times in a single year, and has had 3 “tuneup” fights just to prepare for you. They are much more violent too, gouging, lacing, low blows, elbows, butting - and a lot more lenient referees.

I think we already knows by now it’s just the film quality that is making past eras move the way they do, but with AI we are seeing a clearer picture.

I think in some cases a fighter today might actually **** themselves standing in front of a guy like Robinson, Greb or Marciano. These are bad mfkers. I don’t think we can fully appreciate the violence and punishment these type of men could bring. When you fight 45 times a year like Greb did, you are looking right through your opponent. You have no nerves. A guy like Devin Haney is gonna be terrified. A fighter like Marciano has absolutely no fear getting into the ring, in fact you can even see a sickish grin on his face sometimes, showing the joy he had in the gladiatorial ring (this type of thing can’t be faked, due to someones nerves usually stopping them). Marciano loved fighting. Robinson, extremely talented. Hidden beneath his super slick never replicated style was a certified killer. And thats reality. R.i.p Jimmy Doyle. And if you think Marciano wasn’t trying to kill Ezzard Charles you would be fooling yourself.

[PBAC]

Omfg they fight less because they train and spar more. Also money.

[JAB5239]

Omfg they fight less because they train and spar more. Also money.

Point is they fight less. Who says they spar more?

[PBAC]

Point is they fight less. Who says they spar more?

Fighting today is more training dependant and sparring is further utilised to work out the kinks in the game. Post fight sparring is more widely encouraged than it was in the past. Over all the whole can crushing concept has been removed and now fighters spend more time training for bigger prize fights. Making serious fights out of sub par competition is likely to lead to injuries and death so it is substituted with sparring. While we know fighters will dodge or pick competition today it was nothing compared to the totally uneven records. Today those people would have got kod and paid on the stage but now they get paid in the gym.

[JAB5239]

I'm just curious where you came up with boxers spar more now than in the past. And sparring partners brought in get paid. Not every fighter z that spars with a fighter getting ready to fight gets paid. I've known plenty of top level professional fighters who had jobs during their careers. The question was though, could fighters today adapt to the rigorous schedule and rules of the 20's, 30's, 40's and 50's? This would not only include more fights, but less pay, injuries etc on top of the different rules they would need to adapt to.

[Eff Pandas]

Its an interesting idea. I'm sure some guys would adapt better than others.

I think a guy like James Toney might have achieved more in a more active era. He would have adapted well at a minimum.

I'm also sure some guys from the past who weren't tip top guys might have had better careers in a less active era like todays.

[QueensburyRules]

Its an interesting idea. I'm sure some guys would adapt better than others.

I think a guy like James Toney might have achieved more in a more active era. He would have adapted well at a minimum.

I'm also sure some guys from the past who weren't tip top guys might have had better careers in a less active era like todays.

- - Toney with 90 fights one of the most active fighters of the modern era....77 10 3.

He was punchdrunk the last third of his career, so he don't need any more fights.

[Willow The Wisp]

Could today's fighters (doesn't matter division) adapt to the rules and rigorous schedule of the 20's, 30's, 40's and 50's? I'm of the opinion styles change because rules change. But fighting 2 or 3 times a year to fighting 8, 9, 10 times a year would be challenging. Would Floyd Mayweather have been able to keep that grueling schedule with brittle hands? Could Fury getting woefully out of shape between fights?

I'm of the opinion overall they could. Floyd (just as an example) may not. Not because he wasn't great, but because the same medical technology wouldn't be there.

I also believe fighters of the past would adapt and flourish today. Punching and movement really haven't changed, and they're grit was undeniable.

Anyway, who are some fighters that you think would or would not adapt to the past era's?

Kempo Karate was my first experience with codified fighting. In that discipline, you were promoted to the next belt level not by improving as a fighter, but by your ability to precisely replicate what the sensei was teaching. In other words, there was no room for adaptation based on individual characteristics found to be in yourself OR to what you were facing in an opponent. Do as the master teaches and you'll be OK is the idea.

Boxing/Fighting sports are very different. In those, you practice a range of techniques, roll them togeter in fluid sequence, and select what's demanded based on what you're facing dynamically; and you develop your skills based on your individual characteristics. In boxing, two twin brothers weighting 175 lbs train, but one brother stands 5'7" and the other is 6'2". In Kempo you are taught the very same things, but in Boxing the brothers essentially learn two different ways to fight. I found the latter approach to unarmed combat to be more organic, intuitive and effective; at least for me.

So Boxing as a martial arts is based on various situations and personal strengths; by it's very nature.
Faced with a guy faster than you, stronger than you, a grappling intentioned opponent, an opponent who gasses early, in the hot vs. Cold air, slippery ground or grippy, in the dark or bright light, one attacker or two.....you vary the application of what you do, and you do that on the fly. In battle, one size will never fit all.
So I think that given the incentive to do so, professional grade fighters can and will adapt.
Long vs short duration, glove size, frequency of fighting balanced against work in gym; those can all be dealt with if the heart and skill are there.
That's a big part of Boxings effectiveness.