Rocky Marciano is very overrated IMO

[Bundana]

Both. 80's competition was still fierce but that's is when it started to taper off.

So in the 80s, there were 20-25 times as much competition around as today - is that what you're saying?

[Lomadeaux]

So in the 80s, there were 20-25 times as much competition around as today - is that what you're saying?

More earlier on than the 80's of course, but to be honest with you man... it's probably more. So many more fighters back then. Especially 20's - 60's.

Like I said, there used to not be a rule where you could only fight once a day. Back then you could fight 2-3 times a night and the tournament could go days. Sometimes there'd be 20 plus people in your bracket. We're losing them all to basketball/football, etc. It was just far more popular.

[Bundana]

More earlier on than the 80's of course, but to be honest with you man... it's probably more. So many more fighters back then. Especially 20's - 60's.

Like I said, there used to not be a rule where you could only fight once a day. Back then you could fight 2-3 times a night and the tournament could go days. Sometimes there'd be 20 plus people in your bracket. We're losing them all to basketball/football, etc. It was just far more popular.

Once again, very confusing stuff - as you seem to be talking about pro and amateur boxing at the same time.

But let's examine the statement: "So many more fighters back then. Especially 20's - 60's". Now I take it, this refers to pro boxing, right? So how many pro boxers do you think there were "back in the day", like in the busy 1920s, compared to today? 20-25 times as many? Or maybe even more? And if so - what do you base this on?

[Lomadeaux]

Once again, very confusing stuff - as you seem to be talking about pro and amateur boxing at the same time.

But let's examine the statement: "So many more fighters back then. Especially 20's - 60's". Now I take it, this refers to pro boxing, right? So how many pro boxers do you think there were "back in the day", like in the busy 1920s, compared to today? 20-25 times as many? Or maybe even more? And if so - what do you base this on?

Lol dude... Go call a boxing coach locally and ask him.

[Bundana]

Lol dude... Go call a boxing coach locally and ask him.

?????

[QueensburyRules]

So in the 80s, there were 20-25 times as much competition around as today - is that what you're saying?

- - For some unofficial edification, in 2010 Boxrec had 22k heavies listed, and at the end of 2020, 13K listed, down 900 fighters for the heavy division, what, a 40% loss?

[Bundana]

- - For some unofficial edification, in 2010 Boxrec had 22k heavies listed, and at the end of 2020, 13K listed, down 900 fighters for the heavy division, what, a 40% loss?

For the year 2010 a total of 18,615 boxers can be found in BoxRec's database. That's for all divisions combined!
For the year 2018 (last full year before Covid) the number is 23,535.

Now the obvious question would of course be: Where on earth did you get those numbers from?

[QueensburyRules]

For the year 2010 a total of 18,615 boxers can be found in BoxRec's database. That's for all divisions combined!
For the year 2018 (last full year before Covid) the number is 23,535.

Now the obvious question would of course be: Where on earth did you get those numbers from?

- - The last rated hvys of 2010/20 at the close of those years.

[Bundana]

- - The last rated hvys of 2010/20 at the close of those years.

Well, you must have misread those numbers - as there obviously can't be more heavyweights, than the total number of boxers from all divisions!

I believe most people would take 22k to mean 22,000, right? Is it possible, that you read it as 2200? I guess this must be the case - as it would explain, why going from 22k to 13k is a reduction of 900!

[BattlingNelson]

You can only fight who ever is in your era. That's why it's important to fight the best and not avoid like so many fighters do now. There's zero reason why guys like Tank haven't fought the best out there.

To think modern fighters would be able to deal with the fighters of the past is insanity. The be the best back then you had to be better than probably 20-25 times more competition. In local tournaments you'd often have to fight 2, 3, maybe 4 times a night each day of the tournament. You're only allowed to fight once a day in the amateurs now and they can get through a tournament in a weekend. Certain committees will spread it out over the course of a few weeks but it's just not like it used to be. Competition was fierce. It was boxing and baseball. All of todays athletes in America are trying to get to the NFL and the NBA.

I notice that you agree with my notion of several years, that the more fighters, the more completion and equals better fighters. That means the best fighter out of 1000 fighters is better than the best of 100.

Now we just need to establish which era had the most fighters.