When did the modern boxer come about?

[billeau2]

Great poster... who sadly passed away a couple of years ago.

Didn't know he passed...Yes he is missed. Nobody knew Aussie boxing better!

[billeau2]

for me the hands up and stiff era began once olympic boxing got changed to the battle of who touches you the most with white tape contest. You block with your hands now because there isn't much point in ducking a 3 inch slap coming at you 10 times in one second. A real punch you don't really want to block, it still hurts. You want to duck that *****. The idea of a fight was lost and 300 amatuer bouts in this style means your pro career will likely look the same - unless you are Mayweather and come from an old fashioned camp.

I do think the Ammy style has taken root. And I do not like that development for similar reasons mentioned above. But if you read the history of boxing chronicled from the voices of great trainers, you will constantly hear this same critique under different guises. The first time I have it on record in a printed medium is the late 1800's. The author, a great British trainer talks about the American Fighters being stronger, more willing to punch hard...then he talks about "mufflers" being used on the hands. These gloves encouraging taps instead of hits. The trainer then restates the case for accurate, strong punching and encourages this development with respect to the dominant hand.

Later we will hear this same critique from Dempsey in his book, and I am certain we could find it parroted in many works and it would not suprise me in the least if it could be found before Captain Smith (the British trainer) spoke of it in my source.

it seems a perpetual problem: and I maintain that when we drop the rounds we also take another advantage from the puncher as well...

[bmacy168]

I think the 50's is when boxing hit that point. Man tons of those guys had so much craft. I used to have all these old reel to reel films, and some of those guys were tremendous tacticians.

[them_apples]

I think the 50's is when boxing hit that point. Man tons of those guys had so much craft. I used to have all these old reel to reel films, and some of those guys were tremendous tacticians.

oh hell man all through the 30's to the 50's was fierce competition.

A lot of less pretty tricks and moves were abandoned as time went on and marketing took it's hold. VERY few people recognize this out side of a few very educated historians.

Even Monzon who was a great middleweight, i highly doubt would come out undefeated against Carter, Benton, Mims, prime Griffith (I mean hell watch old griffith vs Monzon) Robinson, Lamotta, Giardello etc etc and I guarantee Hagler would have caught losses.