The reason for the decline of American heavyweights?

[x-PeROxiDE-x]

Well, the most obvious answer I can see is a simple one:

Chance

Hahahaha, green K for that.

[x-PeROxiDE-x]

Great Point.

American heavyweights always were second best:


Wlad Klit TKO Prime Ali Round 1
Vlad Klit TKO Prime George Foreman Round 1
Valuev KO Prime Evander Holyfield Round 2
Barney Rubble KO Prime Mike Tyson Round 1

I didn't say that, but the fighters you name would find it tough against the people you have pitched them against, because of their sheer size.

Yes, there IS a lack of talent in America at the moment, but there is also a size advantage that the former soviet fighters hold. The only Americans who are big enough to really compete are not fit enough.

[duffgun]

And there we have it my friends.

The top American heavyweights were never as big as the fighters from the former USSR, but Soviet fighters could not turn pro, so Americans dominated.

But, now they are allowed to turn pro, and they have a significant natural size advantage, making them more effective in the division. All the true American greats would have struggled with the Klitschko's, if only for their sheer size.

What about the fact that many of the top american heavyweights won olympic golds?

[duffgun]

I didn't say that, but the fighters you name would find it tough against the people you have pitched them against, because of their sheer size.

Yes, there IS a lack of talent in America at the moment, but there is also a size advantage that the former soviet fighters hold. The only Americans who are big enough to really compete are not fit enough.

well if thats the case shouldn't America be dominating the cruiserweight division

[Sin City]

well if thats the case shouldn't America be dominating the cruiserweight division

and ... lol

[bsrizpac]

I didn't say that, but the fighters you name would find it tough against the people you have pitched them against, because of their sheer size.

Yes, there IS a lack of talent in America at the moment, but there is also a size advantage that the former soviet fighters hold. The only Americans who are big enough to really compete are not fit enough.

So you're saying that the fights I listed would go the way i listed? By your logic they would.

Yes or no. Would the Euros beat those guys.

Also yeah the current American heavies aren't fit enough. That's because all the talent is going to other team sports. Period.

Guys like Mayweather/Mosely/Oscar are too small for NBA/NFL etc etc. They wouldn't be recruited anyway.

But yes:

Ali, Frazier, Foreman, Holmes, Tyson, Shavers, Liston, Holyfield, Bowe, Morrison, Norton, Spinks etc. etc. all would have been beaten if only the current Euro heavies had been around.

Remember when Golota came in and cleared out the heavyweight division? That was awesome!

[x-PeROxiDE-x]

well if thats the case shouldn't America be dominating the cruiserweight division

They are too big to be cruisers, but too small to be effective enough at HW.

[DiegoFuego]

LOL I can't believe Tunney and Lucky said that ****. Holy cow. Their logic completely IGNORES historic facts. Why would American heavyweights dominate Europeans and Eastern Europeans in the amateurs for so long. Jesus Christ, there is a reason you dumbasses are on my ignore. Wow.

[bsrizpac]

well if thats the case shouldn't America be dominating the cruiserweight division

Just brutal. Man stop it.....mercy on him.

[Jim Jeffries]

And there we have it my friends.

The top American heavyweights were never as big as the fighters from the former USSR, but Soviet fighters could not turn pro, so Americans dominated.

But, now they are allowed to turn pro, and they have a significant natural size advantage, making them more effective in the division. All the true American greats would have struggled with the Klitschko's, if only for their sheer size.

So how is it that a 19 year old George Foreman was able to dominate these much older and larger Soviets in the Olympics? There's no doubt that the landscape of the HW division would have been slightly different if Cubans and Russians would've been allowed to turn pro, but to suggest that the Joe Louis', Ali's, Foreman's, etc still wouldn't have been champs is a bit silly, don't you think?