Why do you think there aren't any more GREAT Heavyweights like back then?

[Bushidō]

There was always a handful of GREat heavyweights before but it seems like they are all gone. Do they end up playing other sports or what? What's the reason for all the skilled great heavyweights disappearing?

[MANGLER]

HW's were smaller before. The new breed of HW's are all huge. They got boxing skills, but they're obviously slower, more susceptible to fatigue, and not as fun to watch. They can't all put on the kinda performances that make global stars.

[Spray_resistant]

There was always a handful of GREat heavyweights before but it seems like they are all gone. Do they end up playing other sports or what? What's the reason for all the skilled great heavyweights disappearing?

Isn't it a bit of a stretch and a misconception that from the late 19th century up until 2004 there were all of these great HWs around all that the same time? When in reality the HW division has always had just a couple really good fighters with an exception for a golden era in the 60s and 70s..... the division right now is rather typical of the way HW boxing is and had always been, in my view.

[Klitschko2011]

The Klitschko Brothers are GREAT Heavyweights.

[FloydsEra]

Vitali would have a good shot at beating any heavyweight from any era. Real talk.

[The_Visitation]

The Klitschko Brothers are GREAT Heavyweights.

What they aren't though, is American. Which, if we are being honest, answers the original question; there are no great heavyweights because only Americans qualify and the current American batch could be better, shall we say.

To be fair, they have also suffered somewhat from a lack of competition from great heavyweights. Although the only fight one has had against a great heavyweight (who, being Brit/Canadian rather than Eastern European, managed to somehow sneak past the entry requirements) was lost.

[Haglerwins]

Why do you think there aren't any more GREAT Heavyweights like back then?

Economics and prestige.

All of the other major sports pay better than boxing and for the most part have greater national exposure. The most bum ass NFL, NBA cat makes 6 figures warming the bench.

If you're an athlete, the only way you choose boxing over anything else is either:

A: You grew up around it.

B: You just happened to come across it, and fell in love with it.

C: You weren't good enough to be a pro in another sport.

[kocface]

Economics and prestige.

All of the other major sports pay better than boxing and for the most part have greater national exposure. The most bum ass NFL, NBA cat makes 6 figures warming the bench.

If you're an athlete, the only way you choose boxing over anything else is either:

A: You grew up around it.

B: You just happened to come across it, and fell in love with it.

C: You weren't good enough to be a pro in another sport.

cuz da salary cap in da nba n nfl has skyrocketed since da 90s.. true story. these kids nowadays make more jus bein on a team then boxing elites.. unlike da 90s where nba n nfl didnt pay like now, jordan even sed he was underpaid his first 5 seasons. thats why why da middle welter n light heavy weight divisions r loaded, no1s play ball at 147 or 154, but the american athletes 200 lbs and up are , think bout it

[Davros?]

The fighters are just to out of shape and big to put on a good show excluding the Klits. The heavyweight division even during its weak period of the 80's was able to produce some amazing fights like Dokes vs Holyfield, Snipes vs Berbick etc. If you want to see good heavyweight fights look at the cruiserweight division its produced some brilliant fights over the last few years.

[Bushidō]

sounds logical. And yeah I do think the Klitchkos brothers are legit Heavyweights. Just sucks that they have no compeition.