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

[jthoang]

When I think of it, there is really no sport where there are dominant "big men" anymore. In boxing, the heavyweight division is one of the weakest. In basketball, there aren't anymore true centers anymore. In hockey, there's only Chara. In baseball there's some big home-run hitters but yea.

[Steak]

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.

the majority of the top guys at heavyweight(klitschko brothers not included) are actually not very big. Think about it.

Chambers looks like he could easily be Cruiserweight, and looked by far the best of his career weighing only 208lbs.
Povetkin looks slightly chubby even at 220, if he lost a little weight he would naturally be at around 210.
even Chagaev is pretty low 200s. he weighs around 225 in shape, and hes not exactly ripped.
even the best Heavyweight prospect around(Denis Boytsov) is considered a pretty small heavyweight, and could make Cruiserweight if he felt like it.

and all these guys are under 6'2, unless Im mistaken.
I guess you could bring up Sam Peter or Valuev, but Valuev is losing to 46 year old Cruiserweights and Peter still got outboxed by a heavy Eddie Chambers, so...

point is, outside the Klitschko bros, the top guys nowadays really aint that big. a lot of them are blown up Cruiserweights.

[DonTaseMeBrah]

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?

reason:


NBA & NFL.

[Danny Gunz]

Because i know at least in America if you are a big guy with athletic talent you will be in basketball and football before you are in a boxing ring