As Heavyweight fans, are we better off or worse off NOW than we were 20 years ago?

[Willow The Wisp]

Today April 2024. Vs. 20 yrs ago April 2004

Oleksandr Usyk.............. Vitali Klitschko
Tyson Fury...................... Chris Byrd
Anthony Joshua............. John Ruiz
Joseph Parker................. Hasim Rahman
Zhilei Zhang.................... James Toney
Filip Hrgovic.................... Monte Barrett
Frank Sanchez................ Andrew Golota
Jared Anderson.............. Fres Oquendo
Joe Joyce....................... Jameel McCline
Deontay Wilder................ Corrie Sanders
Agit Kabayel.................... Lamon Brewster

Source: The Ring Magazine

[Dr. Z]

Today April 2024. Vs. 20 yrs ago April 2004

Oleksandr Usyk.............. Vitali Klitschko
Tyson Fury...................... Chris Byrd
Anthony Joshua............. John Ruiz
Joseph Parker................. Hasim Rahman
Zhilei Zhang.................... James Toney
Filip Hrgovic.................... Monte Barrett
Frank Sanchez................ Andrew Golota
Jared Anderson.............. Fres Oquendo
Joe Joyce....................... Jameel McCline
Deontay Wilder................ Corrie Sanders
Agit Kabayel.................... Lamon Brewster

Source: The Ring Magazine

From a talent stand point is close with the given names listed.

But from an England's and China's fans view without a doubt 2024 is better.

[Smash]

well vlad klit was worse off as in april 2004 he just got iced by lamon brewster

[Clegg]

20 years ago was a low point for HW boxing. The current guys are better overall.

[Willow The Wisp]

It's very common to hear fans complain that "This is a weak era of heavyweights".

I never recall a time when the couch potatoes DIDN'T say that, including the time when Ali, Frazier, Foreman, Norton, Quarry, Lyle, Ellis, Shavers, Bonavena and Bugner populated the rankings, as though seeing two superior men in the ring brings out their jealousy or something.

Looking closely at the 2024 vs. 2004 Ring lineups, man to man, I'm looking at the strong likelihood of a clean sweep.

[paulf]

It's the same now as it was in the Klitschko era - the Klitschkos are just retired now, so any guy off the street can become champion.

[Spray_resistant]

John Ruiz would have a serious shot at Undisputed today.

[Willow The Wisp]

It's the same now as it was in the Klitschko era - the Klitschkos are just retired now, so any guy off the street can become champion.

Except for Francis Ngannou. He gets starched fast.

[Dr. Z]

It's very common to hear fans complain that "This is a weak era of heavyweights".

I never recall a time when the couch potatoes DIDN'T say that, including the time when Ali, Frazier, Foreman, Norton, Quarry, Lyle, Ellis, Shavers, Bonavena and Bugner populated the rankings, as though seeing two superior men in the ring brings out their jealousy or something.

Looking closely at the 2024 vs. 2004 Ring lineups, man to man, I'm looking at the strong likelihood of a clean sweep.

A clean sweep? For who?

To my best recollections 2004 THEN vs 2024 now.

Today April 2024. Vs. 20 yrs ago April 2004

Oleksandr Usyk.............. Vitali Klitschko .....Vitali
Tyson Fury...................... Chris Byrd ... Fury
Anthony Joshua............. John Ruiz ... Joshua
Joseph Parker................. Hasim Rahman ... hard to call. I will say Rahman
Zhilei Zhang.................... James Toney .....Toney, but only because Zhang is 40, fat, and throws few punches.
Filip Hrgovic.................... Monte Barrett ... Hrgovic
Frank Sanchez................ Andrew Golota ... Sanchez
Jared Anderson.............. Fres Oquendo ... toss up. I will go with Anderson
Joe Joyce....................... Jameel McCline ... McCline
Deontay Wilder................ Corrie Sanders ... Sanders
Agit Kabayel.................... Lamon Brewster ... Brewster


2024 - 4

2004 - 6

[Marchegiano]

A clean sweep? For who?

To my best recollections 2004 THEN vs 2024 now.

Today April 2024. Vs. 20 yrs ago April 2004

Oleksandr Usyk.............. Vitali Klitschko .....Vitali
Tyson Fury...................... Chris Byrd ... Fury
Anthony Joshua............. John Ruiz ... Joshua
Joseph Parker................. Hasim Rahman ... hard to call. I will say Rahman
Zhilei Zhang.................... James Toney .....Toney, but only because Zhang is 40, fat, and throws few punches.
Filip Hrgovic.................... Monte Barrett ... Hrgovic
Frank Sanchez................ Andrew Golota ... Sanchez
Jared Anderson.............. Fres Oquendo ... toss up. I will go with Anderson
Joe Joyce....................... Jameel McCline ... McCline
Deontay Wilder................ Corrie Sanders ... Sanders
Agit Kabayel.................... Lamon Brewster ... Brewster


2024 - 6

2004 - 4

Oh man, I was going to go straight across but then I started pairing them up entirely.

Because it's era vs era not man vs man, right?

What about like Joyce vs Byrd? I'm pretty sure Byrd takes Joyce the distance and teaches him a boxing lesson bro.

Like as sure I am Usyk takes Ruiz 12 and teaches him a boxing lesson.





I haven't worked out all the match ups and my opinions but I'd be super interested in anyone's in any pairing from the eras.