The old "Golden Age of Heavyweights" is fading fast

[Willow The Wisp]

Oldest living Famous Heavyweights

Alex Miteff. 03/1935. 90
George Chuvalo. 09/1937. 87
Robert Cleroux. 02/1938. 87
Chuck Wepner. 02/1939. 86
Eduardo Corletti. 08/1941. 83
Jack O'Halloran. 04/1943. 81
Rudolf Rahaman Ali. 07/1943. 81
Richard Dunn. 01/1945. 80
Boone Kirkman. 02/1945. 80
Rudi Lubbers. 08/1945. 79
Billy Aird. 03/1946. 79
Jean-Pierre Coopman. 07/1946 78
José "King" Roman. 12/1946. 78
Howard "KO" Smith. 02/1947. 78
Bunny Johnson. 05/1947. 77
Randy Neumann. 04/1948. 76
George Foreman. 01/1949. 76. Died
Larry Holmes. 11/1949. 75
Joe Bugner. 03/1950. 75

[SouthpawRight]

No return to Golden age of heavyweight boxing

the most athletic people American blacks aren’t becoming heavyweight boxers when they can get paid just as well with less risk in football and basketball!

[Dr Z]

Oldest living Famous Heavyweights

Alex Miteff. 03/1935. 90
George Chuvalo. 09/1937. 87
Robert Cleroux. 02/1938. 87
Chuck Wepner. 02/1939. 86
Eduardo Corletti. 08/1941. 83
Jack O'Halloran. 04/1943. 81
Rudolf Rahaman Ali. 07/1943. 81
Richard Dunn. 01/1945. 80
Boone Kirkman. 02/1945. 80
Rudi Lubbers. 08/1945. 79
Billy Aird. 03/1946. 79
Jean-Pierre Coopman. 07/1946 78
José "King" Roman. 12/1946. 78
Howard "KO" Smith. 02/1947. 78
Bunny Johnson. 05/1947. 77
Randy Neumann. 04/1948. 76
George Foreman. 01/1949. 76. Died
Larry Holmes. 11/1949. 75
Joe Bugner. 03/1950. 75

The ones 80 and up are old men. Chuvalo and Wepner must fight! There, I said it.

[Dr Z]

No return to Golden age of heavyweight boxing

the most athletic people American blacks aren’t becoming heavyweight boxers when they can get paid just as well with less risk in football and basketball!

This is BS. They do box. They do not do as well becuase of competition. Upper weight boxing has changed over the past 20 years.

[SouthpawRight]

This is BS. They do box. They do not do as well becuase of competition. Upper weight boxing has changed over the past 20 years.

expand?

[The D3vil]

This is BS. They do box. They do not do as well becuase of competition. Upper weight boxing has changed over the past 20 years.

They do not.

Most hoods either have super old gyms or don't even have boxing gyms anymore.

It's lost most of it's appeal in urban America.

[SouthpawRight]

They do not.

Most hoods either have super old gyms or don't even have boxing gyms anymore.

It's lost most of its appeal in urban America.

Mexicans-Americans are keeping US boxing gym culture alive

as the masterful Mayweather once said he advises all prospects move to the West Coast

spar with Mexicans because they have the most pro style that will push you into becoming a better fighter

[Toffee]

They do not.

Most hoods either have super old gyms or don't even have boxing gyms anymore.

It's lost most of it's appeal in urban America.

The last bit is true.

Every nation has other sports. Opportunities aren't a US only phenomenon.

But other countries like boxing, and they invest in boxing, and they produce boxers.

Only the US could claim that their failure in heavyweight boxing is due to success elsewhere. No, it's just failure.

[Willow The Wisp]

This is BS. They do box. They do not do as well becuase of competition. Upper weight boxing has changed over the past 20 years.

Unexpected tack this thread has taken. Which is:
Has the "market share" lost by American born fighters in the 21st century attributable to less Americans participating, or better fighters being produced elsewhere now to displace them?"


Sure. Why not.

Is what's being produced abroad responsible for knocking America off it's dominant pedistal in the largest weight divisions? I should think it's a fairly easy question to nail down.

Let's examine by example.

Best American Heavyweights March 1974:

1. George Foreman
2. Muhammad Ali
3. Joe Frazier
4. Ken Norton
5. Jerry Quarry
6. Ron Lyle
7. Earnie Shavers
8. Jimmy Ellis
9. Chuck Wepner
10. Larry Middleton


Best American Heavyweights March 2024:

1. Jared Anderson
2. Deontay Wilder
3. Andy Ruiz Jr
4. Michael Hunter
5. Jarrell Miller
6. Jermaine Franklin
7. Charles Martin
8. Richard Torrez Jr
9. Stephen Shaw
10.Jonathan Guidry


Is there anyone here willing to contend that America still makes fighters like they always have?
Dr. Z, perhaps?

Or is it instead more accurate to say that British, African, Chinese and Eastern European fighters have simply taken a seat that's been VACATED by the U.S.
To fill a vacuum.


We know that even with modest levels of enterprise, skill, intelligence and work ethic; you can find and keep a job in the United States these days, just by showing up sober on time; and become a landowner fairly quickly; which makes the country rather unique.


Another societal aspect from the land of plenty comes from a friend who works as a prison guard. He says that 40 years ago these thugs would come in and they could really fight. But the kids he sees today never really learned how because they all had guns from the start, and they're weak compared to the inmates of yesteryear.

Just more food for thought I suppose.

[Dr Z]

Unexpected tack this thread has taken. Which is:
Has the "market share" lost by American born fighters in the 21st century attributable to less Americans participating, or better fighters being produced elsewhere now to displace them?"


Sure. Why not.

Is what's being produced abroad responsible for knocking America off it's dominant pedistal in the largest weight divisions? I should think it's a fairly easy question to nail down.

Let's examine by example.

Best American Heavyweights March 1974:

1. George Foreman
2. Muhammad Ali
3. Joe Frazier
4. Ken Norton
5. Jerry Quarry
6. Ron Lyle
7. Earnie Shavers
8. Jimmy Ellis
9. Chuck Wepner
10. Larry Middleton


Best American Heavyweights March 2024:

1. Jared Anderson
2. Deontay Wilder
3. Andy Ruiz Jr
4. Michael Hunter
5. Jarrell Miller
6. Jermaine Franklin
7. Charles Martin
8. Richard Torrez Jr
9. Stephen Shaw
10.Jonathan Guidry


Is there anyone here willing to contend that America still makes fighters like they always have?
Dr. Z, perhaps?

Or is it instead more accurate to say that British, African, Chinese and Eastern European fighters have simply taken a seat that's been VACATED by the U.S.
To fill a vacuum.


We know that even with modest levels of enterprise, skill, intelligence and work ethic; you can find and keep a job in the United States these days, just by showing up sober on time; and become a landowner fairly quickly; which makes the country rather unique.


Another societal aspect from the land of plenty comes from a friend who works as a prison guard. He says that 40 years ago these thugs would come in and they could really fight. But the kids he sees today never really learned how because they all had guns from the start, and they're weak compared to the inmates of yesteryear.

Just more food for thought I suppose.

Must be the NFL and NBA stealing form boxing. That what they said in the 1970's. Me I blame the wokeness and the @()ssyifcation of the men in the USA. There, I said it.