Why do people act like boxer skills today are better than the past ?

[Malvado]

There is of course, improvement in athletic performance, conditioning and nutrition to cut down to lower weight classes.

There is a limit though, and weight classes still play a significant role in evening out the conditions, so it is not that big of a advantage, specially when old school fighters are high paced, more skilled and experienced. Specially if it comes to past legends of the sport where their athleticism might just be on par with modern boxers, not sure what advantages a modern professional would have outside type of skillset/style depending on figther and perhaps size.

[Smash]

all sports need athletic people who unless they have a severe flaw like a very bad chin will generally rise to the top over time in boxing, its like average people trying to be smarter than clever people, they might do with lots of prep & dedication but will get left behind when the playing field is anywhere near even

we are only prob talking about 50 yrs here which is nothing, natural skills would all be the same, just depends if u can attract better athletes or not & all will box to current training best practices or the ones who rise to the top will u would think unless they are much more talented than their opponents

[ELPacman]

Honestly, I always thought it was discussed the other way around. That boxers of the past were so much better than the boxers of now. When you try to put together a fantasy fight of fighter X from the past vs fighter X of now, usually everyone is in an uproar if you decide to go against the boxer of the past.

Some old old footage, yeah, the fighters don't look as skillful. Just lumbering around with little or no head movement, hands down to their sides and just throwing wide, looping punches. Though not all of them were like that, probably more the Cinderella men, lol.

Though I fully agree that with advancements in technology and nutrition nowadays, athletes can be better conditioned than those in the past or if not anything, can compete at a high level for a longer time than they could back then.

[real raw]

Past fighters was infinitely more skilled. There isn't anyone close to a Pernell Whitaker, Floyd, etc

What better technology? what of it is actually beneficial to boxing?
Nutrition? Your foods literally poison. Lab grown crap pumped full of steroids and harmful chemicals not fit for human consumption.

They was more skilled because they trained like boxers and had real trainers who taught them how to box. These days its a load of glorified Fitness First coaches putting lazy fighters with weak mindsets through what are practically crossfit courses. Very little being taught in boxing gyms nowadays is beneficial to boxing.

I think you are making the assumption that fighters are eating crap food during camp, which may not be the case. Many of today's fighters hire nutritionist. I doubt they would go through the trouble and expense to hire a nutritionist, then eat crap food.

[real raw]

I would say more fights, more often, equates to a higher skill level in the past. 80s - 90s was the golden age of boxing IMO.

[FinitoxDinamita]

If we are just talking about skills, fighters from 70s-90s are more skilled than today’s fighters. There are several lost arts in modern Boxing. Who said modern boxers are more skilled? And we arent talking about diet and training methods, but in terms of pure skills, old school fighters had more in their arsenals.

[Wayneta]

I’ve watched boxing since I was a kid with my dad, and honestly, many of the old-school fighters had unbelievable skill and grit. Today’s boxers might have better training tech, nutrition, and analytics, but that raw heart from the past era feels different. I once came across a review on flip shop while browsing gear, made me think how everything, even boxing, has shifted toward convenience over craftsmanship.

[SouthpawRight]

If we are just talking about skills, fighters from 70s-90s are more skilled than today’s fighters. There are several lost arts in modern Boxing. Who said modern boxers are more skilled? And we arent talking about diet and training methods, but in terms of pure skills, old school fighters had more in their arsenals.

the very best guys Floyd TBud in recent times would be able to become long reigning champ in any decade after boxing was modernized

[TheProudLunatic]

While boxing isn't technically a sport, it continues to evolve.
It went from the flailing, grabbing and wrestling lawless leather gloved fist sport of the 50's to something more fitting the tag "sweet SCIENCE".
These present day fighters > those wild guys from the 50's

[Stuntman Mike]

I would say more fights, more often, equates to a higher skill level in the past. 80s - 90s was the golden age of boxing IMO.

End the thread here