Are Fighters of the past Overrated?; Poll

[Stoppage]

It depends what you mean.

If you mean is their greatness and legacy overrated: no.

If you mean are their skills overrated, comapared to today's fighters: it depends whom.

[j]

fighters of the past are definitely overrated.

doesnt mean that current fighters are superior, or fighters of 40 years ago are necessarily inferior. my main problem is with the over-hypness of fighters from time's past. statements like "ali is the greatest of all time" really annoy me because it is not a proven truth. it is an overwhelming opinion partially based on exposure. like tyson in many ways. tyson had gotten immense media exposure, and knocked out a ton of C level at best fighters. not saying he didnt beat some decent guys, just saying that his exposure, based on a myriad of reasons, is a big part of why mike tyson has become a well known figure. subsequently, he has gained almost a mythical status from that like ali did.

not to mention that, to an older person, everything that happened when they were relatively young seems more "colorful." it is that rose colored glasses of the past perspective that colors the fighters of the past for people who are 50 years old or older. not everybody is like that, but many seem to lean in this direction.

and, the fighters of today, let us not forget, have learned from fighters of the past. this has immense value. and the fact the you can watch a video tape of any opponent u might face adds another modern dimension to improve along. of course, nutrition and practical fitness has also come along a great ways. but, i will say, in many cases, i kinda tend to prefer some of the older training methods. just as freeweights can be said to be a bit superior to weightlifting machines.

again, there is no such thing as a 100% rule. there are some excellent fighters from the past that would greatly compete and challenge fighters of present. hagler is one guy that i could see giving a lot of trouble to today's fighters along his weightclass.

[ßringer]

The Bringer, such a kidder!


RIGHT?!

I'm dead serious.

Guys from the past are vastly overrated. They didn't even know how to formulate a proper diet. Their phsycial fitness techniques were practically nonexistent. Unless you count booger eating, and belching contests as "workouts".

You know that old footage of Ray Robinson doing roadwork? He wasn't running to get in shape and stay fit and active ; that's a concept that was invented during the lead up to De La Hoya/Mayweather. He was running because a truck full of cow **** was infront of him, and the man was starving.

[SplitSecond]

then watch foreman vs ken norton.
nobody KOd foreman except ali, and he was ready to die instead of losing that night.
lennox had troubles against david tua, imagine him fighting against a bigger version of tua

foreman is flat footed and does'nt leap in like tua......completely differrent styles, foreman did'nt even have a defence(just stuck his hands out) and he was unbelievably slow, not sayin lennox was fast or anything, but he was a technician that liked to keep things at the end of his jab

[ßringer]

Jake LaMotta used to spar against the walls of his cave before a big fight

You'd swear the sport has evolved into fighters flying around on hoverboots.

It hasn't???

[SplitSecond]

fighters of the past are definitely overrated.

doesnt mean that current fighters are superior, or fighters of 40 years ago are necessarily inferior. my main problem is with the over-hypness of fighters from time's past. statements like "ali is the greatest of all time" really annoy me because it is not a proven truth. it is an overwhelming opinion partially based on exposure. like tyson in many ways. tyson had gotten immense media exposure, and knocked out a ton of C level at best fighters. not saying he didnt beat some decent guys, just saying that his exposure, based on a myriad of reasons, is a big part of why mike tyson has become a well known figure. subsequently, he has gained almost a mythical status from that like ali did.

not to mention that, to an older person, everything that happened when they were relatively young seems more "colorful." it is that rose colored glasses of the past perspective that colors the fighters of the past for people who are 50 years old or older. not everybody is like that, but many seem to lean in this direction.

and, the fighters of today, let us not forget, have learned from fighters of the past. this has immense value. and the fact the you can watch a video tape of any opponent u might face adds another modern dimension to improve along. of course, nutrition and practical fitness has also come along a great ways. but, i will say, in many cases, i kinda tend to prefer some of the older training methods. just as freeweights can be said to be a bit superior to weightlifting machines.

again, there is no such thing as a 100% rule. there are some excellent fighters from the past that would greatly compete and challenge fighters of present. hagler is one guy that i could see giving a lot of trouble to today's fighters along his weightclass.

completely agree, great post j

[Schmerzen]

foreman is flat footed and does'nt leap in like tua......completely differrent styles, foreman did'nt even have a defence(just stuck his hands out) and he was unbelievably slow, not sayin lennox was fast or anything, but he was a technician that liked to keep things at the end of his jab

foremans chin could take any jab lennox has and he doesnt have a paper-skin like vitaly also.
i dont think lennox can run all night long vs foreman.
and foreman was 100% faster than lennox lewis + he hit harder.

[Doctor_Tenma]

I'm dead serious.

Guys from the past are vastly overrated. They didn't even know how to formulate a proper diet. Their phsycial fitness techniques were practically nonexistent. Unless you count booger eating, and belching contests as "workouts".

You know that old footage of Ray Robinson doing roadwork? He wasn't running to get in shape and stay fit and active ; that's a concept that was invented during the lead up to De La Hoya/Mayweather. He was running because a truck full of cow **** was infront of him, and the man was starving.

[SplitSecond]

foremans chin could take any jab lennox has and he doesnt have a paper-skin like vitaly also.
i dont think lennox can run all night long vs foreman.
and foreman was 100% faster than lennox lewis + he hit harder.

i'd like to see someone agree with you on that

[Stoppage]

i'd like to see someone agree with you on that

Well.. he did hit harder. But, speed-wise, Lewis is ahead of him.