Do You Think Old School Fighters Get Overrated?

[studentofthegam]

Rocky Marciano. Beat Joe Louis when Joe Louis was retired and forced into the ring. That win made him an ATG. Everyone and their mothers are ATGs then because take Dawson for instance, he already beat Johnson and Tarver who are HoF fighters. Calzaghe is an ATG because he beat Hopkins and Jones. Nearly everyone is an ATG, I'm sure there are other old timers who are overrated but some are just too flagrant.

A very interesting statistic about Marciano: Out of 49 fights, only 19 opponents fought him coming off a win. Meaning most of his opponents were coming off losses when they fought him. This is a clear sign of trying to fabricate what should be natural. Anyway he made it and some people will consider him an ATG for some reason.

Yeah if the stories are true Marciano is a much greater human being than a fighter. I think those charitable deeds cover up the obvious lack of boxing greatness.

[Suckmedry]

[/B]

Im not a doctor (but I play one on tv) so I can't say whether this would be true or not.

You play a doctor on TV?

[GoogleMe]

Short version, yes.

[Shadows]

I think a lot of the people who claim old timers are overrated due so because of the technology involved. People see a tape of a fighter 80 years ago and because of the ****ty cameras of the day, they assume that the fighter simply couldn't compete in a later era or today's era.

[JAB5239]

You play a doctor on TV?

I was just messin around bro.

[JAB5239]

Yeah if the stories are true Marciano is a much greater human being than a fighter. I think those charitable deeds cover up the obvious lack of boxing greatness.

How many fighters have a claim to being the undisputed champ, cleaning out their division and retiring undefeated, past or present?

[F l i c k e r]

Come on Flick. What did jones do better than Robinson? He was faster, but thats about it. Robinson was as good if not a better finisher. Better chin. Better power for his weight, imo. Better skills both offensively and defensively and he fought an overall better crop of fighters.

I don't see Robinson beating him though. RJJ in his prime was just a freak of nature. 1-hit kayo power, speed, rediculous reflexes, long reach, footwork. Then add that RJJ was quite a large guy, real thick. I don't think Robinson would last against him.

I watched Robinson. I don't see what other people are seeing. I notice the obvious but when I compare the two, I don't see Robinson beating RJJ. I can see SRR beating alot dudes of fab4 era and beyond but not RJJ.

But, a prime SRR where he was at his absolute best at was at WW. Matter of fact SRR was uncrown LW champ... While RJJ started at JMW... That is something to think about as well IMO...

Well true but I didn't bring up that match up you know? RJJ was JMW-LHW, so I assume thats where the fight would take place, no?

[The Hate Giver]

If Robinson was around today he would have won titles at 135, 140, 154, 160, 168 and possibly 175. I have little doubt of that.

Of course he would of, I agree...

a great fighter is a great fighter. although there are exceptions. ray robinson would be ray robinson in any era. he is just physically great along with his talent. same goes for some fighters in the modern era. whitaker would be whitaker no matter what era he fought him. BUT, some of the oldschool great heavyweights like jeffries & dempsey would not. Their greatness wouldnt carry over.

This is true in all sports. cousy's greatness wouldnt carry over. dr. j or david thompson would. gale sayers would. john riggins wouldnt. etc. etc...

[JAB5239]

I think a lot of the people who claim old timers are overrated due so because of the technology involved. People see a tape of a fighter 80 years ago and because of the ****ty cameras of the day, they assume that the fighter simply couldn't compete in a later era or today's era.

I agree. Once people actually take the time to study the era and understand it they usually realize they were off base if they are being honest with themselves. I use to think for a long time that the fighters of the past weren't as good as the fighters of the present until I really started looking at EVERYTHING more closely.

[JAB5239]

a great fighter is a great fighter. although there are exceptions. ray robinson would be ray robinson in any era. he is just physically great along with his talent. same goes for some fighters in the modern era. whitaker would be whitaker no matter what era he fought him. BUT, some of the oldschool great heavyweights like jeffries & dempsey would not. Their greatness wouldnt carry over.

This is true in all sports. cousy's greatness wouldnt carry over. dr. j or david thompson would. gale sayers would. john riggins wouldnt. etc. etc...

Why do you not think Jeffries greatness wouldn't carry over? Im not saying he would be as good as he was then, but I think he'd be a top fighter in any era. He had speed, strength, toughness, agility, stamina. I've heard people on here (not you) say fighters today are more athletic. Jeff was 6'3" 220 and ran 100 meters in 11 seconds. He could high jump over 6'. Is that not athletic?