Are past boxers really better than current boxers?

[D4thincarnation]

Vitali Klitschko vs Lennox Lewis

THE TRUTH

Vitali took the fight on just 10 days notice.

Vitali was clearly winning the fight 4-2 on all 3 scorecards at the time of the controversial doctor stoppage. Lewis barely survived the 2nd round, he was badly hurt, holding on for dear life, wobbling everywhere and staggering around the ring like a drunk. Lewis was badly hurt several times in the fight and was getting outboxed, outworked, outmuscled and outlanded by Vitali.

punches landed

Vitali 156

Lewis 102


Lewis was exhausted, worn down and hurt from the accumulation of punches and was ready to get KTFO again, he collapsed onto his stool at the end of the 6th round, Vitali was clearly the fresher of the two, he was a man on a mission and would've KO'd Lewis for sure if the fight had continued.

After the fight, Vitali intimidated the shit out of Lewis and made him look like a bitch.

All the fans at Staples Center cheered for Vitali and booed Lewis after the fight.

Lewis promised Vitali a rematch.

Vitali destroyed Kirk Johnson in 2 rounds and called out Lewis again in the post fight interview. The scared Lewis retired shortly after that fight.

Lewis turned down 30 million dollars for a rematch and retired like a coward because he knew he would get destroyed by Vitali.

Vitali dominated Lewis and scared his bitch ass into retirement.



George Foreman: "Vitali was winning the fight. Lewis got lucky. There has to be a rematch!"

Jim Lampley: "A lucky escape for Lewis who was clearly losing the fight"

Even Emanuel Steward was upset and pissed off at Lewis for blatantly ducking a Vitali rematch.

Lewis is scared to death of Vitali.

Yes a prime Vitali pushed and old and fat Lennox close but ultimately got stopped by the superior fighter.

And I thought Vitali was a big puncher, even Lennox with his suspect chin ate his best punches.

[Jay Volcano]

Not necessary. The past usually has an idyllic aura around it. That's the reason why people find it so far fetched to believe that a current boxer would destroy a past boxer.

[D4thincarnation]

With the likes of Hopkins and Tarver around the past boxer are destroying the modern ones.

[New England]

I feel like everyone believes that fighter from the past would DESTROY the fighters of the present. I don't understand why people would find it so far fetched to believe that Manny Pacquiao would win against Roberto Duran or something. I, for one, believe that Roberto Duran would beat Manny Pacquiao. But, if someone were to tell me that Pacquiao would beat Duran, I wouldn't find it all that shocking or far fetched. I mean, isn't it natural that as the sport goes on, fighters evolve? Not just the fighters, but the training as well. If a fighter back then ran 5 miles everyday, wouldn't it be natural for a fighter today to run a little more as the standard for the "best" continues to grow? Or if someone, back then sparred for 15 rounds, today, they have people sparring 40 rounds straight, with fresh opponents every 2 rounds (or something crazy like that). Back then, being champion was everything. Now, being champion doesn't mean anything. They have to create a "Pound for Pound" title now because the word "champion" means nothing in boxing. So as fighters are going for the P4P title instead of being a normal "champion", is it so hard to believe that current fighters are more evolved, better conditioned, and created better and more useful techniques than the fighters in the past?

there is no "roberto duran or something"

theres only one manos de piedra

lets go through it

growing up similarly to pacquiao, even going so far as to have to swim across a river for food in his youth (according to somebody on the forum,) he entered the pros as a bantamweight, 20 lbs north of the weight at which pacquiao was reported to weigh (98 lbs according to his 60 minutes interview)

within two years he had grown into a lightweight, where he would dominate for almost a decade, building a hall of fame resume at lightweight alone

and then he moved up to WW and beat SUGAR RAY LEONARD by outboxing and outpunching him in one of the highest level and most aesthetically pleasing boxing displays you will ever see from two legends in their primes

if you don't know much about sugar ray leonard you probably think he was some feather fisted boxer mover
he wasn't. he was a true WW with muscles and big bones. 5'10 or so, 74 inch reach, physically larger than margarito and every bit as strong with much cleaner, crisper, and harder punches

he'd pick manny apart and probably stop him late


and far beyond his best weights, when duran's discipline was in question, he still earned some great wins // had great performances

he won in the fight of the year in 89 against iran barkley (a guy manny pacquiao and bob arum wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole)

he took punches that would end manny's career
he threw punches that would end manny's career
he could be slick
he was a very good counter puncher


as New England Patriot Chad Ochocinco would say

kind sir,
please.

[New England]

There are catch 22's in both arguments. Fighters have better equipment & scientific components on there side now.They have an entire day to rehydrate,more weight classes,12 round championship fights.Get more money,are allowed to pick & choose.

Fighters from years past had 15 or more rounds to fight.less rest time. Same day weight in. Less money. less scientific components. Usually didn't duck & less weight classes.

I think fighters from yesteryear were definately mentally stronger, while current fighters are physically stronger. But if you took Duran on his prime & fastforwards to now, with the scientific tech of today,next day weight ins & 12 rounds of championship fights & more weight classes, there is absolutely no way that Pacman beats him.

add smaller gloves, and smelling salts to the list for the old fighters

and refs that wouldn't stop a fight until a man was near death


did i mention smelling salts

[The_Sandman]

there is no "roberto duran or something"

theres only one manos de piedra

lets go through it

growing up similarly to pacquiao, even going so far as to have to swim across a river for food in his youth (according to somebody on the forum,) he entered the pros as a bantamweight, 20 lbs north of the weight at which pacquiao was reported to weigh (98 lbs according to his 60 minutes interview)

within two years he had grown into a lightweight, where he would dominate for almost a decade, building a hall of fame resume at lightweight alone

and then he moved up to WW and beat SUGAR RAY LEONARD by outboxing and outpunching him in one of the highest level and most aesthetically pleasing boxing displays you will ever see from two legends in their primes

if you don't know much about sugar ray leonard you probably think he was some feather fisted boxer mover
he wasn't. he was a true WW with muscles and big bones. 5'10 or so, 74 inch reach, physically larger than margarito and every bit as strong with much cleaner, crisper, and harder punches

he'd pick manny apart and probably stop him late


and far beyond his best weights, when duran's discipline was in question, he still earned some great wins // had great performances

he won in the fight of the year in 89 against iran barkley (a guy manny pacquiao and bob arum wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole)

he took punches that would end manny's career
he threw punches that would end manny's career
he could be slick
he was a very good counter puncher


as New England Patriot Chad Ochocinco would say

kind sir,
please.

I wasn't just talking about Roberto Duran vs Pacquiao. That was just an example. That's why I said "...or something." I just didn't want to write down all the list of potential fights, Ali vs Wlad, SSR vs May, this guy vs that guy, etc.

[Pacquiao'd]

we also have to remember, thing werent as thorouggh back in the day when it came to protecting fighters...hell, still isnt today. people would cheat using **** like coke, plaster and such.

so at the end of the day. itsnot conclusive what aid fighters back then may have used to help them. but skills wise. you can compare fighters. i dont think that pac would have lasted with the likes of Duran,RL and hearns, RR. but i do think that floyd woudl have won fights b.c hes so fundamentally sound and versatile...fighting to the level of his opponents as well

[the niggest]

The real old timers, the ones from the 1920's and before that... No, I don't think they are better than modern day fighters pure H2H wise. H2H I think the greats from those times would get beat by the greats today. That's doesn't mean the modern greats are greater than them legacy wise though.

After that, say the 1940's and upwards I honestly don't see much of a difference skill wise and ability wise to the fighters today. A guy like Sugar Ray Robinson has a "modern" style and would pretty much blast through everyone today.

And in the 1970's and 80's... the likes of Roberto Duran, SRL, Hearns, Hagler and so on... I don't even consider them old timers because they are as far as I'm concerned in the "modern" era.

[ChopperRead]

Many boxing fans are nostalgia victims. Call it the "Bert Sugar syndrome". For them, the past is perfect and therefore always superior to the present. It's really a form of mental illness. One that is exacerbated by excessive alcohol intake.

[tennis-legend]

pacman would "no mas" duran in round 1

pacman would KO SRL in round 2

pacman would KO haggler and hearns in round 3-5