Were the past greats really that great!?

[IronDanHamza]

That is so wrong it's not even funny. Today's fighters are much less versatile. That's the biggest difference. A guy like Benny Leonard, thought of as a purists dream, was a better inside fighter than all of the 'inside' fighters today.

Anyway, this has been done to death. People often miss the point of boxing. Unlike most other sports, modern training, science etc has very, very, very little impact on boxing apart from some of the cross training techniques, but again, someone like Pac is no better conditioned than someone like Duran who was able to go 15 rounds harder than anyone today.

The biggest thing about boxing is very simple so most modern training and science has very little impact. The training techniques of boxing are exactly the same, and as so many people are finding out, weight training (which is basically the only thing modern training has made a big impact with) is minimal. Boxing is about basic aerobic and anaerobic capacity. You do the same thing 50 to 100 years ago. Sprints and running. For boxing, the usual.

You aren't trying to beat a time in boxing. This is the part that nearly everyone misses. You are not racing against the clock and trying to beat someone a certain way, otherwise anyone that's faster would win and anyone with better technique would win. Not how boxing works.

We see it every single ****ing day and people still don't get it......Someone who wants it more, despite the better technique, faster hands, faster feet etc etc can win.

Pac is among the best athletes and has the most modern training available. An older, smaller, slower, less powerful fighter just beat him using basic boxing. In any other sport, Pac would have wiped the floor, but boxing isn't about times and just being a greater athlete and it never has been. Sometimes, someone comes along who has great talent in fighting and is a great athlete and it translates to success, but time and time and time again the greater athlete has been put out because boxing is not about being a better athlete. It's about fighting for ****s sake. Bigger, stronger, faster does not equal success. How many times do you need to see it happen before people realise that boxing is about boxing, fighting, taking a punch, giving one back.

The fighters from past era had more talent to fight against, more trainers, more contenders, more gyms....Boxing was just bigger and had much more depth across the board.

That's why I made my way out.

I normally leave these discussions alone. I'm frankly bored of them.

But it seems that no matter what that the new generation of fans will just say "Older fighters were all brawlers" or "Newer fighters are more skilled" or things along those lines and roll with no matter what.

I mean, it's an everlasting debate and you put it best; Its been done to death.

[JAB5239]

TS, watch this video and it will show you EXACTLY why technique has not improved.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81non05aKX4

[NAPO]

TS, watch this video and it will show you EXACTLY why technique has not improved.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81non05aKX4

Great video...

It actually proving me wrong in a way.

[SCtrojansbaby]

The updates in conditioning and nutrition mean that yesterday's greats would get dominated by the average fighters of today. The same is true of all sports.

You can only really judge a fighter against those of his own era.

OMG . STOP . MAKING . SENSE

[i_am_a_champ]

Go watch Benny Leonard fight footage and then tell me he wasnt great.

Amazing fighter

[Murder1]

Why Bill Gates make them them computers?

[Murder1]

PACMAN WOULD RICKY HATTON WILLIE PEP

Are you serious??? Are you freaking serious???? The Pac who is troubled by jabs and the movement of Cotto and Mosely......would Ko Pep. Pep won a round w/ out even throwing a punch. His movement was great and probably the greatest defensive fighter ever. And you think Pacroid would KO him????

Son, you don't know boxing.

[jreckoning]

TS, watch this video and it will show you EXACTLY why technique has not improved.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81non05aKX4

There;s no doubt technique was better old school.

My thing is anyone can turn on ESPN Classic and watch a million fights where guys were in great shape and throwing crisp shots for 15 rounds.

Sure we can go back to mythical legendary greats and doubt the authenticity of their abilities, but there are plenty of old fights out there showing guys with as much skill and will as anyone today.

[elplayapimp]

some of the old fighters where great but some over rated.

[crold1]

There is also a key difference in comparing boxing to other sports. Boxing, unlike the NFL or NBA, has weight limits and those have been static for years. A welterweight is still, roughly given day before weigh-ins, a Welterweight. If today's athlete looks bigger in the ring for a Welter, it is because they are allowed to put on 10-20 before the opening bell. For the most part though, a Welter is still a Welter.

Ray Robinson was between 5'10-5'11 and moved between Welter and small Middle. Is there a Welter right now who evolution has made too big for him? Seriously? The two best welters in the world right now were at their absolute peak below the limit. Size hasn't hampered them.