Why is Boxing the only Sport where the fans think Past >> Present

[UnDeniable]

In any other Sport, fans realise that Athletes are better conditioned, more skilled and generally more athletic

Yet when it comes to Boxing no active fighter gets a fair shake against the "Legends" of the past when it comes to "ATG Ranking" or "Fantasy Fights"

[Spray_resistant]

because that is what ppl who were fans of the sport before they were because they are older told them, I don't think its true.

[Oxn]

In any other Sport, fans realise that Athletes are better conditioned, more skilled and generally more athletic

Yet when it comes to Boxing no active fighter gets a fair shake against the "Legends" of the past when it comes to "ATG Ranking" or "Fantasy Fights"

Because Boxing fans are the worst.

But anyways, Boxing was a big deal back in the days, presently its a niche sport, so even the top fighters not named Floyd or Manny are insignificant, and have zero meaning to the everyday man.

Greatness apparently these days really mean name recognition.

[UnDeniable]

MJ, Magic, Bird > Kobe, Lebron, Wade

Roger Maris, Babe Ruth > Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire


Title is false.

i'm talking more 50's/60's era

BTW, Bonds >>>>>>> Ruth

[mudpunch]

MJ, Magic, Bird > Kobe, Lebron, Wade

Roger Maris, Babe Ruth > Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire


Title is false.

Lebron doesn't belong on that list.

[The Gambler1981]

Never got that one myself as it is proven that humans have not reached their potential athletically as records always fall. When records and averages start to level out I could see people saying otherwise but there is still improvement going on, unlike say horse racing where horses have reached their absolute potential but that has taken centuries of work and breeding, humans really aren't that close to that level for multiple reasons.

I remember asking and getting into a big argument over the topic, so good luck

[Mr. Philadel]

MJ, Magic, Bird > Kobe, Lebron, Wade

Roger Maris, Babe Ruth > Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire


Title is false.

Magic was the BEST player from them all imo...6'9 point guard who made the game look easy and fun...man I love me some Magic!!

[CHOWWOKKA]

i'm talking more 50's/60's era

BTW, Bonds >>>>>>> Ruth

Cough HGH cough

[niceyboo3]

Lebron doesn't belong on that list.

Lebron >>>> Magic and Bird, based on talents not rings......

[Dubblechin]

In any other Sport, fans realise that Athletes are better conditioned, more skilled and generally more athletic

Yet when it comes to Boxing no active fighter gets a fair shake against the "Legends" of the past when it comes to "ATG Ranking" or "Fantasy Fights"

Because in every other sport, athletes in the past were in general smaller and they competed less often. Today, athletes in all sports are in general much bigger and they compete in more games. The NBA season is nearly nine months long. Same with hockey. They play nearly 200 game-seasons in baseball. NFL seasons are getting longer and there are many more teams than there used to be.

In boxing, because of the weight divisions, fighters tend to be the same size as their predecessors from days gone by but they compete less frequently, the fights are shorter, and the sport is safer today.

The top welters used to fight three, four, five times a year or more and compete in 15 or 20 rounders. The gloves had thumbs, and many all-time greats (like Sandy Saddler) were masters at using the thumb in clinches. If a guy lost his mouthpiece, he had to be careful not to suffer terrible mouth or lip cuts. You tended to have to pummel a guy mercilessly for the ref to stop it. Quitting on the stool was seen as a cowardly act.

Now, guys like Pacquaio fight once or twice a year. Mayweather fights once every few years. They only go 12 rounds at the most. The gloves are thumbless. If a mouthpiece gets knocked out, the stop everything to put it back in. If an opponent quits on the stool between rounds (and "lives to fight another day"), that's not taboo anymore.

If boxing matches were cut down to eight rounds in the future (which has been discussed), and all the top guys only fought once a year, and they wore headgear (which has also been discussed), guys who were fans today would complain about the "good old days" when fighters fought TWICE a year and fought 12-rounders and weren't protected from headbutts because of the oversized headgear.

Boxers today just don't lay it on the line as often, the fights aren't as long, and the sport's not as dangerous. So the old timers are viewed as better or tougher.