The oldschool of boxing is overrated

[dan_cov]

The Heavyweight division has seen the biggest improvement because of improvements in medicine, training, and teaching.

No way guys like Foreman, Frazier, Ali, Holyfield, Lewis, Bowe, Mercer, Tyson, Moorer, Ruddock, and Spoon could compete with the modern breed of heavyweight who combine raw athleticism, excellent training habits, with top technical skills.

1974:

Champ: Muhammad Ali
1. George Foreman
2. Joe Frazier
3. Ron Lyle
4. Oscar Bonavena
5. Joe Bugner
6. Ken Norton
7. Jerry Quarry
8. Chuck Wepner
9. Henry Clark
10. Larry Middleton

1991:

1. Evander Holyfield
2. Mike Tyson
3. Rid**** Bowe
4. Donovan Ruddock
5. Ray Mercer
6. George Foreman
7. Tim Witherspoon
8. Tony Tucker
9. Lennox Lewis
10. Michael Moorer

2014:

Champ: Waldo Klitschko

1. Kubrat Pulev
2. Alexander Povetkin
3. Tomasz Adamek
4. Betmane Steverne
5. Tyson Fury
6. Robert Helenius
7. Chris Arreola
8. Oleander Solis
9. Ruslan Chagaev
10. Deontae Wilder

[lefthook2daliva]

The kids have to think this. Have to. Otherwise, what's the point?

[Weltschmerz]

90 percent of these old timers don't stand a chance against this eras champs.

[Box-Office]

I definitely agree.

As an example Oscar Robertson is no match to lets say Jason Kidd. Or Chamberlin to Shaq. Its because the game has evolved and back then one guy could do one thing and became an ATG b baller based on it. Today everyone can dribble fancy and shoot 3s consistently or more so than people in 50s,60s,70s and even 80s did. So you need to do more to be relevant.

Same goes for boxing as fighters have become slick and more skilled.

[tangalog2200]

No disrespect to the old boys, they're warriors, but as I study their resumes, they really DOES seem less impressive than the Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfields of modern times.

Frazier: He had 1 great win, Ali. To who he lost the two rematches. His second best win Quarry, a guy with a very flawed resume, and if anyone today had a loss like the one he Frazier had to Foreman back then, it would be considered "exposed".

Jerry Quarry: Lost to journeymen right and left and his best win was Earnie Shavers...

Earnie Shavers: He lost to journeymen right and left, got knocked out in round 1 by Quarry...

Rocky Marciano: His KO percentage and undefeated record seems impressive, but he got no great wins at all, we could hail Deontay Wilder today like many are hailing Marciano...

Just some examples. It's as if the old fighters are being hyped a lot to make each other seem better by beating each other. But we had guys like Lewis in modern times with far better resumes and more clear top quality wins.

I just don't get why so many prefer oldschool boxing, although yes, Ali and Foreman would both probably be on top today, but guys like Frazier, Shavers and Quarry would probably not even beat Holyfield... I'm trying to be realistic here.

over rated? can't share your view on this one....

i've been a boxing curio since i was still wearing long shorts if you know what i mean...

and i am still a boxing fan enjoying the likes of mike lewis pac floyd erik etc etc...

and in my eyes the modern fighters can still take a lot from the old school boys

[tangalog2200]

I definitely agree.

As an example Oscar Robertson is no match to lets say Jason Kidd. Or Chamberlin to Shaq. Its because the game has evolved and back then one guy could do one thing and became an ATG b baller based on it. Today everyone can dribble fancy and shoot 3s consistently or more so than people in 50s,60s,70s and even 80s did. So you need to do more to be relevant.

Same goes for boxing as fighters have become slick and more skilled.

as you use basketball to drive your point home...then consider this....

who among the modern basketball greats will you compare over bill russel?

[tangalog2200]

You mean, you don't see many visible changes between now and then. There are a lot of little subtle things that fighters in today's era do that they didn't before. So subtle that you can't even see it. For instance, Floyd's jab to the body is different from the way Ali or SRR threw theirs. They're jab to the body looks more like a flick as if it's just used as a decoy. Floyd puts his whole body weight into his and he seems to be in a more fencing position when he throws it. They even focus on what they eat and shouldn't eat. For fighter's today, a fighter and a trainer is not enough. Fighters today have a whole team. Some even go as far as hiring strength and conditioning coaches. In fact, some fighters actually have nutritionists too. You have to understand, the standards are higher in today's era too. If George Foreman was the oldest champion before, then Hopkins felt he had to be more disciplined to surpass that. As the standards change, the fighter's mentality will change as well. If they feel like they have to run more miles, spar more rounds, give less corner breaks, bring in fresh sparring partners every round, then they will do whatever it takes to achieve those standards. I'm sure fighters in the future will come up with more grueling training methods to break today's records.

floyd puts more in his jabs as he jabs less....

but you are right ali jabs flickers to set up his combos and heavy right...

surely ali & floyd have different styles and they use the jabs differently for their purpose...

to say floyd's jabs are better than ali's is a bit overreaching

[cupocity303]

That means you're realistic. It's easy to critisise the new stuff and hold on the old stuff, but times are changing and many boxers looks better than the old era. If David Haye had fought in the era of Muhammad Ali and Haye got a loss to Frazier, then people would hype David Haye a lot to make Frazier seem better. Floyd would destroy Pep, probably stop him.

However, don't hype the Klitschkos. Wladimir got a glassjaw and would beat Frazier only because of his size. Vitali is good, but I don't like that he never defeated anyone better than Corrie Sanders... There's a reason i mentioned Holyfield and Lewis and not the Klitschkos.

Yes, that's because you have selective bias and all.

[cupocity303]

Who from the past does Ross Purrity beat??

Ross Purrity could beat a lot of bums and c-level journeymen that on great fighters resumes. And if they're not careful and punch themselves out, could upset a great fighter too.

[damuttz112]

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