How Good were the past American champions, REALLY?

[Earl-Hickey]

These days, pretty much no Americans are the best in the world, now granted they will try to feed us the crawfords, broners, wilders and the rest.

But since the UK has increased it's participation in boxing, with the eastern euro nations now dominating since they entered the pro game, and the emergence of cuba, American dominance is well and truly at an end.

This got me thinking to the Ali's, the leonards, and all the rest.

Were these guys even real "world" champions? They only really had to compete with other americans

How good would Ali have been if he had to face a Klitschko?

How good would Roy Jones have been if he had to face a Golovkin?

[MisterPullman]

Money Mayweather is the GOAT and American

[Fury4daWIN]

With the rise of the NBA and the NFL all the top athletes are bypassing boxing to earn the big bucks elsewhere. This wasn't the case back in the 70s, when seven foot giants like Ali and Frazier dominated the division. Wait wut?

[Jay Volcano]

They were amazing. All of them! Ali, Roy Jones, Frazier Sugar Ray Leonard, Sugar Ray Robinson etc.

[fanofslug]

These days, pretty much no Americans are the best in the world, now granted they will try to feed us the crawfords, broners, wilders and the rest.

But since the UK has increased it's participation in boxing, with the eastern euro nations now dominating since they entered the pro game, and the emergence of cuba, American dominance is well and truly at an end.

This got me thinking to the Ali's, the leonards, and all the rest.

Were these guys even real "world" champions? They only really had to compete with other americans

How good would Ali have been if he had to face a Klitschko?

How good would Roy Jones have been if he had to face a Golovkin?

Klitschko would have been on Joe's bum of the month club and against Ali he would have done as well as Bugner did against him. RJJ's athleticism in his prime would have made GGG look downright amateurish. Only a Mayweather would have faired well against them, but he's a different breed altogether. He transcends boxing eras and is timeless.

[Fury4daWIN]

They were amazing. All of them! Ali, Roy Jones, Frazier Sugar Ray Leonard, Sugar Ray Robinson etc.

I hear Foreman had a world class 40 yard dash time.

[b00g13man]

I've seen OP post some really dumb things, but was on the fence. This clarifies things.

[fanofslug]

I've seen OP post some really dumb things, but was on the fence. This clarifies things.

[Cloud]

Often wondered this myself. Watching some fights back then is painful. However.. it's alright. People only watch HLs today so the Golden Age bollocks will never die!

[Nubia]

Better than the Brit ones, that's for sure.