Are today's boxers bigger & better than those who fought in the 70's n 80's?

[Kigali]

majority of heavyweights today are 20-30 pounds overweight. theyre not as big as people think. it was unheard of in the 70s and 80s to see some fat guy fighting for the title or a contender.

they didnt have epo back then so they actually had to do cardio for endurance.

[RedZmaja]

This is just completely false and not backed up in any way by statistics. There are less fighters around the world today than there were in the United States along at one point. Boxing is far less popular today than it used to be, and is not getting more popular.

And where are your statistics that there are less fighters around the world than there were in the USA at some point? It's impossible to measure and even if true it doesn't say anything about the quality of those fighters. Americans boxers aren't that good and as soon as Eastern Europeans entered the picture they started to capture titles immediately. American boxers also routinely lose to British. It was easier for them back in the day when everyone could be a boxer because the talent was so low.

The best guys from the 50s and 60s wouldn't even be competitive today. Mikey Garcia would dominate that entire era without breaking a sweat.

Modern boxing is just way improved, way more sophisticated and way better.

[Kigali]

And where are your statistics that there are less fighters around the world than there were in the USA at some point? It's impossible to measure and even if true it doesn't say anything about the quality of those fighters. Americans boxers aren't that good and as soon as Eastern Europeans entered the picture they started to capture titles immediately. American boxers also routinely lose to British. It was easier for them back in the day when everyone could be a boxer because the talent was so low.

The best guys from the 50s and 60s wouldn't even be competitive today. Mikey Garcia would dominate that entire era without breaking a sweat.

Modern boxing is just way improved, way more sophisticated and way better.

[Dr Rumack]

And where are your statistics that there are less fighters around the world than there were in the USA at some point? It's impossible to measure and even if true it doesn't say anything about the quality of those fighters. Americans boxers aren't that good and as soon as Eastern Europeans entered the picture they started to capture titles immediately. American boxers also routinely lose to British. It was easier for them back in the day when everyone could be a boxer because the talent was so low.

Do you really not know how much more popular boxing used to be?

[Tom Cruise]

This is just completely false and not backed up in any way by statistics. There are less fighters around the world today than there were in the United States along at one point. Boxing is far less popular today than it used to be, and is not getting more popular.

Its not even just the numbers. In comparison to the old days where much of the boxing talent was concentrated in certain areas, boxings infrastructure is all over the place. No organisation, no way of effectively getting kids into the sport, no investment into grassroots etc etc. In the past this took care of its self because the majority of the talent came from the same place.

People talk about Eastern Euros stepping in and filling the gap left by the US, but these countries barely even have a pro boxing culture. They dont turn over till very late, then they need to re learn the sport. Its not the same as a kid who grew up their whole life wanting to be Pro World Champ, dedicating their lives to it, having the trainers around them with specific knowledge of pro boxing and having the competition to bring out their best.

We talk about the improvements in NBA, NFL or Soccer as if we can translate that straight to boxing, but really those sports are lightyears ahead of boxing when it comes to scouting and farming talent. Boxing is still basically doing what it has always done, sit there and wait for stars to fall into its lap, with the added caveat that the talent pool is being raped by other more organised sports.

Obviously numbers matter, i would never dispute that but its not the only thing thats going on.

One day when we might be able to marry an effective boxing organisation with modern nutritional and training advances, then absolutely the fighters are going to get better. No doubt.

[juggernaut666]

And where are your statistics that there are less fighters around the world than there were in the USA at some point? It's impossible to measure and even if true it doesn't say anything about the quality of those fighters. Americans boxers aren't that good and as soon as Eastern Europeans entered the picture they started to capture titles immediately. American boxers also routinely lose to British. It was easier for them back in the day when everyone could be a boxer because the talent was so low.

The best guys from the 50s and 60s wouldn't even be competitive today. Mikey Garcia would dominate that entire era without breaking a sweat.

Modern boxing is just way improved, way more sophisticated and way better.

There are way more fighters today ,not just by population but by different countries involved in the sport now . I cant believe anyone would argue that ?

More all around fighters also increases competitiveness , there was a chart posted in the history section that showed the expansion of boxing from old days to modern days of listed fighters . How would there be more boxers in the 60's say to now ? That wouldn't even be possible . lol

[RedZmaja]

Do you really not know how much more popular boxing used to be?

Boxing is more popular now than it ever was. Combat sports are at its peak.

[RedZmaja]

Modern boxing is just so much better. The further you go back in history the more flaws and poor boxing you see to the point when fighters didn't even know how to throw a jab.

[robertzimmerman]

Dumbest post you have ever made buddy , conditioning and advanced nutrition has made changes in all sport. then you got tuition, you think boxing the same after 30 yrs while the rest of the world advances, no logic in that at all, do you think Jack Johnson era is the same as now off course not, then what makes you think its stopped changing.

I really cannot believe how narrow mind people are, its common sense they have improved, fighters are bigger in their respective divisions because of science in conditioning and making weight, look at Floyd sitting in a sub zero chamber these kinda things did not exist 30 years ago.

Why are you still persisting with this line of thinking?

Boxing has not changed within the last 25 years.

You can take the top fighters, the second tier fighters, the gatekeepers etc.

As a whole, the divisions aren't stronger, and the fighters aren't better, showing new/advanced techniques.

How can you even argue against that?

Again: If the sport progressed in the manner that you think, the best fighters today would be head and shoulders above the guys who fought in the 80's and 90's.

You have been blinded by sports science. Yes, it can be an advantage. But a left hook will always be a left hook. A fighter from 50 years ago would be able to beat a guy of today, if he possessed the right attributes. Now you couldn't make that claim in many other sports.

The main reason that fighters today seem bigger in their respective weight divisions than when they did from 30 years ago, is because we no longer have same day weigh-ins. If we did, most fighters would have to move up a division.

[robertzimmerman]

And where are your statistics that there are less fighters around the world than there were in the USA at some point? It's impossible to measure and even if true it doesn't say anything about the quality of those fighters. Americans boxers aren't that good and as soon as Eastern Europeans entered the picture they started to capture titles immediately. American boxers also routinely lose to British. It was easier for them back in the day when everyone could be a boxer because the talent was so low.

The best guys from the 50s and 60s wouldn't even be competitive today. Mikey Garcia would dominate that entire era without breaking a sweat.

Modern boxing is just way improved, way more sophisticated and way better.

I suggest you go and watch some of the fighters from those eras.