Is watching old fighters useless?

[LockardTheGOAT]

Styles have changed and boxing as a sport has changed, so you could get away without watching. Back in the day endurance and toughness were big factors. It's evolved into more than that. People who go on and on about how great boxing used to be, how any previous era fighter would walk todays era. They're either whiney elitist/hipsters who never leave the house, or old farts not living in reality.

You'll find the majority of them hold a lot of unneccasary anger and bitterness. Even on here there's a little clique of them who post only in the history forums. They definately see themselves as the "cool kids club". They nuthug eachother. Every once in a while they venture into the current forums to post some long winded bollocks about how boxing now is nothing compared to what it was.

Everything you said could just as well apply to people today as well... People that are prisoners of the moment and behaving as if every guy today could easily blow throgh the guys of yesteryear without much of a problem when anyone with a brain knows that isn't true.

[#1Assassin]

older fighters had more skills than current ones. current fighters are more athletic but skillwise the old ones are far superior. they fought and trained all the time, constantly honing their skills. not like todays era where most fighters box once or twice a year then take a 3 month vacation.

there was more knowledge in the sport back then too, guys like eddie futch, emanuel steward, bill miller, angelo dundee, ray arcel etc.

there are a few exceptions but most trainers today dont know the sport like they did. and back then there were countless others who were great trainers but dont get any props for it.

likewise with the fighters themselves, there are a few fighters who are as skilled as the old school guys. you know what they are called? old school. for that reason.

[ShoulderRoll]

Floyd Mayweather dominated the current era of the sport for 20 years with a throwback boxing style.

Today the shoulder roll defense/ "Philly shell" is almost a lost art. But back in the days before Ali it was more common and there were several masters of it. Such as Ezzard Charles.

So that is just one example of how it would be beneficial to watch old fighters, there are many nuggets of knowledge to be learned from studying them.

[W1LL]

older fighters had more skills than current ones. current fighters are more athletic but skillwise the old ones are far superior. they fought and trained all the time, constantly honing their skills. not like todays era where most fighters box once or twice a year then take a 3 month vacation.

We know now through sports science that a rest period is required to be at physical peak every time. Fighting every week means fighting at about 50% most of the time. I do agree though, the 4-8 month layoff these days is a joke.

[ShoulderRoll]

Lots that can be learned from the old timers. Lots.

[A.K]

I really liked Aaron pryors style I watched like half his fights on YouTube, can't really get into the black and white thing tho the quality and is too bad.

[Tony Trick-Pony]

Is it still worth watching really old fights if you wanna learn from them?
Any fighter older than Ali's era like Demsey, Louis, Moore, Armstrong etc


As not only boxing has changed immensely but also newer fighters have a lot more skills than old fighters.

Or can old fighters still teach you things, the newer ones can't?

Like I mentioned, I do not necessarily the most recent ones like AB,GGG,Canelo,Loma etc but also semi-old fighters like Leonard,Hagler,Ali,Jones...

The older fighters in many cases fought much better than the modern fighters. They actually fought on the inside since the referee didn't constantly break up inside fighting. They also fought more often and stayed in better shape overall. And everybody didn't get handed a "belt." You had to earn it. This generation lacks a lot compared to the old guys because of the softer environment. There will always be talented guys but when they're not forced to fight the best, that talent goes to waste.

[New England]

ray robinson had 200 fights and fought 1400 rounds as a pro.


if you don't think there's any value in that it is on you. he would make adrien broner look like a complete novice. stylistically, in terms of his talent, in terms of his experience and poise in the ring, everywhere. he'd make broner look like the overrated, mediocre WW sideshow that he is.


robinson was born close to 100 years ago, to give you a sense of the timing. he' df#cking muder floyd mayweather, man. murder him. sports science and advanced technique doe

[therealpugilist]

Is it still worth watching really old fights if you wanna learn from them?
Any fighter older than Ali's era like Demsey, Louis, Moore, Armstrong etc


As not only boxing has changed immensely but also newer fighters have a lot more skills than old fighters.

Or can old fighters still teach you things, the newer ones can't?

Like I mentioned, I do not necessarily the most recent ones like AB,GGG,Canelo,Loma etc but also semi-old fighters like Leonard,Hagler,Ali,Jones...

a lot of old school techniques are not utilized as much today so you'd be better serviced to watch them and learn

feinting is a lost art

slipping, rolling shots.....using both shoulders on defense

shift and stepping with each punch isn't don't much...guys either lunge or punch in one spot


also fighters back in the day punched starting with their feet, and ended with their fist...no one really snaps their shoulders into their punches or properly shift body weight for more power, less effort.


some guys I suggest you watch are ezzard Charles, georgie Benton, salvadoe sanchez, willie pep, Joe Louis(proper balance and technique)....henry Armstrong...their are many great fighters to learn from pre-1950

[Reloaded]

ray robinson had 200 fights and fought 1400 rounds as a pro.


if you don't think there's any value in that it is on you. he would make adrien broner look like a complete novice. stylistically, in terms of his talent, in terms of his experience and poise in the ring, everywhere. he'd make broner look like the overrated, mediocre WW sideshow that he is.


robinson was born close to 100 years ago, to give you a sense of the timing. he' df#cking muder floyd mayweather, man. murder him. sports science and advanced technique doe

Robinson fought over a 100 bums / GGG could stop those 100 bums one every day.

You people are dreamers living in a time you weren't even born its the good ol days syndrome. even with the footage available were you can see how limited they were.