Why do people overrate boxers from the past eras?

[BangEM]

Nostalgia gives a feeling that makes people from the past greater than they're. And just like time heals all wounds and cover-up all blemishes - it also make us unsee what we saw in the past. Then we also have those who never saw what happened in realtime but rely on legends to help them judge greatness - thus making them greater than they actually are.

A classic example is Lennox Lewis. His footwork wasn't that great and before he linked up with Manny Steward - he was very clumsy albeit he got better after linking up with Manny Steward. And I'd wager that AJ has a better footwork than Lennox ever had. Lennox was also terrible on the backfoot. However, nostalgia has turned Lennox Lewis into some legendary slick boxer who had no holes in his game. Hilarious.

Also, looking at Lennox's resume - we can argue that he beat 8 very good contenders (max) and two ATGs that were on the decline (both Holyfield and Tyson were 36 when he fought them). AJ has beaten 3 very good contenders and one ATG in Wlad (41-yr Wlad gave a better account of himself than 36-yr old Tyson did). And if AJ can beat Ruiz in the rematch and beat the likes of Usyk, Pulev, Hunter, Wilder and Fury in their prime in the next 2 years - he'll move ahead of Lennox of every list.

Stop the madness and enjoy the greatness happening in realtime.

[Stokely]

Record against world champions;

Lennox Lewis: 14-2-1
Anthony Joshua: 4-1-0

[BangEM]

Record against world champions;

Lennox Lewis: 14-2-1
Anthony Joshua: 4-1-0

What was Lennox's record against world champions at age 29?

Let me help you: 1-1.

[Lopez_Boxing]

What if he cant get past ruiz again?

[techliam]

Record against world champions;

Lennox Lewis: 14-2-1
Anthony Joshua: 4-1-0

At the time of fighting, the only former/current champs I can find:

Klitschko
Parker
Martin

Who did I miss?

[deathofaclown]

Well it’s true in a sense that older fighters get a pass for things current fighters wouldn’t by boxing fans.

Hagler is considered an ATG, yet he lost to some average guys on the way up and his biggest wins were against guys that come up from lower weight classes. Imagine if he was around today? The people on this forum would be saying he was exposed and an overrated bum when he lost on the way up or calling him a hype-job, a weight bully etc..

That’s just the way it is.

On another note, boxers probably are better today. In all other sports where there is a definitive measurement such as time or distance, records are always being broken because athletes get better, so it’d be ****** to think boxers are not much better athletes today too, it’s just there’s no official measurement like in some other sports, so it’s based on opinion but the fact is they’re much better athletes today for the most part.

But we shouldn’t even compare eras. Different times, too many factors to make fair direct comparisons. You can only try to be the best of your time. Lewis was better in his era than AJ in his.

[Rusty Tromboni]

While nostalgia causes people to overrate fighters from the past, time also causes the memory of truly great fighters (or how great they were) to fade. What really distorts things are the legends.

So often, some fighters are remembered as greater than they were, while other go unherladed because their story is not as good, or as popular, or trendy.


Same as fighters today getting overhyped because they have a following.


It all comes down to the eye test, and being able to appreciate how Boxing has changed over the decades. McFarland was a real fighter, Lomachenko plays a sport. It's like comparing a Crusdaer Knight to an Olympic Fencer. I respect both, and esteem them both at the highest level, but I can see how they're doing different things.

[BangEM]

Well it’s true in a sense that older fighters get a pass for things current fighters wouldn’t by boxing fans.

Hagler is considered an ATG, yet he lost to some average guys on the way up and his biggest wins were against guys that come up from lower weight classes. Imagine if he was around today? The people on this forum would be saying he was exposed and an overrated bum when he lost on the way up or calling him a hype-job, a weight bully etc..

That’s just the way it is.

On another note, boxers probably are better today. In all other sports where there is a definitive measurement such as time or distance, records are always being broken because athletes get better, so it’d be ****** to think boxers are not much better athletes today too, it’s just there’s no official measurement like in some other sports, so it’s based on opinion but the fact is they’re much better athletes today for the most part.

But we shouldn’t even compare eras. Different times, too many factors to make fair direct comparisons. You can only try to be the best of your time. Lewis was better in his era than AJ in his.

Spot on.

Just watching Lennox vs McCall 1 again and for some reason, he reminds me of Charles Martin in an orthodox stance albeit Lennox had power. The same clumsy stance/footwork and forward motion. And every time McCall went forward, he just kept catching him with big shots at will. And it was clear he would get knocked out at any point in that fight before it finally happened. However, let people tell the story today - Lennox was a perfect boxer and he got beaten by a lucky punch.

I think the only advantage a lot of boxers from that era had is because they had granite chins and they were able to take a lot of punishment. And it's because they were all juiced to the grill.

[BangEM]

While nostalgia causes people to overrate fighters from the past, time also causes the memory of truly great fighters (or how great they were) to fade. What really distorts things are the legends.

So often, some fighters are remembered as greater than they were, while other go unherladed because their story is not as good, or as popular, or trendy.


Same as fighters today getting overhyped because they have a following.


It all comes down to the eye test, and being able to appreciate how Boxing has changed over the decades. McFarland was a real fighter, Lomachenko plays a sport. It's like comparing a Crusdaer Knight to an Olympic Fencer. I respect both, and esteem them both at the highest level, but I can see how they're doing different things.

Great post

[Lomadeaux]

What was Lennox's record against world champions at age 29?

Let me help you: 1-1.

Yea your post is a bunch of garbage man. Lewis would beat Joshua 100% and I couldn’t stand Lewis.