Why do certain "fans" here overrate old time boxers?

[Boxing_1013]

Yes, there were a lot of club fighters but how much medical attention did they get back then, how much could they truly rest and recooperate between fights, how many times were the odds stacked against Robinson just in terms of refereeing and rigging? That's what makes it hard to compare to a fighter today. The circumstances are just too different. He had a 91 fight win streak fighting once a week in many stretches. It's hard to say if even Mayweather could do that because he never had to do anything close. Even club fighters could wear you down week after week with such a small amount of time in between fights, slowly taking you out of your prime. The fact that he has the record he does under those circumstances is simply astonishing.

I see what you're saying...but I think the fact that he fought so many fights in such a short time kind of tells the story about the level of competition he was fighting.

A counter argument to that would be that SRR was just that special that he could do it and beat everyone so easily and not take damage...but I think it's kind of a combination of both really...he was a very special fighter, and the competition and sport back then were not really on his level, and not at the same level as it is today.

[siablo14]

CR7...not the 'real Ronaldo' as Mourinho might say

At their best R9 was better.

[_Rexy_]

Good points about SRR...but how many of those fights were really against live bodies? As great as Joe Louis was, remember he started the bum of the month club...some past greats like those 2 guys, they are legends in my book and deserve high praise, for paving the way and for dominance in their era.

But I don't think their level of competition was as high on average as most pros today...it was just a different sport and more amateurish the farther back you go...as evidenced by the fact that almost all of these boxers had part time jobs apart from boxing.

And another kind of unrelated point about SRR - the same day weigh ins make it hard to really compare eras, at least respective to certain weight classes...when he was at WW, he would have been at 135 today probably...at MW he would have been at WW today.



Very fair point here

There were 8 divisions, Robinson basically fought anyone available from 135-160 collecting the scalps from Henry Armstrong (only man to hold titles at feather, light and welter at the same time) Kid Gavilan, Rocky Graziano, Gene Fullmer, and Jake LaMotta just to name a few. When Robinson lost to LaMotta, he fought 14 days later, then rematched LaMotta 7 days after that. so in 3 weeks, he fought the Middleweight Champion of the world, a former Olympic Silver medalist, then the Middleweight Champion of the World again.


And to your point about the guys having part time jobs, that was common in most sports back then. Maurice Richard was a machinist in the day and was winning Stanley Cups at night. Athletes didn't start getting paid until the 70's or so.

[Eff Pandas]

Eh standard.

There are old timey fans who think old timey guys were the best. There are new school fans who think new school guys are the best. I call bs on both with these unanswerable mental ************ type questions & think all that really matters is being among the best of YOUR time.

[EDDIE SPERM]

Washed up BOOMERS overrate the "good ole days" outside boxing it's the same way "back then we" yeah hang people on trees I know!

[Boxing_1013]

At their best R9 was better.

R9 maybe the greatest striker ever, can't hate on him.

[Boxing_1013]

There were 8 divisions, Robinson basically fought anyone available from 135-160 collecting the scalps from Henry Armstrong (only man to hold titles at feather, light and welter at the same time) Kid Gavilan, Rocky Graziano, Gene Fullmer, and Jake LaMotta just to name a few. When Robinson lost to LaMotta, he fought 14 days later, then rematched LaMotta 7 days after that. so in 3 weeks, he fought the Middleweight Champion of the world, a former Olympic Silver medalist, then the Middleweight Champion of the World again.


And to your point about the guys having part time jobs, that was common in most sports back then. Maurice Richard was a machinist in the day and was winning Stanley Cups at night. Athletes didn't start getting paid until the 70's or so.

Yeah and I'm not hating on any of that...just kind of backs up my point too...I just don't think the level of opposition was as tough back then...and SRR was a special fighter so he would almost highlight that disparity in most of his fights...not to say those dudes weren't tough though...even if someone like Lamotta was a bit crude, going 20 rounds with him in 3 weeks is not an easy thing to do.

[Cobra Curry]

Ronaldo's the GOAT

I hope you mean R9...

[Boxing_1013]

I hope you mean R9...

No, Cristiano

[Cobra Curry]

No, Cristiano

Ah. I'd have Messi over him and Ronaldinho over the pair of them.
And your'e right, no one tops Maradona 😊