How long are boxing generations?

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by modernfonzie, Aug 1, 2014.


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  1. modernfonzie

    modernfonzie Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    In general, a generation is considered 25 years, but in boxing it has to shorter than that right?

    So how long is it? 10 years? 20 years?

    How long before the old fighters get dethroned, and the new fighters take shape?

    25 years ago today was 1989. And that's at least 2-3 generations of boxing right?
     
    modernfonzie, Aug 1, 2014
    modernfonzie, Aug 1, 2014
    #1
  2. ryuken87

    ryuken87 Active Member Full Member

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    I would say it's the length of a pro-career so 15 years or so.
     
    ryuken87, Aug 1, 2014
    ryuken87, Aug 1, 2014
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  3. cslb

    cslb Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Seems about right to me. 15 - 20 years.
     
    cslb, Aug 1, 2014
    cslb, Aug 1, 2014
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  4. alexthegreatmc

    alexthegreatmc Sound logic and reason. You're welcome! Full Member

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    Good question, never thought about it. I'm a go with 15 years.
     
    alexthegreatmc, Aug 1, 2014
    alexthegreatmc, Aug 1, 2014
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  5. modernfonzie

    modernfonzie Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    15 years is the popular choice so far. That would mean Pac, Floyd and JMM are fighting out of their generation. They turned pro before 97, B-Hop another obvious one too. All fighting at a very high level still
     
    modernfonzie, Aug 1, 2014
    modernfonzie, Aug 1, 2014
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  6. Pimp C

    Pimp C Too Much Motion Full Member

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    15 years for me
     
    Pimp C, Aug 1, 2014
    Pimp C, Aug 1, 2014
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  7. zeavic

    zeavic Active Member Full Member

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    15 years 20 if your a G.O.A.T
     
    zeavic, Aug 1, 2014
    zeavic, Aug 1, 2014
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  8. rhin0z>

    rhin0z> Boxing Addict Full Member

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    average 10 years

    However fighters with outstanding skills 15-20
     
    rhin0z>, Aug 1, 2014
    rhin0z>, Aug 1, 2014
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  9. CST80

    CST80 De Omnibus Dubitandum Staff Member

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    Regular generations are considered 20 to 25 years, with boxing most careers are shorter than that, so 10 to 15 would be about right, comparatively.
     
    CST80, Aug 1, 2014
    CST80, Aug 1, 2014
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  10. modernfonzie

    modernfonzie Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Guys, the question has nothing to do with how long a boxer's career is. The same way a generation isn't how long someone's life is. The question is more about when the changing of the guard happens, when all the old fighters are out, and the new fighters are in.
     
    modernfonzie, Aug 1, 2014
    modernfonzie, Aug 1, 2014
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  11. CST80

    CST80 De Omnibus Dubitandum Staff Member

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    I think era would be more appropriate, most people tie fighters with a time or era based on a neural association with a popular fighter of the time.
    Robinson Era
    Armstrong Era
    Louis Era
    Ali Era
    RJJ Bhop Era
    Manny Floyd Era etc.
    Its hard to figure out the line of demarcation between generations because many fighters from one generation overlap into another.
    So generalized eras is probably more accurate.
     
    CST80, Aug 1, 2014
    CST80, Aug 1, 2014
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  12. modernfonzie

    modernfonzie Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I mean it as in, RJJ is still "active" but clearly out of his generation, because he isn't relevant, and the fighters he fought are all done. That's why I think generations are more appropriate.
     
    modernfonzie, Aug 1, 2014
    modernfonzie, Aug 1, 2014
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  13. Brighton bomber

    Brighton bomber Loyal Member Full Member

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    Yep this.

    When a group of older fighters fade and are replaced by a new generation of title holder/champions. This marks the end of a generation.

    Though there are exceptions to this rule. For example when the next wave of talent fails to dethrone the old champion as in the case with Wlad, but when this young group of fighters fails to take the throne and a new wave of young fighters replaces the now faded wave of former contenders this signifies a new generation. Great fighters will sometimes rule over more than one generation of fighters.

    Hopkins would be another exception. At light heavyweight alone, he beat the fighters of his generation in Tarver, Jones Jr, then beat Pascal, lost to Dawson, beat Cloud and now holds 2 titles and is looking to face the next generation in Kovalev and Stevenson.
     
    Brighton bomber, Aug 1, 2014
    Brighton bomber, Aug 1, 2014
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  14. CST80

    CST80 De Omnibus Dubitandum Staff Member

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    RJJ era is prime RJJ not RJJ of today, the RJJ BHop era mid 90's to mid late 2000's. 10 to 15 years. Average length of a fighter career is around that length and most era's are define by the most popular or skilled fighter of that time. But they overlapped into Manny Floyd era, posing a problem where is the demarcation line it's hard to tell.

    Generations are set, your a Millennial, I'm Gen X, We were born in a set historical time frame, its hard to define boxing by generation because generations fall within a defined time frame, there is a fluidity to sports, the era's often overlap making some era's indistinguishable from another.
     
    CST80, Aug 1, 2014
    CST80, Aug 1, 2014
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  15. modernfonzie

    modernfonzie Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Agreed, but that's a very select group. The people they came up with are all gone. The same way May, Pac, and JMM are still here, but De La Hoya, Tszyu, Hatton, Winky, etc are all gone.
     
    modernfonzie, Aug 1, 2014
    modernfonzie, Aug 1, 2014
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