Anyone think The 1940's Heavies Were On A Par With The 1970's?

Much as I admire him I don't think Bob Foster deserves to be in the Heavyweight mix of the 70's, when you consider what he achieved there. Plus No, I don't think the 40's was on a par with the 70's. Just the When We Were Kings crowd plus Liston takes care of the top 5 names in your 40's list.

 

Liston was in his 40's and had only one fight in the decade vs Wepner. He is more a 50's-60's heavyweight. Co*ney is really 80s. If you're going to stretch the availability of the fighters into decades that were not their best than Schmeling should be listed because he did box in the 40s.

To the question at hand I think on a fight by fight basis the increased size of the 70s heavyweights would give them a marginal edge and they would win more than they would lose against the 40s era although I believe it would be competitive.

 

With the interlude of WWII and the lack of film on almost anyone but the champions it is hard to judge.

Hard to judge how tough Elmer Ray, Turkey Thompson, Lee Q. Murray, Lem Franklin and some of the others were at their best. One thing we can tell is that there was a bit more turnover at the top five in the 1940's than the 1970's.

"the increased size of the '70's heavyweights would give them a marginal edge"

"it would be competitive"

This sums it up for me also.

 

1970's for me.

 

:good I see it this way

 

McCvey conveniently left out many good names from the 40s like

Lee Q Murray
Lem Franklin
Turkey Thompson
Melio Bettina
Harry Bobo
Lou Nova
Roscoe Toles
Tommy Gomez
Archie Moore
Hatchetman Sheppard


Some of these men were highly rated fearsome punchers who were avoided by louis' camp. They didn't get their shot because of the color of their skin

 

On average I'd take the 70s heavies. The size/weight differential wasn't all that much. Quarry, Ellis, Patterson and Young were all as small as (and smaller) than many of the better 40s heavies and look how well they did.

 

Each era wins some and loses some.

Mr. Charles over Mr. Foreman is my upset pick of the "duel".

 

Indeed but you know damn well that those 4 70s guys you mentioned have other intangibles that made them successful, regardless of size. 3/4 had good pop, 4/4 were well schooled talented fighters.

Frankly the average HW from the 40s were definitely not as skilled or good overall as those 4. This cant really be argued with.. imo. The 70s was stacked with the obvious ATGs (ali foreman frazier) and then a slew of punchers (lyle, mac foster, shavers), pure boxers (ellis, bugner, young) borderline ATG HWs like Norton and a young ATG in larry holmes also..

 

It can't? You can say beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jimmy Ellis was better than say, Lee Q. Murray (who was bigger, stronger, harder-hittting and a switch-hitter ala' Marvin Hagler)? Was he or Jerry Quarry better than Jimmy Bivins? I wouldn't bank on it. Not at all, actually.

True, but so were the 40s. Joe Louis. Ezzard Charles. Jersey Joe Walcott

The 40s was just as formidable as far as slugging contenders goes. Lem Franklin(whom many experts saw as a harder puncher than Joe Louis), Curtis Hatchetman Sheppard, Elmer Violent Ray, Lee Q. Murray, Rusty Payne, Harry Bobo, Lee Savold, etc.

Bob Pastor. Jimmy Bivins, Lee Q. Murray, Melio Bettina(both boxer-punchers), etc.

I don't consider Norton anywhere near an ATG. In fact I'd take just about any big puncher from the 40s to knock him stiff, just like he fell apart against the big hitters of the 70s. Harry Bobo? Lee Q. Murray? I'd take them both to stop Norton early.

All in all I agree with you. The 70s were the greatest years, imo. But the 40s is a serious contender for that title. It would be like a Marvel vs. DC war.

Peace

 

40s

Joe Louis
Rocky Marciano
Ezzard Charles
Joe Walcott
Billy Conn
Max Baer
Buddy Baer
Max Schmeling
Archie Moore
Jimmy Bivins
Joey Maxim
Rex Layne
Roland LaStarza
Lou Nova
Tony Galento
Primo Carnera
Abe Simon
Lem Franklin
Arturo Godoy
Tami Mauriello
Lee Q Murray
Curtis Sheppard
Elmer Ray
Turkey Thompson
Nino Valdez
Clarence Henry
Tommy Farr
Joe Baksi
Bob Satterfield
Pat Valentino

70s

Muhammd Ali
George Foreman
Joe Frazier
Ken Norton
Jimmy Young
Jerry Quarry
Duane Bobick
Earnie Shavers
Ron Lyle
Chuck Wepner
Joe Bugner
Ron Stander
Leon Spinks

If there's any names you want to add to the 40 list, please feel free. If there are any names you want to remind me I forgot from the 70s, don't bother, I'll just call you names and ignore your point.