What pre 1970s giants could have made it in this period

This is slightly different from the question you asked, but Ernie Terrell with modern weight training would be superheavyweight-sized today.

And I think he'd make it.

 

Earnie Terrell, Buddy Baer, arguably Carnera and Willard. Guys like Shkor and Simmons don't quite make the cut

And if you wanna get technical on what a super heavyweight is, Ali, Nino Valdes, Max Baer, Harry Wills and Luis Firpo could also be included. (All 6'3" 215-220lbs)

 

Terrell would do OK .Slightly underrated guy ,he'd be a awkward fella to fight .

 

If Carnera got to 270 pounds with a 1920s weight lifting program (presumably discontinued when he started boxing), he'd probably be even larger today.

Willard would also be bigger.

Baer needs somebody like Steward, immediately.

 

My first thought was Buddy Baer and Ernie Terrell. Both would be contenders today.

 

I am happy to see Terrell get a little positive recognition. I always point to Ali's relatively easy victory over Terrell as support for the argument that the first version of Ali could handle the big guys of the present era. Terrell had a heckuva jab and he was a very smart fighter even if he made some fights boring with his holding.

 

Definitely ,he didn't set the ring alight with his style ,but he could be effective.

 

Probably Buddy, imo Max would beat today's heavyweight division but Buddy was a bit off in training and could use polishing to fight today

 

A good manager would have significant options with:

Big Bill Tate
Fred Fulton
Jess Willard
Primo Carnera
Buddy Baer
Ernie Terrell

 

My first thought was none of them.

Upon further review I am sticking with my first thought.

 

It was probably harder to get established as a contender in their day to be honest.

Today you have multiple titles, and you can get ranked without beating anybody close to world level.

If you can't do something with these guys as a manager, then you should probably be in a different business!

 

I think this is a very old fashioned view. I think you are clinging to old cliches about all giants being oafs.

It’s time to take the blinkers off and realise size advantage is a bigger deal today than at any other point.

If a big guy made the grade by reaching top ten level -back when more of the odds were stacked against him- then surely he is better equipped when less odds are stacked against him?

If all they had was size, surely they can thrive where size is everything?