Teddy Atlas: “GGG was overrated, but please don’t get upset!”

Win over Hopkins?

 

Who are 10 middleweights since 1960ish that you rate above him?

 

The post I was quoting made no mention of RJJ.

 

No worries man

 

Thank you for that. I looked at your list, and appreciate your perspective on it.

...

As for why post 60'....

I really am not a fan of mixing classic eras and modern eras like that. It is truly apples and oranges. And I dont believe its fair to either grouping to compare them to eachother.

Todays boxing is structured nothing like classic boxing, and some of the main positive and negative components to rating classic fighters are impossible standards to todays champions (like say, the frequency at which old schoolers fought) due to how modern boxing is structured.

I think if someone has to go back over 50 years ago to try and grab names to put ahead of Golovkin on a top 10 list, comparing him to fighters that fought at a time when boxing was so different it becomes practically incomparable, its safe to say imo that hes a top 10 middleweight... though I suppose one could add an * to that as to it being post 60'

Anyways thats just my mentality... Ive never been a fan of mixing modern and classic achievements.

Different fight lengths, different glove sizes, different referring, different career structures, much heavier corruption, completely different level and quality of styles, ect. Its apples and oranges, imo.

I find the notion of ranking guys like bob fitzsimmons over modern greats an injustice to modern boxing. How many guys with zero wins did he fight? Under completely different conditions to whats the standard today.

I dont see how someone can watch bob fitzsimmons fight, take into account the context of his and Golovkins careers, look at his record, then watch Golovkin fight, and think Bob rates higher than G.

Just my view though. To each their own.

 

So just for the heck of it... I went and looked at Fitz's record.

He had 60 something (68?) wins.

Over 50 of his opponents were people making their pro debut, or had 1 win.

Only 20 or so of his wins came against fighters with more than 2 fights that had winning records. Many of which consisted of 5-4... 8-2 types.

Then I go watch him fight. Looks like something Id see in a backyard boxing match.

I simply can not understand ranking him over modern greats.