I agree with you second paragraph. People bash oldschool fighters for using different techniques but the same people are in love with Wilder, Jones and many others unorthodox fighters because "they are unique". Important to note is that Ruiz is probably better fighter than Galento, but your point is still there.
Baer was stronger than another tank - Galento - and that tank was also heavier and ate punches from Joe Louis and hasn't taken a step backwards in his career. Baer at 225 lbs was lean like a MW. He was big, big man with a lot of natural strength and power.
I am not in a hurry to pick Andy Ruiz over anybody who I thought was worse than Anthony Joshua, for the same reasons that I don't pick James Douglas over everybody who was worse than Mike Tyson, or Jimmy Braddock over everybody who was worse than Max Baer. Upsets usually entail some sort of unforced failing on the part of the guy being upset.
Galento was also 5'9 (4-5 inches shorter than Ruiz), 30+ pounds lighter, and had thoroughly worse technique. There's also that part.
He was also a second rate contender, not someone with a viable claim to best in the world. I'd be interested if people happy with Ruiz as a 265Ib Tank, would be happy with Galento being called a 233Ib Tank.
If Galento got impressive results, it would be more fitting. However, he’s most well known for a fight in which he was viciously beaten down and stopped.
I am merely pointing out what I see as a double standard. Traits which are heavily criticized in a fighter from Baer's era, are sometimes forgiven in a contemporary fighter.
Andy sticks a jab on Max and comes over his low hands with right hands to beat the band. Too much skill , too much class. This content is protected
So Andy Ruiz is becoming the flag bearer for the modern super heavyweight generation! Evolution and sports science personified!
In what notable fights did Baer weigh 225 Ibs? I believe he was only around 203 Ibs when he stopped Max Schmeling and still less than 210 Ibs in his title winning performance against Primo Carnera.
Max Baer weighed: 223 lbs against Pat Comiskey 221.5 lbs against Tony Galento 220.75 lbs against Lou Nova It wasn't his prime weight, but my point is that Baer looked like a MW at over 220 lbs - not a single pound of fat. He was a big, powerful man.
Why? Because of Big George's great pedigree as a trainer? I mean, who has he trained, except possibly a few of the George Jr.s that sits at his dinner table when the gong sounds?
