Today top fighters fight once a year, or twice a year, if we're lucky three times a year and that has become a rarity. Reasons for their inactivity stem from needing rest, recovery time, injuries etc... Back in the day fighters fought all year long, even after having tough fights. Like when SRR fought LaMotta, and fought him again three weeks later, that would be completely unheard of today. So were fighters tougher back then, or is there another element that I'm not aware of?
Nah just the ones that weren't as tough got knocked out more and so there careers were drastically slowed down. The top tough guys in both eras are clearly hard. Canelo and GGG have ATG chins, as do guys like Estrada, Marquez, Margarito and Pacquiao. As do guys like Charles, Robinson, Gavalin and LaMotta. I reckon most guys just fought on with injuries.
Unknown on a case by case basis. But as a general rule it's definitely possible to get further without extreme toughness.
I'd say generally yes. There's definitely less 'any place, any time' guys, but I also think old timers overstate how many guys were like that back in the day.
Of course. Today social programs provide a level of safety net for everyone In NA and most developed countries. Back prior to the early 30’s it was survival of the fittest and only the toughest got to the top.
I'd cut the heart out of my best friend if he ever tried to block my road-Ty Cobb EXCELLENT post as always magician!!!!!!
To play devil's advocate for the discussion, how many talented and potential great fighters got shafted because of poor conditions or regulations, and never realised potential? Because it definitely happened.
They were tougher, as mankind generally was back then, simply because they had to be. Hard times make hard people. But not sure that All fighter s today aren't as tough as yesteryear, just that back then they had to prove it more as well. Only one belt to shoot for then, not a choice of 4, 5, 6....... 29!
In those tough times, the toughest men rose to the top...30 minute rounds, jumping rope until he stood in a puddle of sweat, a 5 mile run to the gym to lift weights, then a session of breaking commercial treadmills...Bronson probably sent this guy fan mail. https://www.boxingforum24.com/threa...against-lastarza.586131/page-14#post-18549828 "I remember when I had my own boxing gym in the garage in my late teens early 20's. My heavy bag was 125 pounds and I would hit it non stop in 30 minute increments alternating between bobbing and weaving under and around the bag and coming up with punches and moving side to side jabbing and throwing combos in full Ali mode. Then skipping rope 10,000 times until I was standing in a puddle of sweat and finishing the workout with a 5 mile run. 3-4 times a week I would visit a gym to lift mostly shoulder, back and leg work. Funny thing is that I would finish off each workout running full bore on their commercial treadmills. It was quite a sight with the machine screeching at its highest speed and me running at top speed. I would sometimes gather a small crowd. Several times the treadmills broke down under the stress!"
It's probably less selected for. I think a lot of toughness is innate, and there's still plenty of people from tough backrounds, though probably less in the west.
