Your unpopular boxing opinions

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by mrkoolkevin, Mar 8, 2019.



  1. apollack

    apollack Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Not sure how popular or unpopular this position is, but I believe that a great fighter is a great fighter, winners find ways to win, and could compete successfully in any era. In general, I think great fighters of the past could do well today. I also think great modern fighters could do well in past eras. Of course, some more than others, based on their talents, skillsets, and the applicable rules.
     
  2. Showstopper97

    Showstopper97 The Icon Full Member

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    Muhammad Ali vs Jimmy Young was not a robbery & Jimmy earned his loss
     
  3. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist Full Member

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    Diego Corrales never got his due as a great Mexican fighter due to racism among Mexicans.
     
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  4. RulesMakeItInteresting

    RulesMakeItInteresting Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I completely agree, Young was at times shameful in his (literal) ducking of Ali. He didn't do enough for sure imo.
     
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  5. Indefatigable

    Indefatigable Active Member banned Full Member

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    I agree 100,000 %
     
  6. Boxing GOAT

    Boxing GOAT Active Member Full Member

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    Jack Johnson, Ali, Floyd, Hopkins and Wladmir are all highly overrated.

    Johnson's best wins were against much smaller or older opponents who carried a name and not much else. Drew the color line as champion. Never rematched Langford, McVey or Jeannette once they came into their respective primes.

    Ali received several gift decisions in his career that helped catapult him into superstardom with the help of television networks. Both Liston fights were fixed. He should have lost to Doug Jones, Norton in both rematches, and Young. Also had a distinct size advantage over many opponents and fought some unnecessary rematches. To his credit he ducked no one, was never in a boring fight and had one of the greatest chins in all of boxing.

    Floyd never beat one elite level fighter at their best. He pulled the greatest hoax in boxing history making people believe he is the best ever.

    Hopkins padded his record at 160 while hiding out and trying to break Monzon's title defense record. He could have moved to 168 or even 175 anytime he wanted. Has a long list of journeyman and smaller opponents blown up welters) as his best wins. One of the dirtiest and boring fighters of all time.

    Wladmir Klitschko had a distinct size advantage and just enough skill to out muscle his opponents. His jab, grab and hold style made for some painfully boring fights. Anytime he was tagged on the chin he looked lost and desperate and held on for life.
     
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  7. Gatekeeper

    Gatekeeper Well-Known Member Full Member

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    It isn't really about size for me, Tyson wouldn't have been able to rule the division in the 90's not just because of Lewis and Bowe but also because of Holyfield who was a small HW. Tyson easily beat big HW's in the 80's, Lewis and Bowe would have been huge threats because of their skill and natural talent, size is a factor but not the main one.
     
  8. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist Full Member

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    Riddick Bowe came along at the right time and would've struggled in the 80s or 2000s.
     
  9. Finkel

    Finkel Well-Known Member Full Member

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    The chart is taking into account relative skill level. I included the ring rating of each fighter prior to Mike fighting them.
    So it is easy to then consider which big Heavyweights he easily beat in context.
    For example, Biggs = ranked 10 in the late 80s, this actually means he was ranked 11 because there was a current champion at the time. Hardly a ringing endorsement of Tyson's capabilities.

    Therefore to be top of the heap in the 90s he has to get past Bowe and Lewis, and to a lesser extent Foreman. And you acknowledge he might always have had an issue with Holyfield.

    Then in the 2000s we had an older Lewis, and the Klitschkos.

    Taking over from the Klitschkos we have Fury, Wilder and Joshua.

    So I stand by the original point:
    '88 Mike Tyson would be too small to rule the heavyweight division since the appearance of Bowe and Lewis in the 90s onward
     
    Last edited: Apr 6, 2021
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  10. RulesMakeItInteresting

    RulesMakeItInteresting Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    88 Mike might have beaten the pre-Steward Lewis and (though less likely) Holy as well. I don't see him getting past 1992 Bowe though. Too much of a jab and that uppercut might have wasted Mike. I wouldn't bet against that Mike though, at his peak he was pretty incredible.
     
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  11. Finkel

    Finkel Well-Known Member Full Member

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    I won't disagree. But that is the problem to be top of the pile he needs to be more than a one off victory against one of them. e.g. Bowe has one decision loss on his record, that being to Holyfield, but he won the series 2-1.

    I have added on the other top big men to give a better visual representation of what Mike would have been up against:
    Again the yellow are hypothetical. Green actual wins for Mike, Purple a no contest, and red actual losses.
    This content is protected

    Note: For hypothetical I wasn't sure what was fairest way to rank. So I went with closer to their average in a given decade rather than peak. As in Fairness to Vitali and Bowe they were seen as the #1 guys for a short period.
     
    Last edited: Apr 6, 2021
  12. ron davis

    ron davis Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Freddie Steel was a great fighter.
     
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  13. ron davis

    ron davis Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Jack Johnson could handle any heavyweight. He was a master boxer.
     
  14. Moggy94

    Moggy94 Active Member Full Member

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    While may not be as dominant in certain eras I do believe Wladimir Klitschko would of still been successful in any era and I believe he beats past greats like Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano and Joe Frazier.
     
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  15. Moggy94

    Moggy94 Active Member Full Member

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    I don't think Marciano would of been a World Champion in the 70's, 80's, 90's or current era but could of been a great Cruiserweight or possibly Light Heavyweight.