Did the greatness of the 70s last only a year?

For those insomniacs who got to the end of my last post, there's a typo where I say 'rose-tinted gasses of my youth'.

I did, of course, mean 'rose-tinted glasses of my youth.'

There was nothing 'rose-tinted' about the 'gasses' I put out in my youth. I can still taste a few of those bad boys.

 

This is a great read, and I see a lot similarly. I can't see Ali winning a rematch against Foreman post- Manila. It's actually a bit of a shame that it didn't happen that way; it would have been an early feather in Larry's cap and might have gotten Ali out of there much earlier.

 

One man made it golden. Ali. Sure he had a good supporting cast but take him out and I doubt anyone would have called it a golden era. Even in decline, by that time he had transcend the sport and even run of the mill fights against average fighters became events.

 

Massively overrated at heavyweight. The US talent pool was shielded by the Iron Curtain and the Cuban exclusion on pro fighting. Thus, we got trash like aged Ali, aged Frazier, Richard Dunn, Evangelista, a shopworn Norton... ugh, unwatchable.

 

I just took it as you wore women's perfume when you were younger so no biggie mate.

 

Yes. Admitting to wearing women's perfume as a youth rather than having foul wind (of which, at the time, I was mighty proud, too) might have been less embarrassing on a boxing forum solely inhabited by men.

Said no-one.

Ever.

 

But, but, but given the percentages perhaps one of two may have actually said it! via PM no less!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This content is protected

 

Wait...you mean some of us DIDN'T?

 

I was too poor to afford that ****!!!!!! Honest!!!!!

 

Lol

 

Okay. I do understand what you're saying. It makes sense.

 

I think your final point makes the greatest point of all:

Two 1970s heavyweights — George Foreman and Larry Holmes — were more than viable TWO DECADES LATER. And that’s not because they made their debuts on New Year’s Eve 1979 … they were both champions in the 1970s and then one was a champion in the 1990s and the other was a contender who fought for the title twice (and deserved those shots).

And here’s the topper: neither was the heavyweight of the decade in the 1970s!

Find me another decade in any weight class that can make that boast.

As for the ‘if it wasn’t for Ali,’ that’s kind of a ridiculous ‘if’ — “take away the greatest heavyweight who ever lived and the decade isn’t as good without him’ lol. Duh. Take away the best of anything and the rest isn’t as good: but in this case it’s still damned good and would probably rate no worse than on par with any other best decade you can name of heavyweight boxing. You’d still go from Frazier to Foreman to, most likely, Holmes, had it played out with Ali and a cast of many exciting contenders.

 

Good post.

I think a couple of the 90s heavyweights (Holyfield, Lewis) could have hung in the 70s and been serious players but we have actual evidence of two of the best from the 70s hanging with the best of the 90s when they are at least a decade past their primes. The 70s is the strongest decade in heavyweight history.

 

67-71 had prime Frazier, Ellis and Quarry as well as past prime but still good Patterson and, for a short time, Ali.

72-76 had prime versions of Foreman, Norton and Young as well as past prime but still very good, for most of the period, Ali and Frazier.

Pretty much a toss up in my book.