Look at how many incredible fighters there were in the 80's. Every division had killers.

Certainly not for the heavyweights.

 

Look at their competition.

I love watching Holmes and Tyson, but their eras weren't very strong.

An era is more than just the main guy running it. If the contenders aren't very impressive and are often slackers/underachievers then it isn't an era of "killers".

 

Give them my best also. Ha Ha.

 

Drugs/inactivity definitely killed that HW era's potential.

 

If the contenders of every other division in the 80's were unimpressive then you just destroyed the premise of your thread Mark!

 

I think the 80's were deeper all the way through and would have been even more brutal had the Cubans and Soviets been able to turn pro.

Imo what made it such a special time was the amateur programs that most of those guys came from especially the US guys. Nowadays the US amateur program is in shambles but the eastern European countries are thriving as is boxing in the UK.

The sport is healthy today but it lacks the mainstream popularity that it had in the 80's. Everyone knew who the fab four was back then but if you ask the average person who Bud Crawford is and they have no clue.

 

Boxing in the eighties was like Claire Forlani in the nineties. Stunning and elegant, yet hard-hitting and also sophisticated and worldly. Cultured. But often sweet.

 

You sure ain't wrong!

Lets have a look, and most of this is early 80's -

Heavyweight - Holmes/Tyson

Holmes in the first half of the decade and Tyson in the second. Two ATG's right there.

Cruiserweight - Evander Holyfield

Greatest cruiser ever all the way up until Usyk you'd think.

Light Heavyweight - Michael Spinks/Saad Muhammad/Mustafa Muhammad/Dwight Qawi

And a host of other excellent contenders. Sensational.

Middleweight - Marvin Hagler

Easy top 5 middleweight both in resume and H2H. Matched it with 3 ATG's moving up.

Junior Middleweight - Thomas Hearns/Wilfredo Benitez/Roberto Duran/SRL/Mike McCallum/Julian Jackson/Terry Norris

Not much need be said.

Welterweight - SRL/Roberto Duran/Thomas Hearns/Wilfred Benitez/Pipino Cuevas/Donald Curry

No spiel necessary.

Junior Welterweight - Aaron Pryor

Probably the weakest but strong at the top.

Lightweight - Alexis Arguello/Julio Cesar Chavez/Pernell Whitaker

Loads of fabulous part players like Rosario, Ramirez, Camacho, Davis Jr and co.

Junior Lightweight - Hector Camacho/Julio Cesar Chavez/Azumah Nelson

Stacks of bits players as well like Lockridge, Mayweather, Limon, Boza, Chacon and more.

Featherweight - Azumah Nelson/Sal Sanchez/Eusebio Pedroza/Wilfredo Gomez

Plenty of solid challengers too.

Junior Featherweight - Wilfredo Gomez/Jeff Fenech

ATG Gomez an absolute standout and the GOAT of the division.

Bantamweight - Jeff Chandler/Lupe Pintor/Jeff Fenech

Solid challengers too.

 

Ahem... ...

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I was actually hoping people might add to my lists as apart from Tyson/Fenech/Holyfield almost all of my guys are early 80's.

The contender lists could be greatly expanded. There was so much to enjoy.

Good stuff.

 

It certainly didn't help.

 

It was a great era. I loved it. The snowflake s of today wouldn't stand a chance..