What Advantages Did The Old Time Fighters Have, Over Todays Guys?

I haven't collated data to a comprehensive enough level to base an average on a substantial sample size, but some specific examples include:

Freddie Steele fought 72 times in the 5 calender years 1930-34, just over an average of 14 times per year

Tony Canzernori 57 fights in the 5 calendar years 1931-35, just over 11 times per year

Maxie Rosenbloom 166 x fights in the 7 calendar years 1929-35, around 24 fights per year.

All elite, world class boxers during these years. Admittedly, Rosenbloom in particular was an outlier in terms of activity, but I'm confident that on average, world class fighters around these eras fought far more frequently than their counterparts today do. Which has both benefits and drawbacks from a "time machine" fantasy fight perspective.

 

Guys like Mayweather spent a lot of time in the gym while only fighting twice per year. It’s case by case. I actually think Charlo is going to upset Canelo because he stays in the gym and Canelo doesn’t at this point. Neither fights that often.

 

Care for a 48-hour (or longer) ban bet on the official result of Charlo vs Canelo?

 

I’ll do a ban bet if you get a ban followed by avatar change due to the betting line.

 

Deal. 48 hours ban for the loser, followed by a 1-week avatar change for me only if Canelo loses? Official result determines the winner/loser.

 

Yes.

 

@McGrain, would you be willing to enforce this, please?

 

Saw your post and have to agree exactly what you said that a loss was never considered career-ending, which it is today when one loses that '0'. The undefeated tag is held so precious today and I always think of Fritzie Zivic when I hear about these records. Forgive me for copy and pasting something I wrote about a year ago, but I think it is so apt:

The game of today and of Zivic's day was sooooooo different. At one point of Zivic's career on the way up he lost 7 straight fights. Anyone today would have retired after the 3rd loss and would have had huge gaps between the losses as they would have to mentally and emotionally come to grips with a loss.

How many fighters of today would give up gobs of weight to go at it with fighters like LaMotta and Conn?

Just think, Zivic fought a 10-rounder with Kid Azteca in San Antonio and after the fight hopped a plane to Beaumont, Texas because he was signed for another 10-rounder the next night with Pat Saia. BTW, Zivic won both 10-rounders on points. Also, he did that while on leave from the Service. Today you'd be lucky if a fighter fights twice a year never mind over 2 days.

Different game today. Todays fighters have enormous amounts of time between fights for preparation for an opponent, dietary needs, getting their team together and their strength and conditioning coaches and their strategies set. What do you think was on Zivic's mind on that plane to Beaumont? Probably nothing more than who he was being lined up for after the Pat Saia bout.

 

Some were more active than others but it wasn't uncommon to fight a couple of times a month. I'm sure one of SRR's rematches with Lamotta happened 3 weeks after the previous fight for example.

 

Stamina, and experience (since they, you know, actually fought).

 

Do they ever?

 

So what you're saying, is that you don't really know how much more active the oldtimers were, on average, compared to today. We all know, that we can find examples of very busy top boxers... but how about the average Joe? Did lesser known journeymen also have a ton of fights, in which they were able to hone their skills, in a way not possible for modern boxers? Sounds good if true - but no one seems to know!

 

Why ask me the question then if you already know better than me? So what you appear to be saying is that old time fighters were not necessarily more active than current fighters & you want me to pull up the records of every fighter to disprove you. Whatever.

 

I think in their quest to be a smart alec some people end up looking dumber than dishwater, it's a shame they don't learn.

 

Greg gave you some cold hard figures already but the goal posts seem to have moved to average Joe's.

So let's play the game.

Joey Coffman - 1929 - 17 fights.
Tony Portillo - 1928 - 14 fights.
Ritchie King - 1925 - 17 fights.
Esten Hunter - 1928 - 19 fights.
Domenico Ceccarelli - 1938 - 9 fights.

This is without even scouring for and chasing big numbers. I could give dozens and dozens more but it would be flogging a dead horse most likely. There would be dozens of guys that make the above look mundane.

What journeymen would you throw forward currently? I can't think of any champs matching Gregs examples either can you? -

Freddie Steele fought 72 times in the 5 calendar years 1930-34, just over an average of 14 times per year

Tony Canzernori 57 fights in the 5 calendar years 1931-35, just over 11 times per year

Maxie Rosenbloom 166 x fights in the 7 calendar years 1929-35, around 24 fights per year.