Roughly how many active heavyweights were in there in the 60s

impossible to know. I reckon that some of the more obscure ones would have their records incomplete.

The ones active would be primarily US and UK ones. But still, you had guys like Mildinberger (Germany) among others.

 

I would imagine so. Or maybe slightly over 1000.

Now boxing did have more money back then than NBA and NFL. So a lot of big strong men in the US were going to try their luck in boxing. There were also a lot more gyms.

We did not have pro Cuban heavyweights, nor anyone from USSR (Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan etc.).

Still, there were plenty of US and UK based ones and the odd ones from Sweden, Germany, Argentina, Canada etc. Boxing was International, even then outside of the Communist block.

So my wild guess would be over a 1000 but likely a few hundred less than today.

 

Hard to answer but very interesting question.

A good number of boxers never fought out of their country hence they weren't really recognised as professional boxers. Also, there was those boxers that came from communist countries which was a lot more common then were not allowed to go pro.

Very different times, and was a lot harder to get your name out there in the 60s than today.

 

What I see in the heavyweight division you could hardly call active..
Is Ossie Ocasio still on that active list?

 

Only ballpark estimates would be possible.

 

1713. Don't question me. That is the number.

 

Fighters today can't be as active as they were in earlier times. Most states have commissions now and if they don't they contract with a neighboring state that does. There is a Federal ID card with name and information on the fighter. If the fighter gets stopped or knocked out he has mandatory time off. Depending on how he loses will determine the amount of time that he can't fight, and if he's knocked out, he's not supposed to train/spar either. Even if a fighter wins there is usually a shorter time period that he can not fight. If a fighter injures his hand or any part of his body, his license will also be suspended until he is cleared medically. There are also expensive medical tests that vary by state and if the fighter loses enough his license will be revoked. In earlier times a guy could be knocked out 2-3 times a week and keep on fighting in states with weak or no commissions.

All of the medical tests and licensing makes it more expensive for a promoter to put on a show. That is why there are not as many club shows as there once were.

 

God Bless the unregulated states that are left... Alabama, Alaska, Delaware, Kansas, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wyoming!