Was the 80s actually stronger than the 70s heavyweight era

There may be some degree of truth that the 80s were a tad deeper once you got past the top 3 or 4 of both eras.

But it’s hard for me to make a blanket statement either way. What makes it complicated when comparing ENTIRE decades to one another is that each individual YEAR can vary so drastically from one another. Take the heavyweight ring ratings from 1973 for example. That year was absolutely packed with super stars where as 1979 not as much. The 80s had a mix of good and mediocre years as well. Also, just because you have a lot of top “ names” in the top ten within a given year doesn’t mean it’s as strong as it looks . Sometimes a lot of those top ten guys were past prime or still too green. We see examples like this all over

 

Each thread more brilliant than that last.

You are comparing a group of fatties, drug addicts, fatty drug-addicts, serial-duckers and mediocrities to an era of some of the greatest to ever do it, all of whom fought each other. Seriously, if you were trying to fail, it is hard to see what you would be doing differently.

 

I think the two eras are pretty close.

 

In terms of backwards depth the 80s is stronger. But the 80s doesn't have an advantage until you get to like 15 or 20. If you compare the top 20s or top 30s its hard to pick the 80s because its not like the 70s drops off a cliff once you leave the top 10. The 70s still has guys like Kirkman and Bobick who never fought for belts.

This depth you speak of doesn't apply to the whole 80s either. The mid to late 80s was much better than the first few years. Those 3 or 4 years might be the worst the divisions ever been. Holmes fought better opponents but Marcianos overall division was better.

The 35-45 period isn't a decade but thats the HW "10 year bloc" with the best case to pass the 70s because that division was 100 eliteish fighters deep. Without WW2 Louis had enough serious potential opponents to get to 50 title defenses.

 

The problem is the 70s had Ali, Frazier, Foreman, Shavers, Lyle, Quarry, Wepnet, and to a lesser extent, Light Heavyweight champion Foster.

The 80s had Holmes, M. Spinks, Tyson, Foreman, Holyfield, Cooney, Witherspoon, and to a lesser extent Bruno, Coetzee and cocaine. lots of cocaine.

 

The most obvious difference is that the 70's guys had better consistency and longevity. Don't know who would win a big tournament.

 

I don't think so.
I think 1980s was stronger than 1990s though.

 

No.

 

Yes. I've said so for decades.

 

Is 1990 technically part of the 80s since there is no year zero?

That would help the 80s because you would then have Bowe and Mercer

What's the best 70s heavyweight people would favor 80s Foreman over?

 

No. If you lived through the 80’s watching alphabet titles swap hands due to poor conditioning, drug habits, half hearted efforts and half arsed training you wouldn’t even consider this premise.

Most of these fighters made their reps beating each other In lackadaisical fights that only proved one guy was less fat or unfit or lazy on the night. It’s why Tyson rode roughshod over these flakes.

Hipster revisionism basically. Now the 90’s was a contender for the 70’s in terms of depth, quality and performance.

 

This.

The 80's had plenty of talent. Many of them had power, speed, technique, ring IQ, good jabs, good footwork, or some combination of all of the above. On average, they had as much raw talent as nearly any era.

The problem was so many of them were ****ing slackers, had drug problems, weight problems, inactivity and legal issues, etc, and many failed to face each other. It didn't help we saw the sanctioning bodies start their BS splitting up the titles and promoters like King and Arum arguing with each other or having cold wars. The 80's COULD have been just as strong as the 70's, but they never really managed to reach their full potential.

 

No. "EIGHTIES" does not include "NINETY". The non-existence of a year 0 doesn't have any bearing on that.

 

You know what's weird is if you mix, thoroughly and equally mix, high fructose corn syrup with cocaine powder, you will deeply distort the quality of athletic potential you are dealing with. To which you are dealing. Of which-...I don't speak English as a first language. I don't know it well. But I know what I'm trying to say. It reminds me of a quote from Don Draper. Happiness is just a moment before you need more happiness. And that's what the eighties were about, more than many decades.