Which heavyweight was the most "Era dependent"?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Fergy, Nov 28, 2025 at 6:08 AM.


  1. Marvelous_Iron

    Marvelous_Iron Active Member Full Member

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    Patterson at 175 though would absolutely spark Bivol, I was watching some of both of them the other night and Patterson at heavyweight was still faster with better combinations and body shots
     
  2. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    Guys like Primo and Nino Valdes would be absolute trash without the size advantage.
     
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  3. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    It's odd how football and basketball players got bigger without the PEDs.
     
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  4. scartissue

    scartissue Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Ain't it, though? I'll bet they're all as clean as a whistle.
     
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  5. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    I’ll bet those guys in the 70s through 90s were clean even they didn’t really get tested.
     
  6. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

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    What about Ken Norton?
    Would he thrive in today s division against bigger, slower giants?
     
  7. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    Beterbiev would in turn destroy Patterson.
     
  8. Dynamicpuncher

    Dynamicpuncher Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Seeing how Callum Johnson heavily floored Beterbiev with a single left hook and had him on bambi legs.

    A leaping left hook from Patterson would send Beterbiev to the shadow realm.
     
  9. OddR

    OddR Well-Known Member Full Member

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    What makes you confident that they were clean? I mean I don't follow either sport but just asking.
     
  10. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    I was saying the opposite.
     
  11. USFBulls727

    USFBulls727 Active Member Full Member

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    Interesting points. Also, aside from the PEDs, there are probably plenty of legal supplements used today that weren't available in years past.

    Just off a quick Google search: average life expectancy in the US went from 47.3 years (1900), to 78.4 years today. There's also an average height difference of about 4 inches. That of course has more to do than just PEDs. General nutrition, better Healthcare access, and better hygiene are the main reasons given. So those are a few other things to consider if you were to drop a Holyfield or RJJ back into previous eras, or if you were to drop a Louis or Dempsey into the 90s or beyond.

    Interesting that the average bone density is 20% less now than in 1900 due to the more physical lifestyles back in the day. That's something that would be a factor in the ring I suppose.
     
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  12. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    Bone density wouldn’t apply to athletes. Any athlete will have great bone density.
     
  13. USFBulls727

    USFBulls727 Active Member Full Member

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    Athletes would have greater bone density than the average person. Whether there's much of a difference in bone density between today's athletes and those from 1900 isn't as clear, and if there is any difference at all, how much would it come into play in a fight? I really don't know, just found it interesting.
     
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  14. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    Interestingly, bone density is strongly correlated to life expectancy. Lifting weights is very important for older people for that reason.
     
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  15. Dorrian_Grey

    Dorrian_Grey It came to me in a dream Full Member

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    Seeing how Floyd Patterson actually did get shadow realmed and dropped multiple times by fighters worse than Beterbiev, then clearly Beterbiev mauls and stops him without much trouble.