in which the heavyweight division had the most talent compared to the other divisions ? Another thing I want to ask is whether, comparing this era to the past in the division, the quality of fighter was better through out. Is this division bad just because there aren't more talented challengers near the top ? Or is the decline in skill through the whole division so that a mediocre fighter in the past would still be more knowledgeable or skillful than a mediocre fighter in this era ?
Pondering this question I would say the heavyweight division of past times benefited from fighters ranging from super middle weight to heavyweight participating in it. Middle, light heavy, and heavy often fought at heavy since the heavyweight champion was often just under or above 200 pounds. This has changed in modern times. In fact we haven't seen a 190-205 pound champion since Mike Spinks beat an aging Larry Holmes. Over 20 years has past. 1899-1905 had by my count nine active hall of fame fighters at heavyweight ( Fitz, Corbett, Choynski, Sharkey, Jeffries, Jeanette, McVey, Langford and Johnson ) 1964-1974 for my money was the best time line for heavyweight boxing, as it featured Ali, Liston, Patterson, Frazier, Foreman, and Norton. 1990-2000 was loaded as well as it had Holyfield, Bowe, Tyson, Lewis, Foreman, Holmes, and both Klitschko's.
I should have been clearer with my first question. I meant was there any era of the heavyweight division that was more talented than the other weight divisions at that time. Was there ever a time when the heavyweight division was more talented than the best lower weight class ? The 70s and 90s are the clear choices. I would think if one might have a chance it would be the 1970s era of heavyweight.
This prety much answers the question. If there was such an era then it was one where the heavyweight limit was set at 160 lbs thus taking in middleweights and light heavyweights. The effect of absorbing these divisions is twofold. A. To remove two strong divisions that might have presented their own challenge to the heavyweight division. B. To absorb the fighters from those divisions who while being smaller have good pound 4 pound credentials.
I'm very curious to find out what weight division outclassed the Ali/Frazier/Foreman era of the Golden Age Heavyweights.
It takes a lot more to be fabulous in the lightweight division than in the heavyweight division. The 20th best light heavyweight is better than the 10th best heavyweight pound for pound.
!970-1975 was the heavyweights peak era. Compared favourably with all the other divisions at the time.
marciano's era : marciano , walcott , charles , louis , moore i bet that some old fart will be able to add to that list while i am even not so sure about moore.