What are the advances in Modern Training Methods

We often hear about all of the advances in modern training and techniques and it makes sense. Certainly we dont get stupider with time and we do learn things. But what i would like to know is what things have we learned in relation to boxing and do our current fighters actually adhere to these techniques or did the modern fighters adhere to more in some cases. It is probably best to limit the consideration to the heavyweight divisions because this is what most posters are familiar with.

1. The first evolution is said to be that of nutrition. Current fighters are definitely bigger nowadays.

My line of thinking though is that modern science tells us to cut out artificial flavours, colours etc. Yet modern society and diets of most fighters seem to (due more to modern constraints) rely on eating fast foods and processed foods. These simply were not really readilly available in older times and by definitiion, modern science would suggest that the older diets may have been better for the fighters.

2. Steroids. This is seen as a big advance by some (assuming they are used). My limited knowledge of steroids tells me that there biggest advantage is not that they make people bigger, but that they allow the body to recover quicker and therefore train harder. but it is pretty much accepted that older fighters trained longer and harder than the modern equivalents (certainly guys like Marciano, Fitzsimmons etc did). So if this is the case, are steroids really that much of an advantage.

3. Number of fights. Modern Science tells us that the more you actually fight the more you learn and better you are. In other sports it is called match fitness. IN fact it is said that no amount of training is the same as playing matches. So, with this in mind, how is it possible that modern fighters could be better off by not fighting as often as the old timers? This goes directly against common sense and modern science.

4. Weight Drain. Modern science tells us that it is not healthy and not good to constantly change weight. Yet modern fighters constantly balloon up in between fights and are forced to cut 20-30 lbs in a short amount of time when they sign a fight. They dont train hard constantly or watch their diet and as a result modern science suggests that this weight cutting must limit their strength and performance. Contrast this with older fighters who were always in shape and did not have enough time between fights to stop training and balloon out of weights. So modern science suggests again that old time fighters have an advantage.

5. poverty. Modern science and history tells us that the best fighters come from the lowest income areas. There is no doubt that poverty and general living conditions were worse in the older days. Therefore, common sense and modern thinking suggests that better fighters would come from these tougher times.

6. Alcohol and drugs. Modern science tells us that drugs are more and more readily available nowadays. It is much more widespread and a bigger problem for more modern boxers than it was for older boxers. Alcohol was obviously a problem for both. Modern thinking would suggest that the lack of drugs in society (and boxing) would be more of a problem for modern boxers than older boxers.

So, that is 6 areas where modern science would suggest that older training conditions and techniques were ahead of modern training conditions. So, my question to those who see modern as a lot better is what are the areas where modern science suggests that modern methods used is more advanced?

 

I think this might be an excellent point.

 

But cutting and draining weight is said nowadays to be a bad thing anyway. See for Example Roy Jones Jr and Chris Byrd, who were supposedly weight drained when they dropped weight. I know that the old days rarely had light heavys bulking up, but isnt this mostly because they trained hard all the time, didnt balloon up and fought usually at their optimum weight, not 30lbs above it as they seem to nowadays?

Still, what are those modern advances, surely they knew weight lifting increased weight and strength even in theold days.