Are the fighters today stronger or are they all glass chinned?

There's no doubt that boxers of today are physically better conditioned from the benefits of advanced supplements, training techniques, technology etc.

But that's all they have on the old guys, physicality. Because mentally, very few of today's top stars would be able to cope with the demands of the old era of boxing.

 

:good
Good ****.

 

I think boxers maybe better conditioned now , but defences have become very average, the art of hitting and not getting hit is becoming a thing of the past. Chins will always remain the same , you just need to know how to protect it.

 

Better nutrition and strength training, not necessarily conditioning. You think JMM could do a 50 round fight ala Joe Gans? Stamina has to be a factor.

 

I wouldn't say that fighters today are necessarily better conditioned at all, even with the magic powders.

Old-timers trained to go 15 rounds, spent more time in the gym, fought more regularly and competed in a tougher era without the proliferation of titles. There was also more competition, which meant that in order to get to the top you had to be physically better prepared.

I doubt that there are any modern heavyweights who could endure Rocky Marciano's training regimen.

 

The average fighter now is better than the average fighter 50 years ago.

 

That is a bold statement , explain...

 

Sorry but thats crazy. You must be watching MMA.

 

Right now?

In our era where the general opinion is that our sport is dead compared to the 60's which had fighters like a prime muhammad ali, patterson, benvenuti, eder jofre, fighting harada, ortiz, emile griffith, dick tiger?

That wasn't even a GREAT era and it's still better than the mess we have now. How can fighters even become great in this environment?

He's absolutely correct. The great trainers like Futch, Arcel, Dundee etc are all either dead or retired. These guys who grew up at the turn of the century had a lexicon of boxing experience from so many fights and fighters that has decayed quite a bit. If you ask any of the top trainers of today like Steward and Roach they will immediately tell you that this is a weak era.

 

They hit harder now and are more athletic
but they cant take what they put out like the old guys could but then again soes that not go back to the fact alot of these guys are hitting harder?

 

:good

 

So you're telling me that defense is fading?

 

I doubt it. Overall boxing is now a lot less popular than it was in the past, there are less boxing gyms and less kids are taking up the sport which can only result in less depth of talent and therefore less being required to cut it at pro level.

Imagine if football suddenly declined in popularity and had the same amount of people taking up the sport at grass roots level, with only access to the same standard of facilities that boxing has - you would start seeing some very mediocre guys competing at the top level.

 

Absolutely. Most fighters in our era considered technicians or boxerright now use their footspeed and reflexes to move away from punches. The swarmers have poor head slips and movement. People don't use their rear hands to parry leads with any efficacy.