Fight 45 times in one year as Harry Greb did. From town to town on trains without A/C. Fighting with ONE EYE,for several years against great fighters, many heavier than Greb,entering the Ring ,well aware that a blow to the REMAINING eye ,could make you virtually blind ,and helpless,losing your sight and liveleyhood. And Sam Langford fought almost blind for years,against anyone he could get in the ring with him. Little old Mickey Walker,at 5ft.7" tackling 200 pounders, beating most of them,and taking a vicious beating from a young prime Max Schmeling,and still on his feet at the end... Now tell me, which era produced tougher fighters ? We all know the answer...
I've known some right hard *******s in my time, and I spent much of my working life in labour related fields, again I've known some right strong tough _uckers. But I can tell you without doubt the older men who were still about themselves were _ucken Hardmen, verse the Tough younger guys I know. Hardmen, Tough Guy, believe me there is a difference, and I don't think there are too many Hardmen left. They were a product of their times. Demanding Times!!!
You get tough as nails fighters in any era, Michael Katsidis was tougher in his last 2 losses than Jim Jeffries was against Jack Johnson, so put that in your antique pipe and smoke it
McGrain summed it up nicely in his post. They had more chance to prove their toughness back in the day. But they definatley werent across the board tougher. Give Gatti, Ward or Morlaes the chance to prove it and im sure they would. Jack Dempsey had the chance but was too scared of blacks and a feather fisted cyclops that was half his size
Yes, men were tougher years ago. They had a higher threshold for hardships because they were conditioned to it. They had less choice to be less tough. It's not hard to explain. I agree with Dan Carlin's lecture. The thing holds true for societies and empires, and has been acknowledged by historians for a long time. It's not secret that "The West" has grown soft through the affluence, material wealth and moral norms it has acquired in recent history. It may hurt your pride to admit it, but this generation of internet users and office workers (and even modern 'manual labourers') and welfare-state beneficiaries are NOT anywhere near as tough as their ancestors of just 60, 100 or 200 years past.
Yup. Not to get political, but I find a recent contrast odd. When the US dropped two nuclear bombs on Japan, causing 250,000 casualties, to end the WWII, there was dancing in the streets. When the US killed one dirtbag who gloated over his planned massacre of 3,000 US citizens and the deaths of countless thousands of his fellow Muslims there was censure for any display of joy in the US. I don't think modern first-worlders have the stomach for what even those a few generations ago did.
Yeah, cant argue with any of this. Going even further back, imagine being on the march to Rome from Spain and through the Alps which Hannibal took in sandals. Or imagine rowing in a shitty old boat from Persia to Greece or Africa to Western Europe or anywhere else. Half these roided up tough guy bouncers wouldnt make it without fake tan spray and hair gel, let alone mordern survival equipment. Nor would they have the stamina to do a thing.
It's so true. You should listen to the podcast if you haven't yet. He's a decent historian who sheds a nice light on these things. I whine about getting out of bed at 6 to go to the gym. Hah! I'm a ***** but at least I know it.