US Heavyweight boxing

There used to be US regional circuits in boxing in 60s, 70s, and it started to fall apart in the 80s. You'd have guys that came up fighting exclusively on cards in the south, midwest, westcoast, east coast, and the lucky ones who had local lawyer/manager looking out for them could pad a record and get on a "big national" card or venture into other circuits and take out "homers" (guys with something and zero records feasting on local talent). It was rich with fighters but not necessarily quality.

I lived in Tampa and we'd have a cards every weekend. Or you'd venture in your Ford Fairlane to Orlando, St.Pete, Ft. Myers, and see grudge matches. Miami was big time. We'd see guys come down from Mobile, Atlanta, New Orleans or Texas. Forgettable circuit fighters like Terry Daniels, Joe "King" Roman that'd appear on more famous fighters resumes of George Foreman or Duane Bobick.

I don't know if the talent was there but there were a helluva lot more fighters and more fight cards in those days. And every now and then a local would break through. I watched Tony Licatta go to big time and fight Monzon in Madison Square Gardens. Even though he lost we were so proud of Tony.

I think boxing just fell out of favor and shifted into a elitist sport. Blue collar fighters like those days just don't seem to be around. I also think the obsession with the undefeated record has gotten out of hand. Seems today a guy loses a couple of fights and there thrown on heap.

 

Those are the sweet moments in the sweet science.

 

AJ came along at a great time. There's been momentum for boxing in the UK for a while now, and perhaps he's the zenith. Audley Harrison, Joe Cal, then more of an international flavor in Hatton and Khan, which has led to AJ.

It feels different than when Lewis seemed to be carrying the scene by himself, at least from this side of the ocean.

 

you bizzarely mention Audley Harrison haha and Khan lmao, But not the great Carl Froch, and Tyson Fury, Carl Frampton.

 

Definatley the weakest U.S HW modern era so far in general.

The U.S may have one of the champions but that's one guy and is only there bc hes relatively smart and hits hard ,without power however he isn't even noticed unless he walked into a room filled with midgets.

Its not that bad with the limited guys in itself. Breazeale, Miller and even Kownacki / Martin bring good skill exciting fights, I guess Ortiz is a U.S fighter as well ?

The HW era in itself only has a true handful of top actual guys that stand out and then theres the rest in all eras, this one just a bit more stacked ,actually a lot more...

. In this particular era those REST of guys are breathing down the top necks ,guys like Hrgovic, Joyce ,Usyk lingering around as well could give any trouble at any time anf that's just the start of what I could list 20 guys not even including Dubois, Gorman and Efe Agjaba who are immediate threats too.

The U.s HW's are extremely thinned out as far as high level ones but also the game has been elevated as guys like Jennings are no longer looked at as elite where if you just had a U.S roster he would be.

 

Ummmm....

WTF? Couldn't sound more like a hater if you tried!

The UK is totally out performing everywhere else right now in the HW division and it's not even close!

AJ maybe at the forefront but even without the super-star up top we have way more strength in depth than you suggest.

Let's get it straight, 5 men account for US HW boxing for the last 4 years:

Ortiz, Wilder, Jennings, Washington, Stiverne.

Considering the UK HW scene just at the moment includes:
AJ, T and H Fury, Whyte, Chisora, Joyce, Dubois, Gorman, Allen and Price.

Tony Bellew would outclass Ortiz and Wilder's resume combined FFS

 

I was giving a timeline. Audley was before all of them and really helped revive the boxing scene. Plus, I know Audley a bit and his name popped to mind.

Khan was recently in the headlines and fits right in the middle, timeline wise, of the three you mentioned. I was trying to keep my response fairly short, not be a comprehensive list of UK boxers.

 

ok but he's been a laughing stock of UK boxing as a pro. he did terrible things for boxing as a pro. BBC stopped showing showing boxing on terrestial tv because of audley! and its never returned. and Sky ppv was gone for years after the haye fight because of audley.

 

I didn't follow his pro career much as he wasn't on US TV very often. I just know his gold medal was a pretty big deal over there and helped spur investment in the amateur boxing program which is currently paying huge dividends.

He lives in Southern California now and is an incredibly nice guy.