I’m always trying to get back into the sport since I followed it constantly in from the 80’s - early 2000s. Once I really became a fan, I devoured books on boxing & watched every old fight I could when I had the chance. Even when YouTube came on the scene, one of the first things I looked up were old fights. I sat down and watched some fights last night. One was with a prospect named Joey Spencer. He looked fine but it felt like he should’ve been able to walk through his opponent and put him on the ropes more. He seemed pretty cautious even though his opponent didn’t offer much. The other fight, Colbert vs Corrales was a snoozer. Lots of caution. The main event, Williams vs Rosario, was actually pretty good. No complaints there. It just seems like more boxers are fighting to outpoint. No Nigel Benn or Tyson charging at their opponent. No Frazier looking to get in close and break a guy down. I like plenty of slick boxers but I don’t see reflexes or talent like Sugar Ray Leonard or Camacho to make me enjoy watching. It just feels like most boxers fight the same style with similar abilities and the fights end in decisions or late round TKO. No body takes risks. I don’t see many sudden one punch knockouts anymore either. I know there are good boxers today but it seems like the sport isn’t as exciting as it used to be. To me anyway. Much more safety first fighting.
Frazier and Tyson were far morre skilled than Benn, calling those two brawlers is insulting to their skillsets.
Lack of good trainers knowing how to be aggressive with skill and nobody to learn. The USA male stock is mentally and physically weak. Yes there are a lot of athletes in football and basketball and in the military but it doesn’t mean they have the mental strength to prepare to fight another man one on one.
Big Baby Miller walks in close and breaks people down. Skill wise he's not on the level of Tyson of Fraizer, but he's not looking for a points win. Wilder goes out there looking for only a KO. Joshua is generally an aggressive boxer -puncher.
Imagine fighting safety first against an opponent with a KO5% and in addition to that also grunting when you punch? Yeah I'm alluding to you Joey.
At least in the UK set up nowadays raw abilities are often coached out of you in the amateurs in favour of a one size fits all philosophy.
Watch lower weights. Loads of warriors looking to destroy. I mean, we just had Inoue vs Donaire as a high profile one. Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, Chocolatito, Yaegashi etc. You'll get your fix there! They also seem to have better schooled aggressive fighters for some reason.
At HW Chisora is the closest to Frazier, albeit a big, slow, sloppy Frazier. Povetkin also has some similarities to the more aggressive HWs of yesteryear, though his age prevents him fighting as relentlessly as he once did. Michael Hunter is also pretty aggressive and fearless.
