OK, let's put a pin in the Corbett thing. Perhaps I am wrong and the sport has advanced as you say. Perhaps it hasn't, but Corbett wasn't that good anyway. However, when people are in all seriousness picking him over Joe Louis, I have to say that he is being vastly overrated!
Man... I can't tell you, how good it is to see, that you actually can be serious and produce a post that makes good sense!
He fought between 185 and a few pounds over 200, peaking at 205 once. I do not have time for dishonest people who think Tua wasn’t much bigger.
Which fighters Dempsey or Johnson or Jeffries or even Louis beat were on par with these opponents. I'm cringing at your likely replies already
There is no argument. Byrd fought his prime years between 210 and 220 and was a defensive fighter who spent a career fighting big heavyweights. He also was taller and had a greater reach. You shouldnt even post if it's gonna be that weak.
Here is how to look at it. What would you say if Johnson, Dempsey, or Louis beat the equivalent fighter in their own era? You would rightly point out that it was a name fighter, who was not a contender at the time. Can you imagine yourself giving Louis any credit, for beating a man who was ranked outside the top ten with the fight happened? The same thing goes here.
Sharkey also was used to fight big heavyweights. You shouldn't even post if you don't know what are you talking about...
Do you rate Shavers's KO over a green Jimmy young? Or his ability to hurt an on-his-last-legs Ali? Do these performances factor into your estimation of his punching power?