I agree... by the late 30s/early 40s boxing had fully "evolved", with the emergence of fantastic fighters like Canzoneri, Louis, SRR, Pep, etc. I really don't see any clear skill-improvement since then.
Across all divisions, I'd say the peak in terms of skill would be from the late 70s up to and including the 90s There's plenty of skill today too, but mostly at the lower classes. The HWs have declined IMO, with a few exceptions of course
It is like many today compare, and I will be very honest, the other talented posters on tis site compare Tyson Fury, though very talented to the boxings greats of the past based on his size and one victory, though important. I am not knocking the victory over Deontay Wilder, it was sensational, but to not fight as often as the past greats, how can you make a comparison with one victory? As I mentioned and no insulting comments directed at anyone, to prove greatness, you have to fight more often to compare skills. I know that this pandemic was brutal but other fighters have fought thru it, especially the smaller guys. I just do not care for too much drama, waiting for a larger purse to fight Anthony Joshua robs us boxing fans of watching a great fight, perhaps after that match a fair assessment can be made of either fighters skills. In yesteryear champions and fighters alike fought more often. Greats like Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Larry Holmes and yes Mike Tyson excited the fans by fighting often.
To be honest, it goes both ways. We have a lot of posters who act like fighters couldn't box before they were born.
With all do respect, only if the fighters of today, especially the heavyweights of today would only decide to fight instead of behaving like divas, and stop using Covid 19 as an excuse not to fight. Enough of the drama.
When I look back at boxing matches I have studied it is the 1930s when the fighters begin to resemble modern fighters, and there are fighters from this decade that are as good as fighters from any period in boxing history. There are also fighters from the previous period that could be considered technical pioneers like Tunney, Loughran, Benny Leonard amongst others. I do not believe today's fighters are less skilled than the most but I do believe the boxing skillset has 'narrowed' into a more specific set of skills at the expense of more improvisational and unorthodox skills you used to see in fighters of the past.
A lot has got to be said for fighting so often and also matching other top guys on a regular basis. There's no substitute for ring experience. A guy like Moore fought Ezzard Charles 3 times in under 2 years. In that time span he also had Smith, Chase x 2, Lytell, Sheppard and Jimmy Bivins. Three bouts with Charles in that time is really something but to sandwich that lot in as well is one helluva lot of experience. He had a handful of filler in there too. Little wonder the man was a boxing encyclopedia.
I think, there's a widespread, almost unanimous, belief here on Classic, that boxing took a giant leap forward during the 20s and 30s. I don't see anyone here claiming, that boxers from the 40s and onwards couldn't fight!
I don't think I'd agree with this opinion. George already touched that - rules changes made boxing different, but I don't think it's a giant leap forward. You haven't seen our beloved Pat M posts then!
There's a difference between saying that (for example) Marciano would be crushed by modern heavyweights - and saying that boxers from the 50s, generally speaking, couldn't fight.
I know that and I'm not talking about it. He said much more ridiculous things than that. I don't believe that Marciano would fight at HW today either.