How Strong would You Say, The Middleweight Division Was In the 1950 s?

I would say very strong indeed, rivaled by only a few eras (Hagler's being one of them though its strengths took a different form).

However, the MW division is historically one of the best. Usually very competitive and deep, its current form is an aberration.

 

Strong.

Ralph tiger Jones. Giardello. Robinson. Pender. Fulmer. Henry Hank. Olsen. Turpin. Dick Tiger. Rocky castinalli, Joey Giambra, holly mims. Gil Turner.

Not enough titles for so many would be champions.

 

Robinson was years ahead of his time, the main thing that bothered him in world title fights at 160 was the strength of his opponents.

 

LaMotta took shots off Robinson that no welter could have.

 

You can include.
Humez
Durando
Lausse
Scholz

and the excellent Elsworth " Spider" Webb.
stay safe guys.

 

This is why I'm turning into a miserable old fight fan, look at those names! To even think of those times, when the good old US of A had boxing on the brain, arguing the finer points of the sweet sci in barber shops and bars and clubs, etc.........man, I wish I was around then....

 

So do I buddy, they didnt know how lucky they were.
stay safe amigo.

 

As strong as its ever been imo.
Robinson
Fulmer
Basilio
Webb
Dauthille
Villemain
Hunez
Langlois
Turpin
Sands
Calhoun
Olson
Mims
Hank
Tiger
Giardello
Giambra
Castellani
Lausse

 

You too!

 

Add Yama Bahama, George Benton, Rory Calhoun, Gene Armstrong, Gomeo Brennan, and you can't forget Bobby Boyd! All were successful main-eventers in the '50s.

 

Rocky Castinalli had a great fight with Robinson. Watching how Rocky fought and the ability he displayed he looked outstanding. It was only that fight that I have seen of his so maybe he didn't always bring it like that.

Rocky put Robinson down hard. Unlike the Fullmer knockdown later this was a clean, precise lefthook to SRR chin. The way Ray went down I wouldn't have expected him to rise and be able to continue that fight. It was high level stuff.

 

People never know how lucky they are!

It reminds me of that excellent Woody Allen movie "Midnight in Paris", where our hero (Owen Wilson) has always been dreaming of being part of the lively 1920s Paris scene. But when his wish, by some miracle, suddenly comes true, he finds that the people back then don't think much of their own time - instead they are dreaming of the 1890s, which they think was a much more interesting period!

Think about it... do you really wish you had been born 70 (or whatever) years earlier, so you could have experienced the 50s first hand? No internet, no YouTube, unable to watch most big fights from all over the world live (or at least on YouTube a few hours later). Not to mention no film of the oldtimers, that you could study!

I count myself lucky to be a boxing fan right now!

 

That’s how it works when you’re 10 pounds or so bigger than your opponent.