1931 v 1981 heavyweights - who wins?

C00ney was KO'd in 5 by Michael Spinks at the same career stage as Baer was when he lost to Nova.
Baer hit a helluva lot harder than Michael Spinks.

 

Impellietiere was rubbish, but it says more about the "top-10 rankings" than the actual era.

David Haye recently beat a bum who the WBA had ranked at #8. That should be an indictment on the WBA, rather than reason to believe the heavyweights of 2016 are bums.

 

How, we know little about him.

When he was rated, he was coming off strong performances in defeat to top 5 men, and a win over a than top 10 contender Ford Smith.

 

We don't know he was rubbish. He gave two of the top men hard fights and best at least one contender.

 

We don't know his full record.

At the time he was rated, he gave two top men hard fights and beat one man who was rated top 10. That briefly earned him a low end spot.

Ratings were not as protected than, these men fought so frequently, only recent events counted.

 

I've seen him fight. He's not good. He's brave, that's the best I can say about him.

 

Good to see you again!

 

Carnera fight looked like a bit like Pulev vs Wlad

 

Who did Impellietiere ever beat ?

I'm not buying the RING magazine top 10 rankings as legit representation of a true top 10.

 

Ford Smith got him the rating.

Ford Smith appeared to have a decent run going at the time with wins over the recent top 3 Art Lasky and the popular Buddy Baer, and only losing to a top 5 guy in Retzlaff.

The ratings are what they are, an attempt at tracking who was hot at that moment. With everyone fighting monthly or more...can see that being chaotic like modern NBA or college basketball, which is why applying modern standards as the OP is trying is useless.

 

If 1981 is the year in question being compared to 1931, then a man like Gerry C00ney needs to be viewed in a different light than the one who saw him fighting Michael Spinks and George Foreman.. That early 80's version of C00ney was dangerous, confident and tenacious. Not to mention keeping busy and not yet affected by bad lifestyle habits.

 

You too! Great to see some of the old faces still here mate.

 

Lasky and Buddy were not master boxers but they were tall and long power punchers who could take punishment.

Yet, they can't sniff a top 10 that features Cobb? Oh please...

Always a place in any era for big men who can give and take.

 

That's true.. The early 80's featured such contenders as Scott Ledoux, Lorenzo Zanon, Tex Cobb, Lucien Rodriguez, Alfredo Evangelista and a completely diminished Ken Norton... Can't see why a man like Buddy Baer couldnt' find a way to nose his way in there.