finsihed Willie Peps book 'Friday Heroes' its all about the 50s fighters, mainly focusing on New York fighters and on Willie Pep's freinds. Tiger Jones Tony Janiro Joey Giardello Ezzard Charles Rocky Marciano Jersey Joe Walcott Robert Villiamein Sandy Saddler Frankie Ryff Jake Lamotta Billy Graham and many more It got me thinking could the 50s be the greatest era of boxing in term of depth in almost every division, class of fighters at the top of the game, and in terms of popularity. You had ATG greats in every division and in most cases 2 or 3 of them. Then you had that second layer of fighters that were contenders and gatekeepers that were still good fighters like Jones, Janiro, Ryff, Villamein. It was a phenomanly deep era if anything. thoughts?
Already posted this elsewhere but I believe the seventies was the greatest boxing era. Well you've chosen two very insignificant things to prove your point. You cant seriously tell me the heavyweight division was in a better state in the fifties. Bring Ingemar Johansson into the seventies and see what happens, he gets destroyed by Ali, Frazier and Foreman. The seventies was a golden era for heavyweights, barring Marciano the fifties was not. Dont get me wrong the fifties were good, mostly in the middleweight division where Robinson, Olson, Fullmer and Basilio were facing off and earlier on that decade at welterweight with Robinson fighting Kid Gavilan and stopping LaMotta in their last battle. Pep and Saddler were also battling it out at the start of the decade. But I still prefer the seventies, along with the heavyweight division you had the rise of Roberto Duran and lots of other latino fighters like Napoles, Benitez, Canto, Cervantes, Olivares, Zarate, Gomez, Pedroza, Sanchez, Ortiz and Laguna. Carlos Monzon and Alexis Arguello were both at large with Monzon fighting Griffith, Benevuti, Napoles and Valdez for the middleweight title although the 160 division wasnt as strong as the fifties probably. Two great decades but I think the seventies edges it.
the 50s HW division wasnt amazing but you had Marciano, Walcott and Charles which had a good 3 way series going. but the HWs never interest me
just slower pace and genrally lazy i prefer the lighter weights although like Ali and Frazier and all tyhat i thought were class
50's beside the 60's/70's (Due to Ali & Frazier fights) are some solid/good faster paced HW bouts I think. At least you get that activity with Marciano other than with Ali/Frazier.
