Boxers have regressed a lot

While I think that many of today's boxers would be considered as technically proficient and skilled as counterparts that fought in boxing's golden ages...

(e.g Sergio Martinez would likely be considered to be more skilled and refined boxer than the likes of say, a Graziano or a Hamsho)

...the fact remains is that certain intricacies like feinting effectively aren't on display as frequently now as they were back then. As an example, heavyweight fighters in particular don't throw combinations with the same fluidity as Ali, Frazier, Tyson, or Holyfield used to do. Fighters don't appear inclined to learn as many different ways to cut off the ring on their opponent; and boxers seem less inclined to learn different ways to keep their opponent turning on a constant basis.

That's not to say that fighters are completely incapable of displaying these skills...But you don't see them doing so with the same frequency as you would have in previous generations.

 

We spent so long working out how to create world class athletes, that we forgot how to make world class fighters.

It's annoying me like crazy these last few days. Might have to write a damn book about Boxing :twisted:

 

2 weeks in the hospital, alive and well.

 

Good thread.

I'm far more of the mind that it's a lack of real trainers (that actually know and can teach boxing) than the whole "all the talented athletes are in other sports" excuse...

 

If I can, I wanted to ask you a favour.

 

You can ask me a favor if you spell it the American way.













nah j/k, shoot.


























(but you should atriot)

 

This content is protected

nono:nono

Ian Wigley (Who then came back under the genius Alt of WigleyIan) has been banned. Is there any way I can aquire his actual E-mail adress? All my PM's to do with him have been deleted.

Just wondering, cheers. :good

 

Just my opinion.

It did not help that promoters or managers needed a guy with sparkling record to better market them as a PPV worthy fighter.

Hence they get matched with boxers to build their names and record instead of matching them tough to actually hone their skills.

Look at how many top fighters today give a **** about their unbeaten slate but only few are actually possessing a complete skillset.

 

Been saying this forever then people on here say i'm "hating" on todays fighters.

 

I always say todays champs (with a few exceptions) would be top contenders at best in the 80's. Imagine Salvador Sanchez against todays featherweights lol....

 

Fighters of today are not seasoned enough.This is why people get exposed way too much. Terrible foot work terrible defense and too many short cuts.

This is why boxing is suffering.

 

Definitely true. Floyd is in the wrong era his skill level is just leagues beyond the rest. And I mean that cherry picking or not. Only Castillo has made him look beatable and tho its a loss in my book Floyd handled it like a boss and beat Castillo in the rematch. Sure Oscar made him look not so great either, but in that case the advantages weren't all on his side tho he was alot closer to his prime. And its not just the skill level, but just boxing was alot more mainstream at least in America. At least its good to see its growing in other parts of the world and its become mainstream there. So I think its regressed alot in America, but not around the world.

 

Its not the boxers who have regressed, its the sport and the business end that has. Promotion is too personal nowadays with ODLH and goldenboy, Bob Arum and Top rank, and now 50 cent and Floyd, TMT promotions.

The big two, Top Rank and Golden boy hold a very large share of talent and are notorious for not working together and in return cheating the boxers and the fans as well as the sport out of great fights.

Also, fighters are to protected and there is too much emphasis on being an undefeated fighter. HBO and Showtime along with the promoters will baby fighters into a monster prospect vs mediocre talent. They only fight about once a year sometimes as well. Martinez touched on this as well in the HBO faceoff.

Fighters these days IMO are bigger, stronger, and posses just as much technical skill, if not more than boxers of yesterday. I think that has a lot to do with why fighters seem to not have as long of a shelf life. Just like any other sport, boxing has advanced along with modern science and technology. For example, why has football been regulated so much throughout the years? Because athletes are bigger and stronger than they were before, and hitting harder and at a greater velocity. A lot of the greats of this day in age would fair much better against most peoples ATG's who consist mostly of historical fighters.

 

:-(

Have to disagree .This is why these guys can't box for a full 3 rds ..Most of the greats of today would be glorified journey men in the golden era's of boxing .

 

Bump