Comparing Current fighters to retired Fighters.

You shouldn't compare them. It sparks for debates but there's too many factors in the end.

 

More advanced training methods and better nutrition doesn't necessarily create a quicker and stronger fighter. It's more about the mentality of the fighters involved, the willingness of the fighters to improve their craft and test themselves against top competition. That mentality seems to be lacking in a lot of modern day fighters. And some fighters are just physical freaks regardless of era, Tommy Hearns being one of them.

The Heavyweight division has had access to all of that advanced training and nutrition and has basically stunk for about eight years now, because most of the division simply won't put in the work to get in shape.

 

In my opinion you cant compare them head to head.

Only compare their acheivements in their own era.

Jack Dempsey would get massacred by any one in the modern top 10,that doesnt jmean Chris Arreola is higher in the all time rankings

 

I have been saying this for the longest.


People fail to take into consideration advances in bioengineering and nutrition. And they also fail to understand that fighters in the past fought three times as often as these guys now. And they fought 15 Rounds.


So imagine a guy like Ali, Liston, or Foreman with the type of modern training and nutrition that guys today have - and on four months rest!!! Now think about a fighter like Jack Johnson!!!

 

you have to look, first and foremost, at the level of opposition these guys beat relative to their own era.

you have to watch film and read fight reports if it's before that era.

Were you to take a fighter you'd assume they'd have a level playing field for training in the camp.

For example, take Williams and Foreman.

I can watch williams v harrison, sam and vitali and I can watch Foreman v Frazier, Norton and Ali and I can safely assume that anyone doing what george did to frazier and norton can do what harrison and sam did to williams.

 

Then why do they use them? atsch


And we obviously are talking about much longer than 8 years ago. Try 40 to 50 years ago. You can't tell me that advancements in technology and medicine haven't affected the type of nutrition and training these guys have been exposed to.

 

I didn't say they weren't better methods, I simply indicated that in my opinion, that doesn't have the same impact of a fighter truly willing to test himself and improve his craft, and there are not that many fighters that do both in this day and age.

 

Take a fighter of the 60's and 70's, who had the will to be the best, and who gave it 100%. Give them the improved nutrition and traing.


Do you think they would be better fighters?

 

Of course there are clear comparisons, like the Foreman vs Williams one that's up now. But of course you can't really compare the big names from different eras.

A few measurepoints however are valid for comparison.
Punching power
Punch resistance
Agility
Heart

Wich are (and always have been) the most important important trades for a boxer.


So you can't simply dismiss the "oldies" because of evolution. A power puncher with a iron chin from the ye olde days will probably still beat a feeble chinned current topboxer over 12 by KO, no matter how much better the trainingmethods are.

 

Probably, but I think the difference would be slight. Fighting on a more regular basis against better competition, etc, etc, is much more important.

 

Most fans cant get contemporary fights right, what chance do they have comparing guys from yester year?

 

Nutrition is a tricky one....there's reason to beleive fighters generations ago ate healthier than they do now. There certainly wasn't the availabilty of fast-food restaurants etc that there are now, and they generally would've eaten a staple diet of meat, veg and carbs much as fighters would be advised to in current day.

 

I want to kill all of you.

 

The fighters that i know personally don't eat that ****. So there's nothing to suggest that a fighter who is completely dedicated would diminish their chances by partaking in the bull**** served at fast-food restaurants.