Comparing different eras in boxing... Impossible?

It's very difficult.

More divisions nowadays, 4 major titles instead of 2 major titles (and up until about the 60/70s, one fighter usually had both titles).

The champs and contenders fought more often (except for HW champs, mainly pre-Louis) out of financial necessity and more boxing shows. Naturally their resumes will be better than current fighters.

 

As aforesaid,

Eras removed by 60+ years can't help but be noticeably different - rules, techniques, nutrition and training methods are constantly evolving.

But.

The key difference with boxing - its changes are more akin to a fighter experimenting with his guard than a new generation of 800M runners getting further and further away. Pointing to the decrease in activity and multiple champions, many argue that today's 800M runners are gasping to keep up with their predecessors.

And then the real screw-ball - what may now seem archaic may actually prove (functionally) to be cutting edge.

Some may look at a chap like Bob Fitzsimmons and insist Roy Jones would light him up like old film reel, but the reverse could equally be true, that Fitzsimmons' counter-punching would blow that swagger out of the water, and then you've got a case of timeless magic as opposed to primitive technique.

Boxing can only be so different because its joints are welded together at certain angles. Split-second reactions, unforeseen injury, corner advice, intangibles - any fight, regardless of era, is a recipe made up of phantom ingredients.

And,

As you emphasize change a blind eye is turned to what remains.

 

all great points gentlemen....

i'll just add...

there would be no joe louis without jack johnson.

there would be no ray robinson without joe louis.

there would be no cassius clay without ray robinson.

there would be no ray leonard without muhammad ali.

there would be no roy jones without ray leonard or muhammad ali.

point is....we are where we are today because of the pioneers who laid the path. so comparing eras isn't fair or necessary.

there are no innovators these days. nothing being done in the ring is new. as for the advances in nutrition and conditioning....maybe. but i'm not convinced all those things really make that much of a difference.

 

ted spoon awesome post!