Contrasting effects of performance-enhancing drug use on boxing holistically versus other pro sports

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IB, thanks for reiterating and clarifying the OP and your examples- i appreciate that. I also appreciate the responses. I did include in the OP that boxing might just be a unique sport in that peds simply don’t work for boxers in the way that they do for other athletes but I didn’t really buy that; however, after having slept on it for a week or so that might be the best answer. It still puzzles me that we don’t really see any modern day Duran’s or Leonard’s, to say nothing of an Ali or SRR. Oh well.
Regarding punching power, that is a tough metric to determine- think about it; obviously benching pressing 400lbs doesn’t mean you can punch- if it did bodybuilders and strong men would be heavyweight champions. Look at guys like Hearns, Wilder and even Pavlik; tall, skinny dudes that can crack. But then again you have guys like Tyson and Valero- short, muscular compact frames that can also crack.
The one thing that I do believe peds, steroids in particular, have contributed is the ability for smaller fighters to go up in size without losing any of their quickness or getting weaker. For example, Holyfield, RJJ, mayweather and Manny. I do believe they all juiced and I’m not saying that to throw shade on them. Assuming they did juice, it allowed them to compete at higher weights and make significantly more money. However, steroids did not make them great fighters, or even better, they already were great but they were now able to do what they did at higher weights. For example, I’m convinced that if Cotto and margarito were natural 126/130 pound guys Manny still would’ve beaten them badly (the versions of them that he fought at welter and junior middleweight). His style is a nightmare for guys, be they featherweights or middleweights.
So, thanks again for the thoughtful replies.

 

I agree with you in theory, but I can’t pinpoint how they improve boxers other than allowing them to go up in weight without losing their quickness. In other sports the effects of modern peds are obvious. Roger Federer is still playing at the top level at 36years old. McEnroe, Sampras and Borg were on the Senior Circuit at that age. Tom Brady just went for his 5th Super Bowl ring at age 39 and isn’t slowing down. Montana and Bradshaw were long retired by then having either been traded or injured to the point of no return. Lance Armstrong goes from a solid one-day racer to winning the Tour de France (a 3 week stage race) 7 consecutive times (the previous record was 5). Barry Bonds goes from being a genuinely great hitter to shattering home run records. Peds don’t seem to produce those types of effects in boxing. Assuming that the modern day greats of Hopkins, Toney, Jones Jr, mayweather, Pacquiao and Holyfield all juiced -and I believe they did- imho, they still don’t quite measure up to SRR, SRL, Ali, Duran, Armstrong, Hagler, Chavez. And even if they do come close to being comparable, they certainly don’t exceed their accomplishments in the way that the other athletes mentioned in their respective sports have.

 

If you haven’t already, would you please read post #63 and address that? Also, what is the empirical evidence and studies showing the dramatic effects of peds on boxers? Obviously drugs that build muscle quicker, help you recover quicker from training and boost endurance should be easily identified in boxers performances, yet the only fighter I can think of who was obviously juiced and it showed in his performance was Marquez in Pacquiao 4.
Do you know of fighters who went from light hitting to ko artists? Who went from being chinny to granite jawed? Who went from averaging 60 punches a round to 75? Why no heavyweights look like Joshua but move like Ali or even Holyfield?
These are honest questions.

 

1) I’m not trying to say or imply they’re magic. Basketball players have gotten increasingly bigger and more athletic, why not heavyweights?
2) This isn’t an unreasonable assumption. However, do you think fighters of the last 20 years (since the advent of hgh, epo, etc) are showing ped improvemnts from the fighters of the past?
3) Agreed.
4) Agreed. Actually, steroids and amphetamines have been around longer.
5) Margarito and Floyd are two vastly different fighters. Plus, didn’t Mosley’s camp get interrupted or something? Wasn’t he training for one guy who then fell out, had a 3week break and then signed for Floyd? Either way, Floyd whooped him. Do you think Shane was juiced for Margarito but not for Floyd but was never juiced?
Speaking of Shane, compare his two fights with Oscar. It was revealed that he was on epo, the oxygen increasing drug known for improving endurance, for his rematch with Oscar. shane won a decision but it was a fight most felt Oscar won due to Shane slowing down - the exact opposite of what you’d expect with epo.
6) That’s really why I started this thread- in other sports the effects of peds has been readily noticeable. Old long standing records haven’t just been broken but shattered. The average age, size and speeds of other sports have noticeably increased but not really so in boxing. Granted, boxing has weight classes but let’s look at the heavyweights for example; they’re obviously much bigger but nowhere near as athletic. Contrast that to Lebron James from some great from the 70s. And on top of that, boxing is easier now than it was- at least in terms of no longer fighting 15 rounds, same day weigh ins and not fighting as often.

 

Fair enough, Contro - those all seem like pretty good answers. Especially regarding Floyd and wlad. We probably agree on more than what was assumed at first. Thanks for taking the time to answer and flesh it out a bit.