Do you consider Joshua, Wilder, and Fury to be elite

Ortiz is basically equal to Ruddock but better than Bruno. Neither one of those guys ever defeated fighters as physically imposing as Fury, Wilder, and Joshua.

 

Lots of room between "elite" and "ATG."

Of course they are elite. And no, none of the three can be categorized as an ATG as yet.

 

None of them

 

Positively the worst era of Heavyweights I have ever seen...end of story.!!!

 

no. they all may have an elite attribute, like explosive power, brute strength, great footwork, etc... but as a complete fighting specimen, they are severely lacking in different areas.

 

In the current heavyweight division they are elite. That said boxing has changed a lot, so I don't see it as fair to compare current fighters with past fighter considering less and less guys become heavyweight boxers and few guys are active enough to master their skill set.

2018 Fighters

Wilder 2 fights in 2017; 1 fight in 2018
Joshua 2 fights in 2017; 2 fights in 2018
Parker 2 fights in 2017; 2 fights in 2018
Povetkin 2 fights in 2017; 2 fights in 2018
Whyte 2 fights in 2017; 2 fights in 2018

1988 fighters

Tyson 4 fights in 1987; 3 fights in 1988
Holyfield 4 fights in 1987; 3 fights in 1988
Douglas 2 fights in 1987; 3 fights in 1988
Williams 2 fights in 1987; 3 fights in 1988
Ruddock 4 fights in 1987; 4 fights in 1988

1938 fighters

Louis 5 fights in 1937; 3 fights in 1938
Nova 6 fights in 1937; 10 fights in 1938
Baer 2 fights in 1937; 2 fights in 1938
Pastor 3 fights in 1937; 14 fights in 1938
Galento 9 fights in 1937; 5 fights in 1938


Carlos Ortiz, Former Undisputed Lightweight Champion

"You cannot become a good fighter without fighting other good fighters. You can't. And there are not that many good fighters today to allow you to become a great fighter. That says it all. You also have to have a lot of fights. How could you be a great fighter just fighting 20, 30, 40 fights? You've got to have 70, 80, 100 fights.

To call a fighter with 30 fights a 'veteran' - you hear it all the time on TV - means whoever says it never seen yesterday's fighters or hasn't been in the sport a long time. People think the champions today are great fighters. It's because of lack of knowledge on their part."


Freddie Roach

" They don't have the grittiness... that hunger. Back in the '40s and 50s the fighters weren't babied. You were a pro fighter. You could fight a couple of times a month, even three times a month. Activity, I think, is probably the biggest thing that's missing for fighters today because you can't improve your game and remain sharp unless you have activity."

Tony Arnold, Former pro Boxer from the 50's

"Most of today's fighters have these huge knockout records even though they are not punching with leverage. You are supposed to put your weight into your punches but most of today's fighters do not. You can't always be in the right position but you attempt this whenever you can. You pivot on your foot and you twist your hips and you use your shoulder to give your punch momentum - not turn your arm.. When you punch your turn and you're on that pivot and your whole body has to swing behind that punch"

 

This.

 

You been reading boxrec for your Tyson info?

 

its common sense, just consider how much repetition it takes to master any physical skill to world class level. how can todays boxers get all the repetition needed to be as good as boxers of the past, when they fight a quarter of the time that they did? thats why so much technique is being forgotten, because fighters dont have the time to master all the different techniques that past boxers employed.

 

Fury is like a journeyman at best. Yeah he is a big guy but lacks power. I've never understood the excitement about him....he may have beat Klitschco but that has to have been the worst heavyweight title fight I've witness in my lifetime. The sheer lack of punches thrown/landed was embarrassing for boxing. His other 'big' name fights were Derek Chisora and a prizefighter winner from Belfast ffs!! Wilder has power but elite he most definitely ain't. Joshua is massive box office and has done extremely well with what he has got......but someone like Lennox Lewis would have schooled him. In my opinion it's a weak era.

 

I don't consider any of them elite, they are the best of the current Heavyweight crop available.

 

Only Joshua. He is a supreme athlete, he has an ATG name on his record, and has maintained his level since.

Tyson Fury might be, but it remains to be seen. I think had he not been out the ring for years then we'd be calling it a no brainer that he is probably the most elite of the 3. But as it is, he's got to come back and do it again to be called elite.

Deontay Wilder is a 32 year old prospect. Which is sad really. Nobody should disrespect themself enough to be still only that, 40 fights into their career

 

Elite compared to their current peers, yes, but not in comparison to the greats of the past.

Wilder is so technically flawed, his wide foot base and outstretched hands would get him KO'd by plenty of previous titlists.

AJ has the makings of a great fighter and the best resume of the lot. But I'd still put my money on Lennox all day and think a motivated Bowe would give him problems.

Fury is too inactive both with his hands and his career.

 

Depends really what you mean by elite.

I think all 3 have different attributes that would cause any of the top 10 ATG heavys problems.

Thats not to say they would beat them but they are all capable of holding their own and are dangerous in their own right.

Fury is a giant, very awkward and can box. At his best he could make it difficult for anyone.

Joshua is 6ft 6 unit. Good all rounder, he's a problem.

Wilder, cant think of a heavy like him in history, so unorthadox and has dynamite in his hands. He could knock anyone out.

End of the day its a styles thing, match either of these 3 up with a certain ATG and they would beat them, match them up with the wrong ATG and they could look like mugs.

 

I could see Joe Louis sending someone as flawed as Wilder into another dimension.