Does anybody employ the "advances in sports" argument consistently?

The long drudgery of roadwork is out with a lot of trainers, replaced by interval work. Plyometrics and isometrics are also very big, as well as neuromuscular exercises focussing on balance and stability. Strength training in general receives more importance. Back in the day, guys like Jeffries were including walking and handball as serious training and never touched a dumb bell.

 

i think plyometrics and isometrics have always been used, but under different labels.

Jeffries was reported in the papers to use dumb bells. as were many of his peers

 

take science(nutrition/medicine ect) out of the equation and there is no difference, but you have to accept the advantages of the modern world in general imo. and laziness is also irrelevant.

 

Can you tell me is there anyone today, ready to go 15 rounds, any better than lets say Hagler was bale to, or Ali in 60s i dont think so, fighters 30 40 years ago did not have any problem going 15 rounds...

 

There are many fighters today in excellent condition.


Probably misunderstood your question, nevermind.

 

My take is thus... the advancements in training techniques and nutrition essentially help three types of fighters: the old, the huge and those trying to cheat weight divisions.

The Old... this one is obvious. Fighters have a longer shelf life partly because of a better understanding of nutrition and how to train when one gets on in years. Of course this is helped by being less active, but it is no coincidence we have so many quality fighters in their 30's, late 30's and even beyond. Paq, Sergio, both Klit's, Marquez, BHop... etc.

The Huge... Guys the size of Bowe, Lewis, K's were once bumbling side shows or at best unidimensional fighters. Now, they show balance, more well-rounded games, and a fair amount of athletic ability. Trainers have gotten better at getting the most out of larger athletes, probably a crossover from techniques used in big man sports like basketball, American football and the like. Of course this only applies to the heavies.

The Belt Accumulators... those who hop up and down divisions. There is definitely a better understanding from a physiological point on how to effectively play the weight game, whether it be larger framed fighters coming into lighter divisions or smaller guys putting on effective mass to go up in weight. No one still has yet to master the late career move down in divisions, though I don't think the body is equipped for that.

Basically, it would be sticking your head in the sand to deny what science has learned over the decades regarding the human body. What is interesting is that with the advancements there are also endorsements for some of the old school methods. Even as an old has been jock, I now incorporate things like rope climbing, farmer's carries, tons of pull ups and push-ups in my routines. No hand ball or brisk walks, but who knows...

 

Vitali UD12 Kevin Johnson UD. Vitali: total punches thrown 1013. Are you saying he could not go 15? Could you name me a heavyweight from 60s or 70s with a better per fight stat?

 

Ali could do it for sure, and you can see my earlier post, i dont count K brothers because they are to good to be even mentioned with current flabby generation!! Vitali and Wlad are fitter than every other fighter because they work hard, if they fought 30 40 years ago they would be just as fit because they work hard, my point is you could have been just as fit 30 40 years ago as today, probably with more work than is needed today but its not that big factor like some people try to say, like fighters back than were not just as fit as todays and fitter than many today flabby heavyweight!

 

:good

 

That isn't the whole story, though. We shouldn't ask whether modern fighters can go 15 rounds like Hagler or Ali, but whether Hagler or Ali could have gone 15 rounds better with modern techniques than they did in real life. I would argue that they would.

Lots of fighters in the 60s (or modern day, though usually in lighter weight divisions) could go the full 15, but modern training methods allow fighters to hit harder and faster for a longer period of time. Many 40's and 50's fighters look a tad sluggish compared to their modern equivalents. It isn't just the film. Give Ali access to the more efficient energy system methods used today, along with plyometrics, weight training, etc. mixed in a sensible periodized program, and you'd get somebody who could go 15 rounds and hit harder and faster throughout than he did in real life. And that would be very, very scary.

...As long as he trained diligently, of course.

 

You can get easier today to top condition, but as past fighters showed us you could do it than, probably with a lot more work but it could be done.
Main advantage for modern fighters is i would say medicine so they can last longer in their careers.
Today fighters have some advantages but not close to what some people think...

 

What kind of Crack have you been smoking ?

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5iBjEAD8aI&feature=related[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLuye_mLT2M[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPpRGrOeMxo[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBcJ_XbTgNI[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPNdqPW9GyU&feature=related[/ame]

 

I said "many" rather than "all". Boxing has always had speedsters, but on average the guys from the 40's and 50's seem slower than their modern equivalents.

If you check out Ezzard Charles, for instance -- known in his own time as a reasonably fast fighter -- at 185 and compare him to more recent lightheavyweights, the latter often seem faster despite the dehydration/rehydration.

 

Yeah Yeah Yeah, typical response from a modern day proponent, instead of making statments could you at least back up your statment with video evidence of these superior modern fighters please.

 

Cross Trainer is not a modern day proponent, and not one to typify with a "yeah yeah, one of those" scoffs. He has forgotten more about the history of boxing and the art of fighting than you, me and three random other people on this forum have ever known.

On the topic at hand, aside from the excellent points made by Seamus and others I would like to add that the difference in the number of fights per year demand a very different kind of training.

You see it in all sports -- do you train towards a single peak moment, or do you aim to stay in reasonable shape year round, while dealing with and avoiding injuries along the way?

I believe this is one of the ingredients which makes modern fighters look "sharper" on film, while modern camera angles and better definition further enhances the show.

This would still mean though that on an average fight night the modern fighter has a body that operates on a higher level than an older fighter we see on film -- but how could he not? He only had to train towards this one peak moment.