Exactly when did boxing technique stop advancing?

Canelo might do better than GGG, but I am not sure they beat him. Duran with guys he can reach is a problem. and Canelo was a small enough guy. Duran could punch that is what most guys overlook when he got older and in higher weights.

 

I never said that.

I said someone 20 years from now could study "X" fighter's videos (in this case mike Tyson) with his trainer and figure out how to improve on a specific technique or punch. For example, his uppercut.

Never implied some random guy in a studio apartment could watch highlights on youtube and figure out how to fight better than tyson with raw talent. Kobe Bryant learned how to play like Michael Jordan by studying his videos and practicing in the gym. He won 5 championships by copying Jordan.

When people say "technique stopped evolvong X amount of years ago" theyre implying certain fighters were flawless and there is nothing you could do to make improvements on anything they did in the ring.

 

Film is a helpful tool, but nowhere near as powerful and individual talent and specific training.

 

Yep

 

That just proves my point. Someone could easily come along in the next decade who has the talent and specific training to improve boxing technique. It can akways evolve just needs the right combo of mind body and hard work

 

Neither do I.

As I have said on several occasions, both here and on other sites, I believe boxing had already fully "matured" (for lack of a better word), into what we today would recognize as "modern" boxing, by the late 30s and early 40s... where first Louis burst upon the scene, followed by Robinson and Pep a few years later. All 3 were pretty much the finished product, and have not, technically, been surpassed since then, imo.

What irks me in these old vs new discussion, is the weird idea, than once boxing reached some kind of apex in "the golden era" (whenever people feel that was), things gradually took a turn for the worse! For some strange reason, over time, boxers became softer and softer, trainers became dumber and dumber, old skills were mysteriously forgotten - until we now find ourselves in this poor era, where even today's best boxers would be little more than journeymen "back in the day".

Of course not all "experts/historians" feel this way - but some do! You can find posters here who have made the most outlandish claims… such as: Tommy Burns would beat Deontay Wilder, Usyk would get ko'd by both Billy Conn and Joey Maxim, etc. One historian has even written a book, with the sole purpose of denigrating today's boxing/boxers.

Of course we don't see a Louis, a Robinson, or a Pep coming on the scene ever day. These were very special fighters, who just happened to be around at the same time (like "The Fab Four" in the 80s). But this doesn't mean, that this era is devoid of great boxers. Today we also have some very talented ones... like Usyk, Lomachenko, Canelo. Not to mention that Inoue guy from Japan, who is still only 25 and may (or may not; only time will tell) turn out to be the best of them all. He certainly looks a bit special.

Yes, yes, I know… too many "world" champions, the best often not meeting the best, etc, etc. But ability-wise, I don't think today's boxers have anything to be ashamed of… but that's just my opinion!

 

Ali's "Anchor Punch" K.O. of Liston 2?

 

I remember RJJ saying something to the effect that if he didn't improve on Hearns and Hearns didn't improve on Ali and so on, they didn't do their job. Something to that effect. And that sounds very reasonable to me. Almost all these guys' fights are out there, so you can watch how they hook off the jab, feint before throwing a lead right, feint before throwing a left hook the body, stop short and square up to walk the opponent on a short right etc etc.

You can employ those things and, if you're talented enough, add things of your own. If you're an ardent student of the sport and good and smart enough there should always be things you can pick up on and improve. And with so much footage being easily available today there's really no excuse not do your homework.

 

I'd also mention Mikey Garcia among current fighters that have an excellent technique.

 

Loma ,Garcia,Usyk,Crawford , are excellent fighters.

 

Yes if mikey can pull off the seemingly impossible and beat the larger, hard hitting Spence with technique people will have to rank him as an ATG skill wise because that would be an insane accomplishment.