Footage on Old Timers

You also have to understand that past generations were much deeper and competitive.

What may look like sensational handspeed now, would have been much more normal back then. Also, the average top-10 boxer then, had a better chin than now.

 

Good point.

It's hard to compare a guy with 40 fights to a guy with 300+.

 

does playing a game of basketball, having a recording career, and movies career count?
How about a game of ten-pin bowling like Sugar shane likes to play, that should count for something

 

I can respect with more boxers and deeper divisions there's greater range for talent to emerge however I disagree that handspeed has decreased. In pretty much every sport there's a general consensus that physical ability has increased and that athletes (perhaps with the aid of PEDs) are bigger, stronger, faster, in essence more athletic than those of past times.

Whilst more regular competition may lead to greater conditioning of chins you also have to consider the fact that every punch wears away at the ability to take another, that's how fighters with good chins eventually become chinny. I don't think you can prove that the average top ten boxer back in the day had a better chin than now and it's equally possible that punch power has increased.

 

:rofl:rofl:nut

Bull****.

 

Well if Monzon is being classed as old-time then feast on this-

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

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xq09V2AeKvo[/ame]

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

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlWPTK1eYVo[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBIs09wpbIw&feature=related[/ame]

AND IF YOU STILL NEED CONVINCING, GET YOUR HANDS ON FIGHTING HARADA VS EDER JOFRE 1.

Needless to say i don't like what this thread seems to be implying. Fighters are great whenever they fight, as long as they are great.

 

What you don't see isn't attributed to not having seen the right film, but rather not having a solid understanding of boxing technique, especially given the times most of these fighters fought in. Your comments show quite clearly that you're impressed by flash over substance, and even given proper footage of these fighters wouldn't be able to decipher the subtleties of their science. In other words, study up (a lot) before forming your opinion unless you just want to come off as ignorant. We've all been where you are, and there are still quite a few without the analytical tools/open-mindedness to change their grossly uneducated opinions. Don't be one of them.

 

Compare the 8 weight classes of old days , with one champ per weight class, to 16+ weight classes , and 4 champs per weight class. So thats 64 titleholders compared to 8. Seems kind of watered down, and being a champ means less today.
Plus you had more fighters to get through to get a title shot. Many guys that are beltholders or multi weight class titleholders today would have been lucky to be a contender back then.
Much less cherrypicking back then, sure , top guys would prey on helpless locals in tank towns for warm ups, but to get a shot at the big time you'd have to beat more than a few quality fighters.
Back then there were more gyms, more good trainers, and lots more places to fight.
More competition, less titles, and harder routes to the top breed quality, skilled, tough fighters.Sure theres guys around today that could hang in any era, but they'd be less succesful, less dominant, and wouldn't hold a room full of token belts.

 

The initial thread here is giving more admiration to speed of hand than technical mastery. Roy Jones had one of the fastest shots of all time, no doubt. He was blessed with immense handspeed, he didn't work hard at honing that, he was born with it. Jose Napoles mastered the art of boxing in the most technically proficient manner that is possible, i admire the ****ing ****, **** and puke out of that. I acknowledge that Jones' physical gifts made him effective in great proportions, but when it comes to my admiration, i just can't help but be gobsmacked at operators like Duran or Gushiken.

 

Yeah no problem there. Some of them vids are just highlight clips (so that's cheating a bit!!), but they can be backed up with relevant footage also, all of them fighters there at least.

 

Bob Foster & Michael Spinks look fine on film. Well Spinks did have that strange awkward style but there's no denying his abilities when watching him. Great jab, power in each hand, effective defense and movement, nice placement and variety of punches, sneaky tactics.

Michael Moorer though, I give him just the proverbial "puncher's chance" against RJJ. At LHW he's like an Edwin Valero. Awesome record, limited opposition.

People often talk about how fighters from different era would fare in others, the same in other sports like basketball. I feel that for the most part, the great ones in most eras would be able to adapt and do well in different eras.