How can you rank fighters you didn't see on tape?

Not an expert in this particular field and don’t have enough info to agree or disagree. Where can one who is interested find these numbers to verify this or explore them. I would be interested in seeing the decline in the US through the years....as well as an example from some European and Latin nations.

 

Are you talking about the US only - or does this hold true for the worldwide talent pool as well?

 

The U.S. Silver in his book I referenced have documented a similar decline in some other Western nations as well.

I've looked at the internal numbers for Korea, and it's even worse. More like 2-3 percent of what it was 30-40 years ago?

 

Well, that's why the type of authority you rely on is important. I am not going to give every older guy the same credence. For instance, I yawn every time Ferdie Pacheco owns his mouth!

 

Do you think it's possible, that other countries have seen an upward trend, that makes up for the slump in the US (and some other western nations, as you say)… so that WORLDWIDE there may be just as much (or maybe even more?) activity today compared to half a century ago?

Just throwing it out there as something to ponder!

 

Lol I find myself hitting the mute button more often for Pacheco than everyone else combined.

On the numbers of boxers again us/global I am trying to research some but maybe not looking up the right demographics or terms. Any idea of an online database research tool?

 

There is perhaps influx of fighters from some areas of the world that used to be shut out from professional boxing stage. Eastern Europe in particular - and former Communist areas in general - is the main source of new blood that I can think of. But on the aggregate the reduction in the fighter pool in the former boxing powers is too much for that smaller influx to off-set, I reckon.

 

Don't know of a general online data base or such unfortunately

 

Did Silver explain how he went about reaching his calculations? Did he reference any sources? (Just curious)

 

Yes, he does refer to sources - even authoritative ones such such as boxing commission reports themselves, I recall.

 

Again, I'd like to see the numbers, you're basing this on!

 

Eh? I gave you pretty authoritative source in Silver's book for U.S. numbers and some Western European numbers. He cites even actual commission reports!

I used to interact with people in the Korean boxing association (I was partly responsible for persuading them to promote Chang, not Yuh, for the first Korean HoF induction - which is a different story altogether, riven with politics), so I know their numbers from the horse's mouth.

Other numbers I've said were speculative.

 

SRR (25-0) was 139 lbs when he beat Fritzie Zivic who was 111-26-6, a full welterweight, and as mean as Duran.


1941-10-31 : Sugar Ray Robinson 139¼ lbs beat Fritzie Zivic 145¾ lbs by UD in round 10 of 10

• Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, USA
• Referee: Young Otto
• Judge: Bob Cunningham
• Judge: Bill Healy

• Robinson was a 7-5 betting favorite. [1]
• There was a sellout crowd of 20,551 at Madison Square Garden. [2]
• According to the New York Times, Zivic got off to a bad start and was in difficulties frequently in the first five rounds. Zivic seemed to find himself in rounds six and seven, as he punished Robinson to the head. Robinson came back and had Zivic wobbly in the ninth. Robinson was careful to avoid fighting in close quarters with Zivic, and fought at a distance, while managing to hold his own when the two traded inside.