Surely a young boxer today has much more resources in terms of being able to study all the past greats with so many fights on youtube, compared to a prospect from the 30s who would only learn fom the greats from what he saw with his own eyes, what he read and maybe 2nd hand accounts
I've thought about this, and it's good question. Depends on the individual, like it always has. It's not mere access to tools that helps, it's how you use them. Same goes for information. There is propensity for both good and bad. Information overload is a real thing. There are more things to sway you, seduce you, confuse you, etc. Sometimes it's best to know just enough, and to exercise that knowledge to it's fullest potential with complete focus. Is your average startup entrepreneur today, with their endless access to peer stories, leaked internal tools and documentation, a dedicated press with a strong focus on methodology, big data, and just a better overall sea of information more capable at creating a great innovative business than Henry Ford was? Of course not. Not even close. By astronomical amounts, the individual is the most important tool.
Yes it has made a difference especially in the development of amateur boxing. The most successful countries have the best coaches for technical and conditioning advice. That's why so much poaching with countries with coaches.
Yeah, it's a huge advantage. It's not just fighters either, it's trainers, stuff like that. It's forgotten that for every silver-spoon Amir Khan coming out of the Olympics to millions and matchmaking and training paid for there are a hundred fighters trying to do it themselves. Every now and again one of those guys turns the trick and becomes something (not ATG, just something). Online resources must be a godsend for him and the people around him.
There was a time when there were boxing gyms in every neighborhood. Apparently... I'd rather have access to a real gym and other fighters, amateur, journeyman, or whatever, than have access to film of all of the past atgs. I mean, those guys get away with a lot of stuff because they're great fighters and honed their craft.
TV made US boxing big in the 50's but it ultimately nearly killed it with its insatiable demand for new faces. The fact that Pabst,Gillette, and BudWeiser were showing boxing for free, killed off the little arenas and the weekly club shows.
