If Ken Buchanan was about now......

There is footage of both of them, winning, and Driscoll.

Maybe not in your collection or readily available on youtube (there is some) but it's out there.

 

Modern fighters are also matched softer and fight less regularly.

You should see how scathing the press were about Freddie Welsh, who was THE lightweight champ for years and fought a who's who (schooling Benny Leonard between losses to him and before Leonard wenr undefeated as champ for years, Ray Arcel rating Leonard greater than Duran and he'd know as he trained both) in his division at home and abroad.

Welsh was hated even in victory. So not really that true what you've said.

Fighters can gas within 12 nowadays and there are no fighters with as many wins as say, Jack Britton, fighting today. Easy examples I know but food for thought that advancements in boxing aren't as easily measurable as say sprinting.

 

Fighters have clearly evolved into superior athletes for the most part, little doubt there. Watching the likes of these fighters, nobody (seriously) marvels at how good they look compared with fighters from the past 30 years, surely? There simply isn't any sustained combination punching and most fights are punctuated by long periods of clinching and leaning. The likes of Driscoll stood out and for the most part as fighters of 100 years ago got by on sheer toughness rather than boxing ability like he had (certainly in a modern sense).

 

It does seem a bit ridiculous Duran would say that considering he's fought Hagler, Hearns, etc. I think it was the fact it was his first world title on top of other things that makes him say this.
Duran was ahead by a good few rounds in the Buchanan fight but it was a very competitive fight. Buchanan was actually coming on stronger at the end before the nut shot. I think Duran means Ken was the toughest fighter he's faced rather than it being his toughest fight. This was near prime Duran at his greatest weight hitting a guy with his best shots and not discouraging him. The shots Buchanan took in that fight would have more than likely stopped most other lightweights. Buchanan was seriously tough and game.

 

I wouldn't have Buchanan top 5 and I wouldn't have Calzaghe top 10.

Froch has a respectable record for nowadays standards. Even another couple of good wins before he retires and he wont get in the top 10.

 

Definitely wouldn't argue with your first statement.Ken was for me as good a boxer as my favourite,Howard Winstone,with a better punch and more spite.Maybe a better chin.But does anybody really know the truth about why they never fought again?I can remember reading Duran saying he was the toughest even before he moved up in weight and fought Hagler,etc.But as I think Rossco was saying,would he still say it at the end?Regarding today,I think he was better than all but Mayweather and maybe Pac at his best.I would put him above Joe Calzaghe,but on his record.He went all over fighting top men,including Laguna who was a great himself.Joe didn't do that so much,but I don't really think he realised his full potential.Maybe he was the best.None of us can be sure were right.

 

Harder to throw combos with 4 ounce gloves and also when you've got a long distance ahead. I will agree but as you've noted there are exceptions. There are also exceptions today, the obvious example being Carl Froch who lacks athleticism and has poor punching form. Maidana just beat a fighter lauded as quick and athletically gifted and does the Argie look any better than 'Kid' Lewis? Even if you think he does he's wild and slow as molasses. Even going back 20 years there was no panache to Sung Kil Moons style.

I would say the 20s to the late 80s was the peak of boxing and the depth of class has been sucked out of it since then. There are exceptions today but I beg anyone thst disagrees with me (not you, I love you man) to watch Canzoneri-Chocolate I and tell me that those fighters are lesser operators than anyone around today, Floyd included.

Sam Langford, taking it a decade or so before Canzoneri, doesn't look anyway hapless either IMO.

 

lloyd honeyghan - greatest ever

I think Ogogo is a future great personally

 

Cool story bro

 

whatever mate , people think im mad but Ive seen over 20 videos of Ogogos amateur fights, he's a special talent

 

I was referring more to the fact you think Honeyghan is the greatest brit. He's not even close. Very talented, yes. The greatest, no ****ing chance.

Ogogo might end up one of our greats, its too early to tell. I cant see it from what I've seen so far.