What would be the most significant eras? And what fighters and eras would you recommend and reference I'd say The champions era of Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Larry Holmes and Joe Frazier. The four kings of Hagler, Hearns, Duran and Leonard. Tyson's early domination and self-destruction 1986-2002. The meetings of Tunney and Dempsey and the long count. And finally I'd talk about Joe Louis, Schmelling and Marciano. I'm probably missing a few here? I was going to include Sugar Ray and the darker days of boxing etc but I'm hoping by that point my protege would have the thirst for knowledge to go exploring on their own and find that out themselves.
I think the era of muderer's row says it all. So much quality with all the champions off being all american heores leaving every top man out there fighting against each other. I've gone through boxing year by year and I'm convinced it's peak was from the mid 30's to the mid 40's.
Those are the most important ones, I'd say. Good reference Lufcrazy; the level of competition was so high and the divisions so deep. I'd throw in the Fab 4 Featherweights,the 70's & 80's at super-featherweight/lightweight/welterweight with Chavez and Whitaker among them, as well as the little guys throughout the 70's & 80's, and the 90's with De La Hoya, Mosley, and Roy Jones Jr. in the spotlight. These plus the ones already mentioned, and you've covered a majority of the ATG's I think.