Man heavyweights have gotten big

:think

 

^^

right, but don't tell that to ESB 'tards.
Some of them actually think that Dempsey was terrified of black fighters, which is pathetic.

Almost as bad as Pacman being scared of fighting "slick AA fighters from inner-city and projects"

 

Pmsl, he gets chewed up a raped mate, blatantly.

 

Most of the top ten fighters are in good shape. The smaller ones might carry a little extra weight, but feel they need some extra weight to compete against might bigger fighters with skills. There are a few good athletes in the heavyweight division on the way up.

My point on Hopkins and Jones relates to yesteryear's smaller heavies. Back in the 1880's to mid 1980's, you could see fighters from 168-175 taking on the heavyweight champ. That does not happen today, because the heavyweight champ is much bigger and stronger.

 

But it does happen.

Its just that today, even a 175lb fighter can bulk up to 210.

Another factor is the reality that you can make good money fighting at light heavyweight today. If you couldnt then it might steel some peoples resolve.

 

Byrd

 

the Klits are great big men when they do retire we will see a return to a smaller fighter in the shape of Haye or Povetkin,

 

Haye would brutally disfigure Povetkin, look what the feather-fisted Chambers did to him:

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i was never sold on povetkin.i have no idea how did he win all those medals in amateurs.no wonder he's ducking wlad,he's tailor made for wlad

 

I agree, Povetkin has never impressed me either.
Personally, I think he's a Tier 3 fighter, masquerading as a Tier 2; in the eyes of fools.

Wlad would pulverize him, & grind his bones to make his bread.

 

Outside of the Klitschkos, Povetkin still stands as one of the best around in the last 2 years. He beat Eddie Chambers and Chambers is one of the better contenders Wlad has beat.
Haye's not necessarily better than Chambers or Povetkin. Both of them have resumes at heavyweight better than his.

In other words, there are simply no good heavyweights around apart from the Klitschkos. Wladimir is the best, and Vitali still qualifies as number 2.

 

Mid-1980s ? I don't think so. Unless you are referring to Spinks, who was 200 pounds.
And Holmes was big and strong.

Hopkins and Jones would probably have taken on the heavyweight champions but they are modern prima donna style fighter/businessmen and don't care to earn their shot. Everyone wants to walk straight into a big title fight in a new division these days but at heavyweight the likes of Lewis and the Klitschkos KNOW they will catch flak if they fight an unproven small guy when they can face a big moose who everyone perceives as a killer because he's big. I mean, Lewis probably KNEW Chris Byrd was better than Michael Grant, and maybe RJJ was better that Grant too, but whipping the big man looks better to the paying public.

RJJ was a viable heavyweight in 2003 but Lewis wasn't interested and RJJ was looking for an easier more-lucrative match against Tyson, a fight he knew he had a chance of winning.

Adamek and Byrd are examples of recent contenders who came UP from the weights you mention.

Archie Moore is an example of a "light-heavy" back in the day who fought at heavyweight. Thing is, Marciano and Patterson proved too powerful/strong/fast/good for him but they weren't bigger than him, and he defeated the big contenders Valdes and Baker.

 

Yet no one is arguing that Povetkin did not win that fight which he did.

And perhaps someone needs to rephrase an above question to read, "Can any lightheavy/cruiser beat a good superheavy by any means other than freak injury?" ... because there is little doubt Byrd was losing that fight until the shoulder injury.

 

2 of the Top5 hws moved up from lhw or cw today.

 

Bingo bodhi. :yep