Modern Heavyweight Who Could Be Contenders In The 1930s

Well, Wlad´s loss to Purrity wasn´t because he burnt out fighting often but because he only once went 8 rounds before and had never a fight even scheduled for 10 and this was a 12 round fight. He just hasn´t learned to pace himself then. Having said that, I think Wlad would be a contender. He has the size and ability to be ranked up there. I doubt he would get a shot because he would have lost more than just 3 times back then due to his fright of beeing crowded and his chin.

Chagaev would be a very good contender. He has some health problems now but he has great dedication to the sport, good defence, above average power, great chin, good stamina and that would make him a name. He wouldn´t get stopped by anyone with the exception of Louis and get at least one titleshot. I think he´s the fighter of today who would do best in the 30s.

Valuev would also do good based on his size, chin, stamina and decent jab but he would lose quite often and would be seen as a circus attraction. He would be able to get in in the lower top10 at best.

Haye would have many fans due to his speed and power and every of his fights beeing a knock out or beeing knocked out match but he wouldn´t go far. Too careless, too chinny and too cocky.

 

I think guys like Byrd & JC Gomez would do quite well. Perhaps even better back then than now.

 

Well, I think Primo Carnera is an indication that he could.

Yop. He would be the most successful I think.

He get´s often overlooked. He is no way great or even very good but he is very hard to beat.

Byrd I think would be not good enough. Louis would totally **** him up, Baer would demolish him when he is on. Schmeling would outfox him, Carnera would do similar things to him Wlad did while not lloking as impressive, Braddock and Sharkey would have some trouble with him but I think both would beat him.

Thompson could do well in the 30s. A very big defensive spoiler type fighter who also is a southpaw is always hard to beat.

Ruiz could also do some good work. He fights ugly as hell but he is very effective in doing so.

I think defensive spoilers like Ruiz, Byrd, Thompson and to some amount Valuev would have success in any era because they are just so hard to beat and even if you won´t look good against them when your name isn´t Louis or Tyson.

 

Oliver McCall.
James Toney.

Old school type guys who can take a punch and put asses in seats.

 

They'd have more losses, but on the flip side, one loss like Klitschko vs Purrity will not mean much and 90% of the people wouldn't even know.

Obviously their primes would be shorter, just like that of boxers of those time were. Baer, Carnera and others all burnt out rather fast.

On a sidenote, i think Wladimir is already deteriorating. I watched Brewster-Wlad I this morning and his handspeed seems to have diminished a great deal since that fight. He's still ahead of most other heavies, but i think he's slowing down.

 

"I think Wladimir is already deteriorating"

I thought he showed plenty of signs of a fighter going back against Ibraganov. The reluctance or inability to open up might be due to slowing refexes.

 

The 1930's as a decade was lacking in heavyweight talent. Prior to Louis the title was frozen when Tunney retired for 2 years. And Frozen again for 2 years when Braddock was champ. Prior to Braddock the title changed hands like a game of musical chairs.

Vitlai would easily be at least 2nd best in the 1930's. While his body did break down in his mid 30s, remember he had 215 amateur boxing fights, and at least 50 amateur and pro kick boxing fights, plus 37 pro boxing fights. The kick boxing injuries in particular caught up to Vitlai. If you tally it all up, that's over 300 combat matches. So sure, Vitlai's body broke down a bit. Can you show me a fighter who fought that many and didn't have injuries? I think Wlad would be at least 2nd or 3rd best too.

Either Klitschko could upset Louis.

I need to seem more on Chagaev, but skill wise on offense and defense, he's better than most of the top contenders in the 30's ( Baer, Carnera, Braddock, and Schmeling ). Chagaev can bang, and take a punch too. What Chagaev needs is 1 or 2 career defining fights.

Valuev is comparable to Carnera. Povetkin shows promise. Peter remains a dangerous slugger. What this era is lacking is key matches being made. Part of the problem is alphabet politics.


To sum ut up, I beleive the following ten modern boxers could be champ prior to Louis, and would have a chance at upseting him.


1. Vitali
2. Wlad
3. Peter

4. Chagaev
5 Valuev
6. Povetkin - Need to see more
7. Ibragimov

8. Virchis - Need to see more
9. Haye - Need to see a lot more
10. Maskev



Ponder this. If the 1930’s had the WBO, IBF, WBA, and WBC, Louis might not even be lineal champion. He would be one of four, maybe unify a belt, and then get stripped down the road.

 

Well against Ibragimov i thought it was just plain fear of getting knocked out by a southpaw again - he seemed reluctant. When he did open up, he scored an unruled knockdown in the 8th. He didn't look good, but it was inconclusive.

The Thompson fight showed more of him and while he did get the win without losing all that many rounds, he wasn't half the offensive beast that he used to be against Brewster (first meeting). I might put some money down on Povetkin if the odds are good enough.

 

My take is both Ibragimov and Thompson were south paw counter punchers who played defense. Styles make fights, and Wlad picked the smart way to win them. In boxing sometimes you have to slow down a bit to land vs awkward types.

As for Wlad being in decline, I don't see it. In fact I think his hand speed is better than it was in his 20's, and he might even hit harder now. Wlad is in his prime, and I think he's stay there for at least two more years.

 

I disagree. I think the 30s were a good era for hws. The title changing hands could mean two things, either a worse era or a good one with many fighters in the same level. I think it was the latter.

Sorry but no. Vitali never ever beat a fighter of the caliber of Louis, Schmeling, Baer, Carnera, Sharkey. And while he never did I can´t take him over any of those. You can´t be ranked over good fighters without proving it.
Wlad has a good chance of playing a solid role but imo he´s too scared of getting hit and would lose a fight up to a title shot everytime he tries to get one which would prevent him from winning it. He would be a favourite over most of the top contenders but would lose to Louis and Baer for sure.

That´s a huge stretch.

Chagaev would do best of all the fighters today due to his good defence, chin and stamina. He´s very durable, hits hard and knows how to win on points. Nevertheless he is not as good as the best of the 30s. I would make him favourite over Baer, Carnera and Sharkey but I think he would lose to Louis, Schmeling and Braddock. for example.

Valuev is not comparable to Carnera. He´s bigger but slower and more crude. Povetkin could follow in Chagaev´s footsteps in the 30s but right now he didn´t show enough so that´s a no. Peter would not win against any of the top hws then, he would become rated in the top10 due to knocking out fringe contenders but that´s it.

:deal

No way. Louis would unify and become the linear champ. He was that good and he had the media behind him.

Others who would be ranked in the top10 at one time or another:
- Thompson
- Toney
- Ruiz
- Byrd
- Brewster