Older generation boxers tougher than today's?

"Toughness", "heart" or whatever you want to call it - and how it manifests itself in the ring - is an individual thing. At all times, we've seen boxers show exceptional heart and a never-give-up attitude... even when fighting against all odds. Just as with hitting power and a strong jaw, it's something you either have - or you don't.

 

I think this is clearly the case. Fighters (and the majority of the population) in those era's had to deal with much harder living conditions. It was rare that fighters became rich and pampered so early in their careers. Their hunger to win was real.

 

With the way pro boxing now has branched out to nearly all corners of the world since boxing's "Glory Days" (20s and 30s), I bet there must be thousands of boxers today, that have known hardship when they grew up. I can easily imagine, that a lot of today's boxers originating from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the former communist countries, had as tough a childhood as American kids "back in the day".

Of all the thousands of boxers active today, only a tiny, tiny fraction can be said to be rich and pampered. The VAST majority will never get close to lucrative PPV deals and multi-million dollar purses. They just try to earn enough to provide for themselves and their families - with no realistic hope of ever making it to the top in this hard sport. No different from how it was in the old days.

 

Agreed with @Bukkake.

However, I will say these older boxers were better at defending. They couldn't be stiff and shell up with the tiny gloves being used.

 

Of course, there are exceptions. GGG is an excellent example. But, it is a very rare exception that you have the combination of 1) harsh living conditions and 2) access to boxing gyms with a reasonable number of qualified opponents. With boxing's popularity on the downslide over the last several decades, the ability of these hardened men to find there way into world class boxing becomes more remote.

 

Harder life = Harder people

 

I used to run a Jack hammer repairing streets and or getting them ready to get paved. Everytime I came across a cobble stone street I didnt see the beauty in it. Still dont because all I can think of is how much back breaking work it took to build that street. So even though millions of people have it hard they have some form or access to advanced technology. These guys didnt.

 

probably more committed in general since the ailments caused by boxing were not as well publicised.
These days boxers will recall Ali,Quarry and Mclellan.

 

Ward and Gatti were not that distant of a memory. Not sure if they make tougher fighters regardless of era. The major problem today is that fighters will not fight each other to test themselves.

 

Broadly speaking yes, though you get mentally strong and weak in any era.

 

I'd happily pit the toughest fighters of the modern era against the toughest fighters of the past but as a general statement, I think tougher living conditions are almost bound to breed harder people. And the general standard of living has increased in the US from say, the 1930s until the present day.

So, yeah, fighters of the past, like people in the past, were probably generally tougher because they had to be.

 

well I was a cheeky b astar d in the 70s in my teens and had loads of fights, though NOT a tough guy, more a Club Fighter Street guy...

I also knew LOADS of Fighters, Tough Guys and HARDMEN - the Real Deal, lads you just don't mess with.

But let me tell you, the Odd Older Guy that gave me a Slap or Punch who was either side of 45-50 years of age, that would make them born in the 30s roughly, well they ALL possessed that Immovable Strength, Will and "You want to Fight", then lets fight.

I can only say, it was different from my peers giving me a slap.

Life since the 60s has soften in almost everyway imaginable, that even Hardmen today, don't possess that Old Day Stark, Stern Aptitude.

I met a Bought and Paid "Hardtimes" the Movie Street Fighter who's backers took him all over the North of Ontario and surrounds and even Pro Greg Haugen (great honest Top Fighter), did a similar thing living in Alaska...

But they, it - the Period, was Just NOT the Same as Dempsey Riding the Rails!