Removing the rose-tinted glasses

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Jel, Oct 17, 2020.


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  1. Jel

    Jel Obsessive list maker Full Member

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    Most of us on classic forum are big fans of boxing history and tend to get caught up in the nostalgia of its past, whether that's rating fighters of bygone eras higher than fighters from more recent eras or thinking that 15 rounds is the mark of a true champion.

    But let's put aside the moans about one champ per weight division (rather than 400 or whatever it is now), weight draining due to day-before weigh ins or anything else that irks us about the modern fight game and talk about what has actually got better about boxing over the last 20-30 years.

    What improvements has the sport seen that actually makes it better than the perceived halcyon days of the 1980s and prior?
     
    Jel, Oct 17, 2020
    Jel, Oct 17, 2020
    #1
  2. Bujia

    Bujia Well-Known Member Full Member

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    You can actually watch all the fights now.
     
    Bujia, Oct 17, 2020
    Bujia, Oct 17, 2020
    #2
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  3. Jel

    Jel Obsessive list maker Full Member

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    Yes - that is a great thing!
     
    Jel, Oct 17, 2020
    Jel, Oct 17, 2020
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  4. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft He Who Saw The Deep Full Member

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    Nothing beats the excitement today of watching a small UK card, then an oversees, then a Us main card, then the big card.

    I love it.
     
    George Crowcroft, Oct 17, 2020
    George Crowcroft, Oct 17, 2020
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  5. KO KIDD

    KO KIDD Loyal Member Full Member

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    No more drawing the color line

    The Soviet Unions fighters can compete
     
    KO KIDD, Oct 17, 2020
    KO KIDD, Oct 17, 2020
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  6. salsanchezfan

    salsanchezfan Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Youtube, so I can watch the old fights more easily.
     
    salsanchezfan, Oct 17, 2020
    salsanchezfan, Oct 17, 2020
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  7. The Morlocks

    The Morlocks Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    What fights. Nobody fights!!
     
    The Morlocks, Oct 17, 2020
    The Morlocks, Oct 17, 2020
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  8. Jel

    Jel Obsessive list maker Full Member

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    Race-baiting promotional tactics like the Holmes-Cooney fight thankfully seem to largely be a thing of the past at least.
     
    Jel, Oct 17, 2020
    Jel, Oct 17, 2020
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  9. Jel

    Jel Obsessive list maker Full Member

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    Thanks The Morlocks - I knew you'd come here with a positive take on it!
     
    Jel, Oct 17, 2020
    Jel, Oct 17, 2020
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  10. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Thread should have been locked after this post, essentially.
     
    McGrain, Oct 17, 2020
    McGrain, Oct 17, 2020
    #10
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  11. Webbiano

    Webbiano Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Interesting point. Let’s not downplay the significance of this. Had we had all fights of the past greats available I’m sure we’d be finding a lot more holes in their games.
     
    Webbiano, Oct 17, 2020
    Webbiano, Oct 17, 2020
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  12. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Generally nicer arenas and PPV replacing closed circuit.
     
    TBooze, Oct 17, 2020
    TBooze, Oct 17, 2020
    #12
  13. Jel

    Jel Obsessive list maker Full Member

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    Better safety has to be an improvement over the 80s and earlier, surely?
     
    Jel, Oct 17, 2020
    Jel, Oct 17, 2020
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  14. The Morlocks

    The Morlocks Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    The Morlocks, Oct 17, 2020
    The Morlocks, Oct 17, 2020
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  15. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    Fighters aren't fighting 3 times a week. You get a better version of the fighters, not a potentially tired, injured, ill-conditioned version who had to ride a train for 40 hours to get to the destination. Moreso, you don't get as many fights where combatants make the agreement to last to fight another day... that happens to be next week.

    EDIT:
    I just saw that this was in regards to the last 20 or 30 years....

    If so then, not a lot, except the internet.

    EDIT 2:
    Actually, I am going to double-back... Obviously, the influx of Eastern Block talent has made a huge impact on the sport, first with the larger divisions but now almost across the board. More talent is always better. Also, when King lost Iron Mike to prison, he tapped into the vast Latin market, first with Julio, creating a momentum that has never stopped. Univision fights were easier to find on the cable line up. Non-English speaking combatants were ubiquitous. Lastly, we have gotten more talent out of the Southeast Asia, the Philippines in particular.
     
    Last edited: Oct 17, 2020
    Seamus, Oct 17, 2020
    Seamus, Oct 17, 2020
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