Todays HW division is not so different than other eras

Todays Heavy weights are not so much different than the heavy's of the 60's,70's 80's or 90's.
The top champs of the eras where at the time considered too boring or hand picking their competitors. Their were some excetions from time to time. But people forget that Sonny liston was mostly hated by fans as was Ali before he was stripped of his title. Joe Frazier was exciting to watch but did not beat that many real top fighters. The fights between Ali and Frazier were great fights . But remember Frazier was slapped around by Foreman. Foreman was not really known that well by the average fan mostly because the media did not favor him. Ali beat Foreman by wit not so much by exiting speed or power.
The 60's and 70's seemed more exciting and was for the most part. But that was a time the big 3 networks really were getting into pushing the "big" fights. And Ali was was very well known as an actavist and fighter. Larry Holmes who owned the HW division for 7 years was considered soft boring and not willing to get wild and go for knco outs. But he fought with his jamb and mind . That made hin a target of fans as boring and not a great champ. The list could go on all the way up to Lennox Lewis not wanting to cut loose and show all he could do. Fans found him boring. While he was the Champ. Its seems people like to rember things the way they want to rember them . Give this era the repect it is due. Their are great fighter in thie era. The Problem as I see it is We want to see Some one like Mike Tyson ripping thru the division. But that was short lived and alot of cray crap went alog with it. The real problem is the sanctioning body feed us **** and make crap decisions and offer dumb corrupt judging. They Keep the good fighters from fighting each other to keep a champ in their stable. Example of why this era looks bad John Ruiz,Valuev, Peter,Mccline,Toney and other fighter like them get the lime light when the boxer that have good records against other good fights can't seem to get title shots.

 

Thank you...most people on this forum suffer from herd mentality and just regurgitate what they hear.

I don't think people remember Larry Holmes in the 80's fighting the "bum of the month" or the middle rounds of a 15 round snoozer in the 70's.

At least in the heavyweight division, the majority of the time, you don't get a bogus controversial decision...you, almost always get a clean knockout.

Even at the elite level, in the lower weight classes, you always get controversial decisions that leave the fight fan of either fighter feeling disappointed.

Bottom line is, if you don't like the product then don't watch it.

 

I think with the exception of the 70's no era is really better than any other and I don't think the 70's are that far a head of the rest of the eras.

 

You're absolutely right...people should have more respect for the current crop of heavyweights.

 

When you're struggling to maintain any sort of stature in the modern sports world, That's probably not the attitude to have.

 

Shut this **** down....

Every Heavyweight Era is better than this Era

Tony Tucker would dominate today's heavyweight division....

All the people you named being fighters of today's heavyweight division are apart of the end of Lewis Era...start of Klitscko Era and honestly those are the only 3 out of this era that would survive in the other ones.

 

That must be why not many people watch the heavyweight or have alot of intrest in them

 

Get the **** out of here...you said NicoLIE ValueLESS and James Toney like they are in some ways held in simillar esteem, or lack thereof. I call Bull****. Complete Bull****.

 

I'm not even one of those people who think this is the worst HW division ever either. I just think the idea that you should tell potential viewers "OH YEAH DON'T LIKE IT? DON'T WATCH THEN ****ERS!" when you're struggling for buyrates as it is is not a wise move.

 

Toney Tucker? Come on. Think real carefully, study the sport, and the truth with eventually hit you.

 

the point that we romaticize the past eras is valid. but i don't know how you can really rate the current hw division (even of the past 5 years or so) very good by any standard. yes vitaly and wlad are legit and could hold their own with a lot of atg's (not saying they're atgs yet but with their size and effectiveness they'd be tough for a lot of guys), but there's not too much behind them. look at the "ring" hw rankings - it has guys like maskaev, peter, arrreola, and probably chambers -- these guys at this stage wouldn't be contenders even in larry holmes's era. valuev is another guy who would probably make it to a fringe contender status in other eras due to his size but that's probably being generous. chagaev's signature win is valuev and from what i've seen i don't think he's a legit contender in a good era. we have two a level fighters and a lot of b and b- level guys, with the jury still being out on a couple of the younger prospects like haye and a couple of the eastern euros. vitaly and wlad a lot of credibility to this era, but it is very weak.

 

That comment is directed towards those who are constantly whining about the state of the heavyweights.

Believe it or not, not everyone shares that sentiment.

Keep it up and we won't get any heavyweight fights in the US.

 

You know what the guy really meant, "If your guys aren't winning, quit whining about every little nitpicking thing about the Hws, and go and watch something more down your alley...like golf." Got it?

 

tucker couldn't beat either klit, but i'd favor him to clearly beat the two tubby hw's who fought tonight (who are probably both top 10 still after this fight) and he'd beat a lot of other guys today too