When did boxing become modern?

Ah yes, the very effective but lost art of the herky jerky tecnique.

 

Louis was an exception in hwt boxing history. No fighter before or since matched his level of technique. Louis was not a transition in terms of boxing technique....he was a stand alone.

 

Ray Arcel saw both Bennie Leonard and Roberto Duran. About 50 years in difference. Arcel thought Leonard was Duran's equal, if not slightly better.
So 1920+ is my choice as the beginning of the "Modern Era".

 

When the gloves were added or improved upon

I mean watch Jack Johnson footage and watch Jack Dempsey

its clear that fighters pre modern threw less punches more like a bareknuckle fight where they paced themselves more for the long haul and to protect their hands

Modern fights due to the gloves appear to allow fighters to safely throw more punches and increase the pace of the fight which has also shortened greatly in rounds

 

Maybe he's looking to set a trap.

It's virtually impossible to judge the TRUE SCIENCE of a boxer's work until you are in the ring competing against them, so most of these arm chair discussions on details of skill and technique are pointless.