Why is boxing the only sport where the older greats are always better?

it's not because these fighters are at different era, the other fighter is already better than the other based on the quality and quantity of opponents..

to make things simple, i believe great fighter are both born and made, and a great fighter whether from past, present of future generations, they will always be great fighter and will give anybody a hell of a fight..

 

I saw a thread here not too long ago where the vast majority of posters say SRR would beat RJJ at middleweight.

Im not kidding,

 

well, is that surprising? he's probably the second or third best middle of all time. i have rjj number 1 at 168 but at 160, it's no sure thing he beats robinson at all

 

They're not. With a few very notable exceptions like SRR, the old fighters sucked, but fighters from the sixties onward aren't really old. They fought like modern fighters and pretty much trained just like modern fighters, with the exeption of the pharmaceuticals.

 

You need to quit wining because people aren't responding to your invalid points.

I don't know if you were aware, but boxing hasn't evolved much in the last 60 years or so. Alexis Arguello and Joe Louis are separated by 40 years and 80 pounds, yet they possess extremely similar styles. Both are considered ATGs.

Is there some sort of crazy tiger crane style that no ones figured out yet thats gonna further evolve boxing? Maybe in the future everyone will fight like Emanuel Burton.

Modern fighters don't train much differently than the fighters of yesteryear. What do you think Jack Dempsey just sat around eating steak all day?

So stop trying to compare Boxing to other sports, when theyre other sports. You'll never find your answer this way. atsch

You can probably make comparisons with MMA because that is a combat sport like boxing, but even MMA is only in its second decade. I'm sure the UFC will encounter a similar situation 100 years from now.

 

MMA is in its infancy as a high profile competitive sport..Really boxing went though similar changes in its early years under the Queensberry rules.

 

Jordan >>> Todays nba stars

true story...

 

Michael Jackson >>> ******e Timberlake

Madona >>> Britney Spears

lol

 

The Roger Federer hype lately has got me thinking about this question (ranking athletes from different eras). I've decided that you cant meaningfully do it. It's a good talking point, but there are so many different 'types' of greatness, like raw ability (think RJJ), or accomplishments (bernard Hopkins) - 'greater' becomes a semantic issue. Also, with modern training tech's, nutrition etc everything's different.

Anyone whop dominates their peers is great,,,beyond that who can say,.

 

Mostly because of the extreme prejudice and pure hate of European fighters. I read and have heard a lot of lies about Euro fighters.

 

So have I - Most of them in threads started by you...

 

Also some points:

Boxing is pretty much one of the highest levels of sport. Its pretty much man vs man. Some "sports" you mentioned are not sports at all in the truest sense. Golfing, Cycling and Running are distinctly different than MMA, Wrestling, Boxing and even Tennis.

Since it is a "truer" sport, it has more "intangibles" like character, grit, toughness, blah blah, and even personality that sway opinions.

People have differing preferences of various styles. I may think Frazier's style is way more exciting than Wlad (who wouldn't?)...so I would tend to overestimate Joe's chances...

It is hard to argue that people over time become stronger and faster...but at welterweight, they are still the same size. and people tend to believe that fighters of the past were tougher...so you have a tougher vs faster and stronger debate...and toughness is often the romantic choice.
And more people probably agree that people were tougher in ages past than current fighters are stronger/faster than thier historical counterparts. And these are all intangebles anyway...so easily argued.

Equipment has changed less in boxing. I am sure the gloves are better today...but an 8oz glove is still an 8oz glove. Ask Federer to use a wooden racket and 50 year old sneakers and see how he likes it.

Boxing fans are more passionate about these things. Do people really argue over Federer vs Ashe as much as SRR vs Hagler? Maybe...but I doubt it.

Throw in the fewer and fewer high-end old-school trainers and the lack of opportunity for kids to become boxers...and people always have the smaller talent pool argument.

 

They have proven themselves. Your lies have not.

 

I heard Vitali grinds up the bones of Gypsy children, mixes it into a drink and drinks it before he fights.

 

You should see Vitali as a kickboxer, superheavyweight division, six time champion both pro and amateur.