This thread is not about new era fighters being necessarily better than old era fighters. This is about what new era fighters would give all-time greats like Ali, Robinson, Hearns, Hagler, Leonard, Duran trouble in a mythical match-up. An honest assessment without fanboying for the all-time greats as we often see with Ali, Leonard and Duran fanatics. As Larry Merchant once said styles make fights and there isn't a horse that can't be ridden or a fighter that can't be beaten. I personally don't believe they are unbeatable or should be put on a pedestal and act like they're Gods. I feel like Ali would struggle to beat some of these modern-time Giants like Lennox and Klitscho. I think their size would give him trouble. I can even see Holyfield beating Frazier.
Which Klit? Vitali might give Ali problems for a bit, but his skin is a worry. If it holds up, Ali would take a boring decision. Ali would stop Wald. Yes, Lewis represents a big threat to Ali. And Holyfield, at least IMO, is not beating Frazier. Joe is a very bad style matchup for him.
I think Wlad gets stopped by Ali, but I think it's a better fight before then than Vitali-Ali would be, even if it went the distance.
There are guys who would give Robinson and Leonard problems at 147, but it sure as shit aint Bud and Spence. And there are lightweights would give Duran a tough fight, but Fimo and Loma do not have a prayer. Not even worth discussing Tank and Haney. You aren't just talking any old school guys here. You're talking once in a lifetime talents. The only generational talents in the current game are now both retired. MAYBE Boots can fit the bill - I think he's a lot better than Fimo - but its too early to tell.
Ali's mental games are too much for Wald. Wald would be beaten before the bell. If Fury can mind fuck him, what would the king of mind fucking do to him? Vitali was mentally tougher.
I don't think all the current guys get absolutely washed by Robinson or the fab four, but none have a good chance of winning. Loma and Teo would be competitive for a short time with Duran; Crawford and Spence wouldn't get completely annihilated by Robinson - just mostly. But they wouldn't be complete executions. They'd be competitive in stretches.
Yeah, I actually considered editing. I dont think Bud and Spence would get blown out early doors, but they don't have any chance of winning. Same with Fimo and Loma. Hagler?? Lmao! Marvin would have the easiest time of the three. He would utterly destroy Doo Doo Andrade and Charlo.
I think Canelo has a similar degree of success against Hagler as Loma does against Duran. So, not much but a respectable effort.
I dont see any of the current fighter having a chance against atg, bar maybe fury. But yes, if we go back as far as LL or Holy, theres a ton of fighters who could possibly beat some older atg
Fury just based on his physical dimensions would be the obvious choice. Inoue would beat some super flyweights and bantamweights in the HOF. I think I would take him over Canizales. Definitely over Tapia. Not over Olivares, Jofre, Zarate, and Harada though. And not to pick on Ugo , I'm really not trying to, but Gomez would destroy Inoue.
Every fight is its own matchup. If we're talking in general about old school vs new school i'd say many of the modern heavyweights would provide problems for greats of the past based on sheer difference in size. A guy like Marciano today would only be a small cruiser. The guy was an animal and all heart but you just can't give away 50+ pounds, particularly as an attacking fighter. Obviously I'm not saying all the big guys of recent years beat all the greats of the past because they're bigger, but that size differential would pose problems even to the guys who would overcome it.
I actually don't think Gomez would destroy Inoue. While he'd outclass him and definitely should be favoured, Inoue is too good and too tough to be destroyed. It helps he's also actually slightly bigger.
We've been down this road. Inoue was not bigger than Gomez - even if we adjust for weigh-ins, he isn't bigger. It was no picnic for Gomez to make 122. He had very, very broad shoulders and thick dimensions for a super bantam. Inoue is a tiny guy.
Inoue struggles hard to make 118 and he's had massive issues with weight for years. It's supposedly why he skipped 112. He weighs more than 126 on fight night and has an extra day to make weight. I've no doubt he'd be either a feather or super bantam in Gomez's time.
Dempsey wasn't even a modern era fighter and extremely crude, so sure. Marciano? Thats an interesting matchup, and though the hype is at all time high right now on Usyk, I would take Rock late.
I cant emphasize enough how large the gap is between Marciano and AJ. Beating a big guy who's garbage doesn't automatically mean you beat a smaller ATG.
If Usyk has done anything, it is expose the myth that these gigantic robots are too big to lose to the shorter, smaller, more capable men of yesteryear. Size is a big (pun intended) advantage, but you have to have something else to back it up. MTF
That's for sure, which bring me back to the Marciano condundrum. I know you cant beat as many good fighter while not being good, but every time i see marciano im simply not impressed. Look so so average
