What are some features of boxing that have changed over the years? Whether it's tactics, conventions, etc.? For example, they used to introduce retired boxers from the audience before fights, with the fighter waving to the crowd, walking around the ring and shaking hands with the fighters. What are aome others? Big or small?
50 years ago a guy's greatest ever claim wasn't built around his undefeated record, and the amount of cars he has.
As far as introductions they would repeat the the last name of the fighter. For example: "In the blue corner, John Smith (pause) Smith."
Tyson changed a lot of things. Specifically the way boxers stand. Tyson generally killed the proper boxing stance- with the left hip and shoulder rotated forward. Cus explained his reasons behind favoring a stance that squares the hips and shoulders to an opponent and what he says is stupid wrong (unless you are Mike Tyson). That was the end of fighters viewing defense as something that you do on purpose. In my opinion, the reason why so many fighters clinch now is because it is so easy. Rubber sole shoes changed footwork substantially. Attached thumb gloves ended the era of the cute inside fighter. Ali made it fashionable to drop your hands and lean back. I thought that Floyd would bring new attention to the old school boxing that Floyd was good at- and there was nothing about his style that was less than a century old- but, alas, hard work, study and commitment to a craft are mostly outdated.
i dont get why everyone makes such a big deal about mayweather jr claiming to be the best ever. why does it irk you so? plenty of athletes make such claims. i dont consider him the greatest ever, nor one of the 20 best ever. but top 25 is certainly reasonable. the guy had a great career. just doesnt upset me if morons believe his declarations.
obviously activity (lack thereof) is one key element that is killing the sport. how are young fighters supposed to develop if they fight once a year? stay busy fights are a thing of the past because of guaranteed minimums in contracts.
Did Tyson really change anything though? I can't think of any top guys who adopted his style. If anything, Mike was the last of his kind. No one since has been able to perfect the peek-a-boo - few even try. Quartey fought out of an Africanized version of the peek-a-boo, but obviously, Ike didn't have the gifts that Mike had.
Ring card girls used to be more sexy than now, but in the past in was just an old dude walking around the ring. Camacho established the stupid 'glamorous' "outrageous' ring entrances. Now even stupid up & coming rookies feel the need of wearing outfits or having some kind of dance while entering the ring...only to be KO later. Maybe is just my perception, but in the past referees were as famous as many boxers. You could recognize and name the 'great' referees. Now I barely know any of them. There isn't a Don King ruling the sport. Diva boxers no longer fight their dangerous #1 ranked opponents since the organizations now keep giving them a pass all the time and will take years and lots of negotiations and concessions if these bouts ever materialize. I remember the time when a boxer, no matter if his last name was Leonard or Duran, had to defend his title against the #1 ranked within 90 days or had a contract for that fight within that time frame or else be stripped of the title. The best fought the best...the way it should be.
I remember that. There was one short announcer with white hair who always did that back in the 80s. It was also a scene in the movie Play it to the Bone when Antonio Banderas talks about that.
The late Ed Derian used to repeat the names twice. Diamante admitted that he copied the practice from Derian.
Wow, didn't know that. Only saw the fight once but not with any of the announcing and pre-fight build-up.
Yeah. It’s been awhile since I saw it, but I remember there’s a scene when Antonio Banderas is talking about a fight he had and says the announcer will say your last name, pause for a bit, and say it again.
The top guys fought one another. In recent years it’s become hope a giant hope to the get the fights made that really matter.
The age of a fighter doesn't necessarily state where they are their career but Hagler and Leonard were actually younger than a couple of welterweights i can think of holding belts right now. They also didn't campaign at the same weight for years.
I believe weight-cutting is probably at a whole new level of obnoxiousness compared to any time in the past. It’s become a science in itself with all the supplements and weird techniques. Just being a very good boxer isn’t enough in most cases.. you also have to have the ability and the will to starve your body to a near-death state in order to avoid fighting in a division where you have a 3” height and 15lb disadvantage in the ring.
I dont think I’ve seen anyone employ the wind up bolo punch anymore, at least not recently. We’ve seen guys like Gavilan, Ali, Leonard, Pedroza, Jones, Hamed use it. Seems like it’s no longer a thing.
