Many boxing fans and sports writers today are taken by the idea that modern fighters are bigger, stronger, and better than the great fighters of the past. But does that mean that modern boxers are truly better fighters than their historical counterparts? Does athletic ability alone determine a great fighter? Are boxers of yesteryear under-valued because they are not as well known? Are modern fighters over-rated because they are better known? Tracy Callis, a historian who writes for a major boxing website definately believes so stating, “Most boxing publications do an adequate job of covering the activities taking place in the boxing world. However, the large bulk of this coverage is about contemporary pugilists with the result being that fans tend to exaggerate the skills of the fighters in their time in relation to those of other eras." --(Callis 1998) http://fightbeat.com/article_detail.php?AT=673
Actually an interesting article and unlike most of these the writer actually tries to rationalize his take, at first that is. His view of boxing skill however is a narrow one and the further the article goes the more silly generalisations he makes. Old-timers never made mistakes and Joe Gans would have beaten Pernell Whitaker, sure.
I have to say no based on one very important intangible. HEART. The majority of today's boxer's don't possess half the heart of yesterday's.
The heavyweights from the early to mid 90's, Tyson, Holyfield, Foreman, Holmes, Ruddock, Lewis, Morrison, Mercer, Bowe, etc, would easily beat the heavy's of today. TFK
That's quite a generalization. Even if that were true it doesn't make them better. Zab Judah: Glass chin, no heart and shit for brains. Micky Ward: The guy defined heart and toughness. Who won between the two? Of course that's one example, but it's factual. Stating the majority of today's fighter don't have half the heart of yesterday's is an opinion.
This is the same guy who claimed George Foreman was way ahead in the fight with Muhammad Ali before the miracle comeback. This is also someone with a clearly irrational and biased take, much like the old fucks whove posted in this thread. Oscar De La Hoya and Lennox Lewis of 1999 would destroy any pre 1960's fighter ever at their respective best weights. DLH would wipe his ass with Joe Gans and Benny Leonard in the same night, there's video evidence of this.
