Quote:
Originally Posted by John Dewey
I really don't like giving my opinion on past fighters because I've got into some nasty arguments. However, it is my general opinion stated at length elsewhere on this forum that ALL old timers are overrated. What film we have of them be it Jack Johnson, Joe Gans, Benny Leonard, or Sam Langford, it's always the same. No combination punching, no lateral movement, slow pace. TBCB best represents "modern" boxing (post 1920). Old timers should be at a disadvantage. In the old days fights were often scheduled for longer then the 15 rounds allowed in the game. Fights were almost never stopped on cuts. No mouth pieces or regulation sized gloves. Fouls were more tolerated (especially if committed by the local favorite). Old timers if transported to today's ring would find themselves outhussled by fighters who they should have been able to beat and, consequently losing many decisions.
When guys like Harry Greb, Jack Dempsey and (after being taken to school by Greb) Gene Tunney came along the era of modern boxing began. This is my opinion which is based on the opinions of other very knowlegable people. To anybody who disagrees with me, there's plenty of film evidence on You Tube. Please view it and decide for yourselves.
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Thank you for your opinion. It is silly to get in arguments over such trivial matters. I totally agree that the modern techniques, and more importantly, the bigger, faster, stronger concepts would drastically impact the argument about then and now comparisons. But, I do believe that we also have to judge the ratings on how fighters fought in their eras equivalent to the greats of their own time. No boxers, or most other sports figures would have much of a chance or advantage over their modern day peers. Thanks again for your answer, and more importantly, for your continued quick turnarounds to requests for fighter files. I understand what you are saying, but how's about giving me your opinionized (is that even a word?) rating on Langford based on his fighting with the boxers in his era. So if Corbett, Jeffries, Sullivan, McVey, Wills, Jackson are rated as "such", then what should Langford's rating be. Just like Ali is a 15, Frazier 13, Foreman 12, Norton 10, Young 10, Shavers 9, etc. in their era, Tyson 12, Lewis 12, Bowe 11, Holyfield 11, etc in their era. Thanks