What was the third best era for heavyweights?

[DeeMoney]

Its generally accepted that the early to mid 70s was the best era for heavies: comeback stage Ali, young Foreman, prime Frazier, Norton, and a slew of others. Usually, I hear the mid 90s referenced as the next best era: Holyfield, Bowe, Lewis, post prison Tyson.

So what was the third best era for heavies? Was there another era that can supplant either of these two? Maybe early to mid 60s?

[GhostofDempsey]

Mid-late 60's had a fair amount of talent that were competitively matched for the most part. May not have been stocked with great talent, but they matched up well against one another. Frazier, Quarry, Bonavena, Chuvalo, Ellis, Patterson, Liston, Terrell, Jones, Mathis, a few others.

I'd say the 90's may have eclipsed the 70's in terms of the quantity of good fighters.

[Marchegiano]

I reckon the end of the 1890s to 1910ish had a really competitive era. Corbett, Fitzs, Maher, Sharkey, Godfrey, Jeffries, McCoy, Jackson, Burns, Johnson, McVey, Langford, Jeanette. Some greats on the way up, some on the way out, some right in their prime. I like the era.

[Anthony342]

What about the 1980s?

[Nash out]

I've watched since 1990, the '90s were really poor on the whole. Tyson knocking out bums didn't really do it for me. Bowe had a 1 year spell of looking awesome, then binned his belt to avoid Lewis and turned to ****, then got battered around the ring by Golota in both fights they had. Lewis was great, but he got better as he got older. Holyfield was great as well, obviously, but the rest were garbage. 1. Lewis, 2. Holyfield, 3. Bowe, 4. Douglas, 5. Tyson, and then nothing at all after that. People were hyped then to watch Tyson fight the likes of Peter Mcneeley ffs.

The last time 5-10 years has been great. Much better than the overhyped '90s.

[QueensburyRules]

- -Obvious the K bros era where the exposed the farce American boxing had become. So bad American networks blacked out their fights since nobody wanted to watch another American or Brit be publically emasculated in the ring.

[billeau2]

Its generally accepted that the early to mid 70s was the best era for heavies: comeback stage Ali, young Foreman, prime Frazier, Norton, and a slew of others. Usually, I hear the mid 90s referenced as the next best era: Holyfield, Bowe, Lewis, post prison Tyson.

So what was the third best era for heavies? Was there another era that can supplant either of these two? Maybe early to mid 60s?

I hate to always be the one to complicate things... as inevitably as Queenie always rises to the occasion of being our resident half wit... But old habits die hard: How are going to define "best?" To me it is a combination of general level of talent because a rising tide raises all boats, and the conflux of at least two ATG's to make for a spirited competition at the top.

But from my experience these two factors rarely come together in the heavyweight division, For example, Liston did not fight any prime ATG fighters, including the losses to Ali. yet if I watch a typical Liston fight that has been remastered, I see opponents who throw all punches, counter well, move well, and are generally very skilled fighters. And then of course are a smattering of excellent fighters. There is no doubt that the seventies reigns supreme. You had both: great fighter, ATG quality and a whole lotta excellent fighters who, if a circumstance, or two changed, could have been ATG quality... fighters like Young: who if he got the nod against norton and Ali, we might be calling an ATG.

Mid ninities I can also abide by. I can't think of another era where all these factors present...

[Marchegiano]

- -Obvious the K bros era where the exposed the farce American boxing had become. So bad American networks blacked out their fights since nobody wanted to watch another American or Brit be publically emasculated in the ring.

The **** are you trying to say? Because Wlad carried fatman it's a great era?

[DeeMoney]

I hate to always be the one to complicate things... as inevitably as Queenie always rises to the occasion of being our resident half wit... But old habits die hard: How are going to define "best?" To me it is a combination of general level of talent because a rising tide raises all boats, and the conflux of at least two ATG's to make for a spirited competition at the top.

But from my experience these two factors rarely come together in the heavyweight division, For example, Liston did not fight any prime ATG fighters, including the losses to Ali. yet if I watch a typical Liston fight that has been remastered, I see opponents who throw all punches, counter well, move well, and are generally very skilled fighters. And then of course are a smattering of excellent fighters. There is no doubt that the seventies reigns supreme. You had both: great fighter, ATG quality and a whole lotta excellent fighters who, if a circumstance, or two changed, could have been ATG quality... fighters like Young: who if he got the nod against norton and Ali, we might be calling an ATG.

Mid ninities I can also abide by. I can't think of another era where all these factors present...

Dont think its complicating it at all, its a fair question. I intentionally left the criteria ambiguous so everyone could interpret it their own way; for the most part I think you touched on each of the criteria I would bring up: General level of talent, and greatness at the top.

[billeau2]

- -Obvious the K bros era where the exposed the farce American boxing had become. So bad American networks blacked out their fights since nobody wanted to watch another American or Brit be publically emasculated in the ring.

LOl your insane. Worse era ever... fighters who threw two types of punches, moved like elephants in quicksand, and all fought in that technically brilliant Ammy style: step step jab, repeat rinse, repeat rinse, step jab, step step jab, repeat ad infinitum, if opponent gives death rattle, eyes fold up to back of head, and drops hand, open up and throw a cross! No wait... clinch instead, jab step step, etc...

Klit was on America's networks, just on the clinch channel... If you could afford your cable bill you would know that.