I Don't Know How To Start This...

[MasterODisaster]

...how is it that so many great boxers (and I agree they were greats back then) able to fight so often,yet today's fighters can't?

There seem to be so may different camps as to why, but seriously, why is it considered so dangerous to string so many fights together now, when it was fine back in boxing's heyday (weren't the regulations more lacking back then as well)? Did a lot of people die back then (I think not BTW) or something? It seemed like that was the best way to get experience and be a good/great fighter back then. It just seems strange that we see guys fight MAYBE a couple of times each year (yes I get the financial aspects once you are a top dog aspect), and nobody seems to try the old school, way.

Just a question, why are thing so much different these days when the old ways seemed to be just fine...(and having more fights would be great like in the old days)!

[DeelDough]

...how is it that so many great boxers (and I agree they were greats back then) able to fight so often,yet today's fighters can't?

There seem to be so may different camps as to why, but seriously, why is it considered so dangerous to string so many fights together now, when it was fine back in boxing's heyday (weren't the regulations more lacking back then as well)? Did a lot of people die back then (I think not BTW) or something? It seemed like that was the best way to get experience and be a good/great fighter back then. It just seems strange that we see guys fight MAYBE a couple of times each year (yes I get the financial aspects once you are a top dog aspect), and nobody seems to try the old school, way.

Just a question, why are thing so much different these days when the old ways seemed to be just fine...(and having more fights would be great like in the old days)!

Ive always asked that question myself. Really cant come up with an answer

[Spartacus Sully]

...how is it that so many great boxers (and I agree they were greats back then) able to fight so often,yet today's fighters can't?

There seem to be so may different camps as to why, but seriously, why is it considered so dangerous to string so many fights together now, when it was fine back in boxing's heyday (weren't the regulations more lacking back then as well)? Did a lot of people die back then (I think not BTW) or something? It seemed like that was the best way to get experience and be a good/great fighter back then. It just seems strange that we see guys fight MAYBE a couple of times each year (yes I get the financial aspects once you are a top dog aspect), and nobody seems to try the old school, way.

Just a question, why are thing so much different these days when the old ways seemed to be just fine...(and having more fights would be great like in the old days)!

Back in the day boxing was about testing yourself and seeing who you could beat now adays its just about the money and publicity.

Back in the days the boxers most important trainer was himself now a days your paying hundreds of thousands of dollars for 3 months worth of training then theres gym fees nutritionists and every one else that wants a little part of it all. all these people obliviously want to make their pay so your screwed with long training periods between fights making for even more time between fights.

People are greedy these days they dont fight for the love of the sport any more they fight for money and take the easiest route of fighting one or two big fights a year to make it.

[Fighting Marine]

If Sugar Ray was fighting in this era he'd be doing the same thing the fighters of today do.

Boxers always fought for Money. Period. Why fight 20 times a year when you can make Millions fighting 2 or 3 times?

Don't blame the boxers. Blame society.

[sonnyboyx2]

here is a good link.

[Thread Stealer]

People are greedy these days they dont fight for the love of the sport any more they fight for money and take the easiest route of fighting one or two big fights a year to make it.

That's what heavyweight champions did back in the days. Pre-Louis, most of the HW champions made today's top fighters look like a young James Toney in terms of activity. The reason for that is the same for today, money. They could afford to as they were paid well, and also got paid well for taking part in exhibitions.

[Thread Stealer]

If Sugar Ray was fighting in this era he'd be doing the same thing the fighters of today do.

Boxers always fought for Money. Period. Why fight 20 times a year when you can make Millions fighting 2 or 3 times?

Don't blame the boxers. Blame society.

For real...Ray Robinson was a guy who straight up said "I never enjoyed boxing, it's just a business for me". He was notoriously shrewd at the negotiating table and fought for every last cent, even threatening to pull out of a fight 20 minutes before he was to enter the ring because he found out the fight was being broadcast overseas and he wasn't going to get paid for the rights to that. With this mentality, would Robinson fight 15 times per year right now if he was the best in the sport? Of course not.

[r.burgundy]

here is a good link.

that was a good read but i disagree with alot of it.fighters today train different because the rules are different.they train appropriately for the type of fights of today.he cites vitali pulling out of the byrd fight with a shoulder injury but a torn rotator cuff means you cant lift your shoulder.i havent heard of anybody winning a fight not being able to physically lift thier shoulder

i agree that men were much tougher back then due to life but toughness is just 1 element of a fight.

[sonnyboyx2]

that was a good read but i disagree with alot of it.fighters today train different because the rules are different.they train appropriately for the type of fights of today.he cites vitali pulling out of the byrd fight with a shoulder injury but a torn rotator cuff means you cant lift your shoulder.i havent heard of anybody winning a fight not being able to physically lift thier shoulder

i agree that men were much tougher back then due to life but toughness is just 1 element of a fight.

they was vastly more skilled back then than they are today, Vitali Klitschko is very under-skilled and would lose to a guy like Jess Willard or Primo Carnera or Max Baer.. Vitali just does not have the boxing skills or ability to beat any of those guys yet he is regarded as the No1 heavyweight in the world today.. the vast majority of fighters who Vitali defends his title against are Class D fighters who would never be rated in the top 100 of any other era of this sport... the same can be applied to most of todays fighters, if Floyd Mayweather was to fight say Emile Griffith he would be destroyed quickly and easily by the far better Griffith, there are dozens of fighters from other era`s who would beat the likes of Vitali & Floyd because they was far greater at boxing ability

[frankenfrank]

...how is it that so many great boxers (and I agree they were greats back then) able to fight so often,yet today's fighters can't?

There seem to be so may different camps as to why, but seriously, why is it considered so dangerous to string so many fights together now, when it was fine back in boxing's heyday (weren't the regulations more lacking back then as well)? Did a lot of people die back then (I think not BTW) or something? It seemed like that was the best way to get experience and be a good/great fighter back then. It just seems strange that we see guys fight MAYBE a couple of times each year (yes I get the financial aspects once you are a top dog aspect), and nobody seems to try the old school, way.

Just a question, why are thing so much different these days when the old ways seemed to be just fine...(and having more fights would be great like in the old days)!

I think another reason for it is because today , fighters keep their losses secret in sparring sessions instead of revealing their weaknesses and mistakes in recorded fights. Also today fighters try to be in a better physical condition at least in terms of healing from injuries which takes time.