Never posted in this forum... But

[TheGumby]

I'm a massive fan of combat sports, primarily MMA. I have watched a few boxing matches that were supposed to be great like Gatti and Ward. My main question is this, how come today's boxing seems so much different than when you had Tyson, Ali, Frazier type guys vs what we have today? I've tried watching a few fights here or there but I just can't get overly excited in those fights. I will always be a huge MMA fan but would like to give boxing a go as I love stand up wars.

 

[Seano]

The decline of the amateur system has robbed modern boxing of some talent, though there are still good fights and fighters.

 

[nac386]

Watch Takashi Miura vs Francisco Vargas from 2015. You will enjoy that. Go in fresh, without knowing who won.

 

[The Can Opener]

I'm a massive fan of combat sports, primarily MMA. I have watched a few boxing matches that were supposed to be great like Gatti and Ward. My main question is this, how come today's boxing seems so much different than when you had Tyson, Ali, Frazier type guys vs what we have today? I've tried watching a few fights here or there but I just can't get overly excited in those fights. I will always be a huge MMA fan but would like to give boxing a go as I love stand up wars.

Well you named three great heavyweights and for the last half decade we haven't had much of anything going on in the heavyweight division so there is that.

 

[kudo420]

Watch broner vs maidana

 

[ironfist05]

I'm a massive fan of combat sports, primarily MMA. I have watched a few boxing matches that were supposed to be great like Gatti and Ward. My main question is this, how come today's boxing seems so much different than when you had Tyson, Ali, Frazier type guys vs what we have today? I've tried watching a few fights here or there but I just can't get overly excited in those fights. I will always be a huge MMA fan but would like to give boxing a go as I love stand up wars.

you make an interesting point in saying "Tyson, Ali, and Frazier" guys. now those are all ATGs, but as fighters, they're all radically different, Ali in particular. If you mean why their style isn't replicated anymore, some argue that the amateur system has declined and modern trainers have lost some of the old knowledge. I would say outfighting, whilst probably less creative and versatile than in the old days, has, as a whole, remained good on average among the elite. Infighting skills has declined quite a bit more, but then again, there are a lot of guys who have had success (Pac, Kessler, Klitschko, Brook) who lack prominent inside games.

That said, there are plenty of high skill fighters for you to check out that could give any of the "old guys" a good fight. Roman Gonzalez is an exceptionally skilled pressure fighting combination puncher; probably the best boxer (pound for pound) we have right now in the world. Takashi Uchiyama is one of my favorites, fights as a SFW. Not only is he a deadly puncher, but he's very good at sneaking in punches where nobody expects it and his jab is long and stinging. Guillermo Rigondeaux is something of a defensive god, IMO the best outfighter we have in the game now. Andre Ward fights kinda like Bernard Hopkins, very well rounded, slick, has shut down several high level opponents fairly easily. Naoya Inoue is probably the most promising Japanese fighter right now, he is very creative in penetrating his opponents guard; very fast and powerful as well (Kazuto Ioka is another guy worth checking out from Japan). Terence Crawford is a very skilled switch hitter, can do it all, adjusts brilliantly. Kell Brook is a sharpshooter; great jab and cross, and strong enough to shut down any attempt to rough him up on the inside. Canelo Alvarez deviates from the traditional Mexican archetype in that he is more of a combination throwing counterpuncher, but he's great to watch. Gennady Golovkin is a super heavy handed body puncher with exceptional ring cutting skills and a good jab. That's just a few names that we can expect great things from in the future.

 

[robjenkins2]

Money and promoters have hurt the sport imo

 

[TheGumby]

Really appreciate the time you guys took responding. I would just love to try to get more into the boxing scene. All the ATGs I mentioned were before my time in retrospect. I was 10 when Tyson fought holyfield for the second time and I do remember watching it live with my dad. I'll keep checking back for your input.

 

[Marc A]

Money and promoters have hurt the sport imo

As others have posted , you seem kind of in a state of denial , the sport had 3 -5 monsters this decade , Mayweather , Pacquiao , Cotto, Chocalatito, Canelo , Triple G , Ward ....

Legends breaking Hopkins the list goes on , just say you don't watch much boxing

 

[robjenkins2]

As others have posted , you seem kind of in a state of denial , the sport had 3 -5 monsters this decade , Mayweather , Pacquiao , Cotto, Chocalatito, Canelo , Triple G , Ward ....

Legends breaking Hopkins the list goes on , just say you don't watch much boxing

I've watched all those guys, what does that have to do with my point? Promoters throw out shit matchups and stay busy fights non stop. Most guys avoid real challenges like the plague until they can make enough of a name that they get to that big payday. There is a lot of money at the top of the sport if you can make it that far and guys are carefully handpicking their careers imo for the most part. A lot of these mandatory fights are also terrible,

 

[PUO3]

Because you arent watching enough fights, and the current ones dont have the "nastalgia factor" yet.

 

[robjenkins2]

Also, don't take a ton of stock in my observation, I'm just a casual fan. The hardcores on here are much more informed than I am, just telling what I see on surface level.

 

[Seano]

Because you arent watching enough fights, and the current ones dont have the "nastalgia factor" yet.

I actually think the welterweight era that just ended stands up to pretty much any WW era in history.

 

[robjenkins2]

I actually think the welterweight era that just ended stands up to pretty much any WW era in history.

Give it ten more years, people will miss this group of fighters. Everything is better to people the further they get away from it time wise.

 

[ironfist05]

I actually think the welterweight era that just ended stands up to pretty much any WW era in history.

I would actually agree. I think the guys we just saw stack up fine against most of histories best WWs.

 

[senri]

Watch Takashi Miura vs Francisco Vargas from 2015. You will enjoy that. Go in fresh, without knowing who won.

Pay attention Mr BJ, Nac has put out some gem that you must pay close attention to. You need to ask for guys like him and Mr Seano for legendary fights to watch, and go in fresh and ripe, Your mind must be completely alien to what you are about to see for the virgin mind has the most powerful awakening. Once your cerebral cortex has associated itself with the excitements of the blood of battle from viewing a few of the fights, then you can graduate to the next level and focus on the fundamentals of boxing and build your knowledge from the base up. Slowly you will understand the chess both fighters mentally go through as they try to insert their will upon one another in the dance of chaos. After witnessing further battles, you will have acquired enough patience to observe fights in this manner regularly. It is at this moment that you will slowly approach the nirvana of pugilism voyeurism. At this point your eye will bleed tears of euphoria for you will soon witness the spark of war between two men, nestled within the cradles of human nature. Your insight will have increased, wisdom grown, character altered.

 

[burningspear]

You can look back on any sport and cherrypick the highlights, thats not reality.
Watch boxing week in week out, the lows outweigh the highs as in all sports but a great fight in the squared ring is the pinnacle for me.

 

[PUO3]

I actually think the welterweight era that just ended stands up to pretty much any WW era in history.

Easily.

 

[MarloStanfield]

Mayweather sucked the life out of it

 

[nac386]

Mayweather sucked the life out of it

You talking about vampire facials?