Generation fighters or all time great

Question

do you think that joe louis,marciano,sugar ray could box today. what about delahoya,mayweather jr, and trinidad in the 80's

Answer 1

Great fighters are great fighters, who could have competed in any era.

(And I appreciate arguments about heavyweights like Marciano being too small, but don't forget that back in the day, smaller heavyweights did sometimes beat bigger heavyweights, such as Jack Dempsey punching the stuffing out of the giant Jess Willard).

Answer 2

This is basically the main argument among all boxing fans. Allot of people believe that Marciano,Louis,Dempsey ext could beat modern fighters like Lewis,Ali,Tyson, Holyfield EXT.

In fantasy land anything can happen, But realistically Marciano was 5'11 188 lbs fighting other 188 lbs heavyweights. Sure he never got knocked out, but imagine if he fought Lennox Lewis who was 6'5 250 lbs monster.

To Marciano Lewis would look like something out of a comic book. Some people will swear up and down that Marciano would beat Lewis or Ali, its just not realistic.

You can argue intelligently about who would win between 70's and 80's boxers against 90's and up boxers, but to wonder who would win between fighters from the 30's who by today's standards would be light heavyweights, theres really nothing to wonder about.

Sure they could beat some heavyweights today, but not top boxers like Tyson or Lewis. They have every single advantage over the old generation fighters.

Answer 3

Some people have very unrealistic views of older fighters.  Many of them don't even fully understand the reasons they so vehemently defend these fighters.  They're trying to show something that resembles ''respect'' but they're afraid to speak the truth.  

I will tell you this.  I have ALL THE RESPECT IN THE WORLD for fighters like Louis and Marciano.  However,  I'm also a realistic person.  It's easy to understand why some are so ''down'' on Lennox Lewis.   Still,  it's very clear.  There is NO WAY Marciano (5'10/188lbs)  would beat Lennox Lewis (6'5"/245lbs).  I have seen SO many scenarios where someone has Rocky beating Lennox.  Sorry,  I'm a Rocky fan too.  NO ONE had a bigger heart.  However,  there is a limit to where your heart can carry you.  

Dempsey would have fared no better against Lewis.  People tend to bring up Jess Willard.  Who do YOU think was better,  A LAZY Farm boy who never bothered to defend the title, but just "SIT" on it,  or a Modern Athlete of the same size?  Willard was a soft 260.  It was impossible to miss him and he couldn't hit Dempsey back if Jack stood still.  Also,  many seem to forget that the rules were very different back then.  They favored a fighter like Dempsey who was a fast starter.  If Jack got the drop on you,  you're in for a LONG night.

Marciano would have SOME success today against a few fighters.  It's a STRETCH to think he would have beaten any of the very best since ALI.  He's simply TOO SMALL.  If he could train like today's fighters,  I give him a good chance to be effective at around 202-205.  He would have a good chance against many average sized Hvts.  Still, 6'5''/245lbs. is a BIG mountain to climb.  

Joe Louis has a good chance to carry 210lbs. comfortably and be competitive.    Holyfield did it at 211-218.  Louis has better power.  Evander has a better chin.  

Trinidad, De La Hoya and Mayweather would all do well in the 80s.  They would blend in with the "Fantastic 5" (Leonard, Hearns, Duran, Benitez, Cuevas) quite well.

Here's a look at them.  

Felix Trinidad:

vs Leonard:  Ray has too much movement for Tito, who gets hit too easily.  Leonard by TKO in 11

vs Hearns: A shoot-out.   He who lands first..........

Hearns by KO in 4

vs Duran: Duran can do many things.  He would have to slip a lot of Tito's punches early.  Duran (June 20 1980) would grind Tito down and KO him in 13.  It was one shot for Duran vs Leonard.  Any other time and Tito KOs him.

vs Benitez:  Wilfred suffers two knock downs and loses a decision.  

vs Cuevas:  Pipino takes too many punches.  Lacking Hearn's speed, Tito takes a little longer to do what Hearns did.

Trinidad by KO in 4

Oscar De La Hoya:

vs Leonard: I laughed when Ring said Oscar would KO Leonard and Hearns.  See what Mosley did?........

Leonard by KO in 12

vs Hearns: Oscar could catch Tommy in the mid rounds and hurt him.  That's a stretch.  My money says Tommy gets there first.

Hearns by KO in 7



vs Duran: Roberto would KILL the body.  Oscar has always been prone to body shots.  He's cagey and takes enough middle rounds when Duran takes a breather.  

Duran W15

vs Benitez:  Benitez didn't take boxing seriously.  He makes Oscar look foolish but Oscar finds enough answers to rally late and stop him in 12.  

vs Cuevas: Pipino had All the Heart in the World................and no defense.  Oscar lands too many big bombs early.  

De La Hoya by KO in 6

Floyd Mayweather:

vs Leonard:  Please!.  Floyd's good but Ray just happens to have ALL THE ANSWERS.  Everything Floyd can do,  Ray can do better.  Leonard by KO in 7

vs Hearns: Tommy has too much range.  He's too fast and powerful.

Hearns by KO in 4

vs Duran: This might depend on the referee as Duran would be frustrated into "bending" the rules a little.   Floyd could escape with an unpopular decision.  However,  I'm taking Duran (6-20-80).  Floyd survives but loses.

Duran W15

vs Benitez: Floyd is forced to go inside because no one has ever made him miss as often.  

Mayweather W15

vs Cuevas: Pipino takes too many punches.  After a scare in round 4, Mayweather keeps a safe distance,  takes a good shot in round 9 but finishes first.

Mayweather W15

Trinidad:  2-2-1 (2KOs)

De La Hoya: 2-3 (2KOs)

Mayweather: 2-3 (no KOs)

Answer 4

back in the 20's boxers had the gayest defense ever! then in the 30s boxers found out about philly style defense and then in the 50's boxers were so fast they were unbeatable then in the 60's boxers footwork was incredible then in the 80's boxers had one punch knock out power then in the 90's nobody thought the basic defense could be so perfected so well (winky) now... what mayweather (philly defense perfected almost) cotto (body shot god almost) HUMBERTO SOTO!!!!! (greatest boxer ever)

not exactly correct but you get my point, boxing is getting better and better.

i always f*cking hear ppl say "boxing is not like the old days were boxers would just go at it" ***** stfu go watch any ali fight and youll see how g*y and boring boxing was back then!!!!!

Answer 5

louis, marciano and louis would clean up todays divisions

de la hoya, trinidad and mayweather jr would have done alright in the '80s, but they would have had tough competition with the likes of camacho, rosario, jose luis ramerez, curry, hearns, hagler, duran, pedroza, nelson, prime whitaker and chavez, mc girt, s brown, starling, esparragoza, etc

Answer 6

YES AND WIN EASY...