Battle of the Ages

By Paul-Jonas Sivertsen - 04/16/2014 - Comments

By Paul-Jonas Sivertsen: In this article we will take a look in to what is one of hardcore boxing fan’s favorite hobbies. Comparing the great fighter’s of the past with those of today. I will use two fighter’s as example’s, Floyd Mayweather Jr and Henry Armstrong. I won’t voice any opinion on who would win because that is not the objective of this article. In this article we will take a look at how different the era’s of boxing history is. We will take a look at how these two fighter’s would do in each others respective era’s.

Floyd is a 5division champion and is as of right now the legitimate champion in 2 weight classes simultaneously, undefeated in 45 fight’s. The recognized #1 pound for pound boxer for years. Sound’s great (and he is). Armstrong held 3 weight class championship’s simultaneously (only one title in each division back then). He is the only man to hold title’s in 3 divisions at the same time in boxing history. And some argue he even won a 4th championship. He retired with an record of 150-21-10. And is often listed among top 3 fighter’s of all time. Both guys are great fighter’s. But can’t say Mayweather ain’t as good since he have just 45 fight’s. And can’t say Armstrong ain’t as good because he fought a lot of guys with losing record’s and has 21 losses.

The era’s where just too different. Only thing could look at is number of legitimate championship’s held and of course the skill and styles of the two. But have to take in to account that back then there was only 8 weight classes as apposed to today’s 17. And Armstrong did not have the advantage of advanced training technique’s that Floyd has had. How would Floyd fare if he fought back then in the 30s & 40s having 10-15 fight’s a year, 15 rounds championship fights, against (arguably) tougher opposition. And how would Armstrong fare today in 12 round’s fight’s, fighting 2 times a year on PPV, big promo tours and with all the extra weight classes of today.

If Armstrong fought today he would be fighting from featherweight and all the way up to middleweight. Likely winning championship’s in 5-6 division’s. Welterweight being the division he had his most success, (hold’s the record for most defenses in the welterweight division at 19). Today he would probably be a big ppv attraction with his crowd pleasing style. Most likely fighting 2 times a year. He would also have to deal more with the business aspect of boxing. Back then fighter’s where paid far less. No fighter earned a million dollar purse before 1971 (Ali-Frazier I). So he would no doubt not be as active as he was. Because he simply would not have too. When you fight almost 200 fight’s off course you would lose sometimes. Might be a cut you suffered in your fight 2 weeks ago could give you a handicap? Would he be an undefeated fighter if he fought today? Might very well be, would he be accused of ducking certain fighter’s because of disagreement’s over purses, drug testing or location over fight’s? Might be.

If Mayweather fought in the 1930s & 40s. He would be fighting in roughly the same division’s as Armstrong. Meeting up with great’s like Barney Ross, Lou Ambers & Fritzie Zivick. Would he get the better of these great boxers. Who is arguably better than all the fighter’s he has faced? Might be. Also he would not be able to have long training camp’s between fight’s. Armstrong defended the welterweight championship 5 times in October of 1939, would Floyd be able to fight this often? And the training technique’s where far less advanced than it is today. Would Floyd have as great a defense as he has today? Maybe he would be remembered as one of the pioneer’s of defense in boxing along with Willie Pep?

The thing is the era’s are so different that it ain’t given that neither man would be as great as they was (and is) in the different era’s. Would Floyd be as defensively sound as he is without the advanced training technique’s of today? How would he handle fighting so many time’s a year? And would Armstrong with his aggressive style be able to take the pressure being in big pay-per-view event’s? How would he handle the politics of boxing today? How would he adapt to the more advanced training technique’s of today?

Last off I would like to say this article isn’t meant to disrespect neither fighter. But simply to show how different this era’s where. And to say Floyd or any other fighter of today, ain’t active enough to compete with the fighter’s of the past don’t make sense. The same goes for saying Armstrong who has losses to fighter’s like “Baby Manuel” 35-18 could not compete with the guy’s today. Floyd Mayweather and Henry Armstrong is just meant as examples in this article. Could just as well used Manny Pacquiao and Harry Greb. If Floyd fought back then would he be remembered as a legendary fighter one of the greatest of all time? Might be. Would Henry Armstrong be the pound for pound king today? Might be. Or would they just be another fighter in the bunch? In their respective era’s they where and are legend’s. And will forever be remembered as all time great’s.



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