Thread: Which generation is better?

Barker, Macklin, Murray and Lee
v Benn, Eubanks, Watson and Collins

Combinations that would make the best fights and who would come out on top?

Its very easy to look at the Benn v Eubank era through rose tinted spectacles and then dismiss the fighters we have produced in the current era as sub-standard and nowhere near the same level-and that would be correct to do so

Watched the 4 of them on sky gloves off and the fact that they have fought abroad and world class fighters like Sergio and GGG goes in their favour as ours did not take on Jones and Toney but they are not as good and should have fought each other by now. Think it will happen 2014.

All 4 of old beat any of the 4 of new. Barker and Macklin imo got far too hyped. Neither are/were that good. Lee was never hyped that much but I always thought he could have been the best of the 4. His defense is just so poor though. Murray looks the best and not hyped as much as the other 2. Hes the only one I give a chance of beating the o;d timers.

As for fighting next year i still dont see it happen. Macklin v Lee will likely happen but not sure this year.

Of that lot, old school.

Old generation no questions asked. Dude, murray and those guys are not even elite.. They belong on ESPN.

I'd give Barker, Murray, Macklin and Lee a great chance against Benn... If they fought him on the same night at the same time. Good night.

as someone has already touch on, its very easy to look back on yesteryear with a nostalgic eye and should how good it was back then

like the leonard, hagler, hearns, duran how amazing they were, but i dont think they are any better than some of the fighters we have had around that weight over the last 10 years, it was just the rivalries and the personalities all at the same time that made it look all that much better

then ali being the best HW of all time, he was certainly the best HW for television of all time

the benn eubank era was a better quality than the 4 we have today tho mind, the 4 we have today are good conenders, all would make a good defence for the champs where as benn, eubank, watson and collins were genuine world class fighters

I think Collins was the weakest of the 4 and a fight with "irish man" Macklin would be a barnstormer.

Originally Posted by Master

I think Collins was the weakest of the 4 and a fight with "irish man" Macklin would be a barnstormer.

Definitely.. Today's fighters can beat Collins.

Originally Posted by FinitoElDinamita

Originally Posted by Master

I think Collins was the weakest of the 4 and a fight with "irish man" Macklin would be a barnstormer.

Definitely.. Today's fighters can beat Collins.

perhaps but i think collins was a bit underrated because he came around at the right time in terms of catching benn and eubank

i think he would have given them a fight at any stage and i dont think any of todays 4 are as good

they would probably have the best chance against collins because collins wasnt a big puncher

I don't feel that boxing has gotten much better since the 80's really i mean the weight class that really changes are the heavies because there huge now. Saying that those old timers from Ali's era came back in 90's probably the best era for me and did a hell of a job so maybe its not much better.

Thing is, the Eubanks and Benns wouldnt get wiped out by Sturm. They travelled the world and actually beat top fighters. Fighting and getting stopped by Sturm and Martinez isnt the same as fighting and beateing Sturm and Martinez. Any fighter could lose to them.

Benn and Eubank would wipe the floor with Barker, Macklin and Murray. Could you see any of them coming back from the brink of defeat to wipe out Watson, or travelling to Germany to give Graciano Rocchigiani his first loss, or battling back against the hardest puncher pound for pound, McClellan, smashing Barkley inside a round, moving up to cruiser and dropping, outboxing Carl Thompson the only man to beat Haye at Cruiser?

Its not just looking back with rose tinted glasses, those fighters were top class!

Originally Posted by Master

Barker, Macklin, Murray and Lee
v Benn, Eubanks, Watson and Collins

Combinations that would make the best fights and who would come out on top?

Not only would the old gen beat the new gen in a Brit on Brit contest but the 4 of them would be at the top of the food chain against anyone today from 160 to 168 regardless of nationality. Actually the more I think about it, Ward is probably the only exception. Outside of Collins/Watson the other admirable thing is that they all fought each other. They all would have been a handful for Jones also. Especially Eubanks imo.

Originally Posted by IamInuit

Originally Posted by Master

Barker, Macklin, Murray and Lee
v Benn, Eubanks, Watson and Collins

Combinations that would make the best fights and who would come out on top?

Not only would the old gen beat the new gen in a Brit on Brit contest but the 4 of them would be at the top of the food chain against anyone today from 160 to 168 regardless of nationality. Actually the more I think about it, Ward is probably the only exception. Outside of Collins/Watson the other admirable thing is that they all fought each other. They all would have been a handful for Jones also. Especially Eubanks imo.

I actually thing Benn would have given more problems to Jones. Roy would have simply out boxed Chris and not taken any risks. Eubanks could be out boxed and was vulnerable to body shots which is why I think Mike McCallum would have stopped Chris.