What Era had the Most Talented HeavyWeights?

[Beanflicker]

Tony Tucker was a beast, he had guys relinquishing titles so they wouldn't have to fight him.

He broke his hand a few days before the Tyson fight and then shattered it early in the fight, shit happens in boxing, Tyson was a beast who probably would have beaten him anyway, but Tucker was a bad motherfucker. Michael Spinks ducked him hard.

[Spicoli]

Tony Tucker was a beast, he had guys relinquishing titles so they wouldn't have to fight him.

He broke his hand a few days before the Tyson fight and then shattered it early in the fight, shit happens in boxing, Tyson was a beast who probably would have beaten him anyway, but Tucker was a bad motherfucker. Michael Spinks ducked him hard.

Tucker was the lifelong beneficiary of Don King low balling people and generous rankings late on. The guy had big natural skill and ability for sure, but I really doubt Spinks and Foreman were afraid of the man. Asking a lineal champ to settle on a fraction when he was able to make 7,8 times that is a non starter and bad business, King at his calculated finest with all roads to Tyson either way.

[Master]

Tony Tucker was a beast, he had guys relinquishing titles so they wouldn't have to fight him.

He broke his hand a few days before the Tyson fight and then shattered it early in the fight, shit happens in boxing, Tyson was a beast who probably would have beaten him anyway, but Tucker was a bad motherfucker. Michael Spinks ducked him hard.

Tucker was the lifelong beneficiary of Don King low balling people and generous rankings late on. The guy had big natural skill and ability for sure, but I really doubt Spinks and Foreman were afraid of the man. Asking a lineal champ to settle on a fraction when he was able to make 7,8 times that is a non starter and bad business, King at his calculated finest with all roads to Tyson either way.

Tony Tucker: My right hand was broken when I fought him I knew Tyson
couldn’t beat me. A couple days before I was sparring against
a guy named Young Joe Louis. This guy was doing a lot of
talking bad about me. I heard this from my sparring partners.
So I chose him to spar against first because I was gonna put
him down. I was hitting him real good when I heard a pop in my
hand When I went back to the corner I knew I had hurt it bad.
The doctor said I had a small hand fracture. They said I would
need therapy and to not use it for ten days. I had to fight Tyson
in less than that. I went in determined though. I was very
apprehensive to attack Tyson due to the hand. I hit him with a
right uppercut early and my hand just shattered. It was the
worst pain ever. I still went on though, that’s why I did all those
antics and everything. I was supposed to beat this guy, but
how could I with one hand. With two hands I would have
knocked Mike Tyson out.

[mrbig1]

Tony Tucker was a beast, he had guys relinquishing titles so they wouldn't have to fight him.

He broke his hand a few days before the Tyson fight and then shattered it early in the fight, shit happens in boxing, Tyson was a beast who probably would have beaten him anyway, but Tucker was a bad motherfucker. Michael Spinks ducked him hard.

Tucker was the lifelong beneficiary of Don King low balling people and generous rankings late on. The guy had big natural skill and ability for sure, but I really doubt Spinks and Foreman were afraid of the man. Asking a lineal champ to settle on a fraction when he was able to make 7,8 times that is a non starter and bad business, King at his calculated finest with all roads to Tyson either way.

agree 100%

[Beanflicker]

Tony Tucker was a beast, he had guys relinquishing titles so they wouldn't have to fight him.

He broke his hand a few days before the Tyson fight and then shattered it early in the fight, shit happens in boxing, Tyson was a beast who probably would have beaten him anyway, but Tucker was a bad motherfucker. Michael Spinks ducked him hard.

Tucker was the lifelong beneficiary of Don King low balling people and generous rankings late on. The guy had big natural skill and ability for sure, but I really doubt Spinks and Foreman were afraid of the man. Asking a lineal champ to settle on a fraction when he was able to make 7,8 times that is a non starter and bad business, King at his calculated finest with all roads to Tyson either way.

I get that Tony Tucker was not a big name, but I think you're downplaying the man's skill. The guy was a fantastic boxer, great jab, mobile, and had huge power in both hands. He was a nasty fight and in his prime I say he was a tough night for any HW you could name.

[Spicoli]

Tony Tucker was a beast, he had guys relinquishing titles so they wouldn't have to fight him.

He broke his hand a few days before the Tyson fight and then shattered it early in the fight, shit happens in boxing, Tyson was a beast who probably would have beaten him anyway, but Tucker was a bad motherfucker. Michael Spinks ducked him hard.

Tucker was the lifelong beneficiary of Don King low balling people and generous rankings late on. The guy had big natural skill and ability for sure, but I really doubt Spinks and Foreman were afraid of the man. Asking a lineal champ to settle on a fraction when he was able to make 7,8 times that is a non starter and bad business, King at his calculated finest with all roads to Tyson either way.

I get that Tony Tucker was not a big name, but I think you're downplaying the man's skill. The guy was a fantastic boxer, great jab, mobile, and had huge power in both hands. He was a nasty fight and in his prime I say he was a tough night for any HW you could name.

Oh no, he absolutely had skill, absolute. But he was similar to many of time as he was also a self saboteur with substance abuse, jumbled management and lack of focus and motivation. I'm still not convinced he wasn't outhustled and boxed vs Orlin Norris. His skill was obvious, its not as if he lacked ample opportunity to show it? But no matter the era if your mind ain't right and the fire wavering, skill means nothing. Having that leech King pulling his strings was a catch 22. His name didn't need to be huge with that connect.

[greynotsoold]

An era with big HWs will be an era with less skill. "Big" and "dumb" go together. This is why LHWs and even middles like Walker, Greb and Conn think they can win the title. And "slow." Can't forget "slow."

Some people think Ali was skilled. He was not. He was fast and, since he fought "big", "slow", "dumb" guys he seemed skilled. This showed when he got slow; even then he got away with it because he was smarter than foreman, etc... Foreman retired and got smarter than the other big dummies he had to fight. watch moorer fight and you'll see and big dumb slow mofo in action.

An era with the most talented HWs, in terms of boxing skill? There was a time when ezzard Charles, Joe Walcott, Archie moore all fought there and that is three very skilled men.

[SlimTrae]

Some people think Ali was skilled. He was not. He was fast and, since he fought "big", "slow", "dumb" guys he seemed skilled. This showed when he got slow; even then he got away with it because he was smarter than foreman, etc... Foreman retired and got smarter than the other big dummies he had to fight. watch moorer fight and you'll see and big dumb slow mofo in action.

.

IMO: excellent Analysis.

Ali had so much mouth, his persona transcended the sport. He could've been the worlds greatest used car salesman. Sell you a 1970 Pinto & make you think you drove off the lot with a Cadillac..and swore you stole from the car salesman!

What a shame, Dundee couldn't or wouldn't discipline a young clay. Force him to understand fundamentals. Teach him that there would come a time when youth dissipates like smoke in the wind.
Reflexes wither with father time.

Learn fundamentals, gain skill and don't rely on freak-like reflexes and God given talent-alone.

Serious who else in the history of boxing--won a title without having a single highlight reel of them doing (some) (any) body work?

Ali that's who.

What a shame--in my bold assessment Ray Leonard & Roy Jones followed that same path.

Depending so much on talent, they felt no need to do what Ezzard Charles, Archie Moore and yes Bernard Hopkins did: learn the craft & master the art of pugilism.

[Master]

Some people think Ali was skilled. He was not. He was fast and, since he fought "big", "slow", "dumb" guys he seemed skilled. This showed when he got slow; even then he got away with it because he was smarter than foreman, etc... Foreman retired and got smarter than the other big dummies he had to fight. watch moorer fight and you'll see and big dumb slow mofo in action.

.

IMO: excellent Analysis.

Ali had so much mouth, his persona transcended the sport. He could've been the worlds greatest used car salesman. Sell you a 1970 Pinto & make you think you drove off the lot with a Cadillac..and swore you stole from the car salesman!

What a shame, Dundee couldn't or wouldn't discipline a young clay. Force him to understand fundamentals. Teach him that there would come a time when youth dissipates like smoke in the wind.
Reflexes wither with father time.

Learn fundamentals, gain skill and don't rely on freak-like reflexes and God given talent-alone.

Serious who else in the history of boxing--won a title without having a single highlight reel of them doing (some) (any) body work?

Ali that's who.

What a shame--in my bold assessment Ray Leonard & Roy Jones followed that same path.

Depending so much on talent, they felt no need to do what Ezzard Charles, Archie Moore and yes Bernard Hopkins did: learn the craft & master the art of pugilism.

That is a valid point but they were successful and if it isn't broke do you fix it or leave it alone?

[IamInuit]

Some people think Ali was skilled. He was not. He was fast and, since he fought "big", "slow", "dumb" guys he seemed skilled. This showed when he got slow; even then he got away with it because he was smarter than foreman, etc... Foreman retired and got smarter than the other big dummies he had to fight. watch moorer fight and you'll see and big dumb slow mofo in action.

.

IMO: excellent Analysis.

Ali had so much mouth, his persona transcended the sport. He could've been the worlds greatest used car salesman. Sell you a 1970 Pinto & make you think you drove off the lot with a Cadillac..and swore you stole from the car salesman!

What a shame, Dundee couldn't or wouldn't discipline a young clay. Force him to understand fundamentals. Teach him that there would come a time when youth dissipates like smoke in the wind.
Reflexes wither with father time.

Learn fundamentals, gain skill and don't rely on freak-like reflexes and God given talent-alone.

Serious who else in the history of boxing--won a title without having a single highlight reel of them doing (some) (any) body work?

Ali that's who.

What a shame--in my bold assessment Ray Leonard & Roy Jones followed that same path.

Depending so much on talent, they felt no need to do what Ezzard Charles, Archie Moore and yes Bernard Hopkins did: learn the craft & master the art of pugilism.

Great post.

I think there is a fine line. For some athletes the teaching could interfere with the natural gifts they are born with. In many ways, the lack of formality is what made them stand out. Its like the talent almost transcends the sport. I think of Barry Sanders, Wayne Gretzky, Michael Jordon, Roy Jones and Ali as athletes in that genre. Its like they had a third eye. You don't want to stymy that by telling them how to plant their feet using a boxing 101 handbook.

Roy had a dynamite jab but rarely showed it or used it outside the Paz fight. That's just how good he was. And you cant teach those double/triple feints in the gym. Part ways a little with you on Leonard. Out of those mentioned and other gifted fighters I'd say that Ray was one of the best boxers fundamentally including Robinson. Or lets say he was the one that applied boxing fundamentals the most.

[mikeeod]

Probably blasphemy, but I give a slight edge to the heavyweights of the 90's. That is a tough class to beat with Foreman (I feel he was better at this point than during his prime, much smarter), Riddick Bowe, Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield, Tommy Morrison (not great but very exciting and big puncher), Razor Ruddock (see Morrison but with a better chin), Ray Mercer (inconsistent and lazy at times but great when he was on as in his fights vs. Witherspoon, Evander, Lennox and Morrison), Michael Moorer and Tyson coming back. Guys like Frank Bruno, Bruce Seldon, Bert Cooper, Phil Jackson, Tony Tucker, Herbie Hide and Alex Stewart were solid fighters with good skill.

Tough to beat ATGs like Ali, Frazier and Foreman with guys like Bonavena, Chuvalo, Quarry, Shavers, Patterson, Moore...etc., but I just feel like the guys in the 90s had slightly more depth. Boxing was slightly bigger on a global scale with Thrilla in Manilla, Rumble in the Jungle, Fight of the Century...etc., so I can definitely see a case made for the era of the 70s. Tough call.

[Master]

Probably blasphemy, but I give a slight edge to the heavyweights of the 90's. That is a tough class to beat with Foreman (I feel he was better at this point than during his prime, much smarter), Riddick Bowe, Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield, Tommy Morrison (not great but very exciting and big puncher), Razor Ruddock (see Morrison but with a better chin), Ray Mercer (inconsistent and lazy at times but great when he was on as in his fights vs. Witherspoon, Evander, Lennox and Morrison), Michael Moorer and Tyson coming back. Guys like Frank Bruno, Bruce Seldon, Bert Cooper, Phil Jackson, Tony Tucker, Herbie Hide and Alex Stewart were solid fighters with good skill.

Tough to beat ATGs like Ali, Frazier and Foreman with guys like Bonavena, Chuvalo, Quarry, Shavers, Patterson, Moore...etc., but I just feel like the guys in the 90s had slightly more depth. Boxing was slightly bigger on a global scale with Thrilla in Manilla, Rumble in the Jungle, Fight of the Century...etc., so I can definitely see a case made for the era of the 70s. Tough call.

I mostly agree with your posts but Old George was not as good as young George. Old George would not have fought him.

[roberto duran legend]

Right here and now,this is the best era ever ,stacked with legendary fighters, Wlad will have to
be on his toes to keep his crown.

[mikeeod]

Probably blasphemy, but I give a slight edge to the heavyweights of the 90's. That is a tough class to beat with Foreman (I feel he was better at this point than during his prime, much smarter), Riddick Bowe, Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield, Tommy Morrison (not great but very exciting and big puncher), Razor Ruddock (see Morrison but with a better chin), Ray Mercer (inconsistent and lazy at times but great when he was on as in his fights vs. Witherspoon, Evander, Lennox and Morrison), Michael Moorer and Tyson coming back. Guys like Frank Bruno, Bruce Seldon, Bert Cooper, Phil Jackson, Tony Tucker, Herbie Hide and Alex Stewart were solid fighters with good skill.

Tough to beat ATGs like Ali, Frazier and Foreman with guys like Bonavena, Chuvalo, Quarry, Shavers, Patterson, Moore...etc., but I just feel like the guys in the 90s had slightly more depth. Boxing was slightly bigger on a global scale with Thrilla in Manilla, Rumble in the Jungle, Fight of the Century...etc., so I can definitely see a case made for the era of the 70s. Tough call.

I mostly agree with your posts but Old George was not as good as young George. Old George would not have fought him.

I see your point n truthfully go back and forth on it. Young George never loses to Morrison and destroys Moorer much sooner. That being said, if that version of Ali tries the rope a dope, old George paces himself better and wins the decision.

One of my all time dream fights, more than Foreman vs a Tyson or Ali vs Tyson is Evander vs young Foreman. Style match up for that one would phenomenal and I honestly think Evander stops George late in a ridiculous war. Apologize for going off topic...