Funny how this type of argument (almost) never happens in any other division other than HW. That's because HW is open-ended, and is the only division where an out-of-physical-shape, hard-punching behemoth talks himself into having a puncher's chance against other heavyweights. In every era you have your sprinkling of fat, big-bellied, sometimes over-the-hill wannabes, who have only their huge punch going for them. In HW is where you sometimes get fights where both fighters are afraid to touch each other's chins, for fear of the one-punch KO.

When people start to compare today's HW fighters with yesterday's, the size difference can't be forgotten. Back in Ali's day, 220 was a huge heavyweight. Now it's fairly light. Today's AJ's, Wilder's, Ortiz's, are huge as compared to Ali, Frazier, and others. Lennox and Wlad are better comparisons in size to our current champions. Heights of 6'-6", 6'-7" were unheard of back then. Now they're commonplace. A huge advantage for a HW.

What sets apart eras is the competitiveness of the top fighters. Ali had Frazier, Foreman, Norton, and others. Holmes came around a little later and probably lacked in the competition department. Plus he was a whiner and people didn't like him. Tyson had little competition at first, but had some memorable opponents in Ruddock, Holyfield, and unfortunately for him... Douglas.

Wlad had some good opponents... some bad. His style is what screwed up the division for over a decade. And now, we have competitiveness again..... and the willingness to engage. The great (and confounding) thing about the division is that it's difficult to pick winners with much accuracy sometimes, because any fight can be ended with one haymaker.