People, and fighters will rise to do whatever they MUST do.

Were our grandparents who fought in WW II and worked in the factories tougher than us ?

Hell yes.

Was more demanded of them to survive ? Yes.

Same with boxing. A lot more was DEMANDED of them, REQUIRED, there was no choice in the matter. Title Fights were 15 rounds, gloves had less padding, purses were A LOT less, etc.

But by the same token, fighters today by and large, are physically bigger, faster, stronger, and more talented than many of the fighters of by gone eras.

I mean guys like Gene Fullmer and Carmen Basillo were warriors, but they lacked defense and great boxing skill that guys like Oscar Delahoya, Pernell Whitaker, Sugar Shane Mosley, Sergio Martinez have today.