As I get older, do more research, see more boxing, watch more footage, read more books and engage in ongoing conversations with other enthusiastic boxing fans, my perspective on several fighters has really, really changed. In no order, here are some of them.
Billy Conn-
Old View-Exciting light heavy who had one great night against Joe Louis but was rated too high for personality/color reasons.
New View-A spectacularly fast and slick light heavyweight and an amazing ring general. Beat the best middles and light heavies of his day repeatedly. Would be a handful for any light heavy ever.
Oscar de La Hoya-
Old View-Excellent but not great fighter who lost his biggest fights and had stamina issues.
New View-When we see the kind of roster the protected fighters of the last decade has fought, one now sees Oscar as a shining example of how we want our warriors to seek out other warriors, not to pad their records. He defeated an awful lot of very good fighters. I can't quite call him all-time great (but I'm still thinking), how about exemplary?
Ezzard Charles-Old View-Great fighter, but not the equal of say an Archie Moore.
New View. Old View is a MORON! Charles had multiple wins over Burley, Moore, Maxim, Bivins, Yarosz, Lloyd Marshall, Joe Walcott etc. It is one of boxing's truly astonishing resumes. One of the ten best fighters of all-time in my view.
Roy Jones-Old View-The greatest fighter of the last twenty years. An unprecedented combination of speed and power.
First New View-Roy's technique was terrible, he fought very limited competition and he was never a warrior. It is easy to look flashy against one's athletic inferiors, but it doesn't mean much. Not a top 50 all-timer.
New, New View-The more you look at who Roy beat, the better his resume is. Nobody really beat him before he was 35 and he showed how he came off disappointment against Montell Griffin in one glorious round. Father Time is what got Roy. Tarver didn't. A top 50 all-timer.
Alexis Arguello-Old View-One of boxing's all-time greats, a top 20 kind of guy.
New View-He's one of my favorite fighters and he IS an all-time great. But the more I look at his body of work and how he could get befuddled by gifted boxers, Alexis probably belongs in the 30-40 range. I still love the guy. But losses to Villomar Frernandez and Ernesto Marcel count too.
Mike Tyson-Old View-A very good heavy who couldn't handle tall fighters very well, was made to look ordinary by journeymen and geeze his worshippers are annoying! New View-While the above is all true, he should be viewed as a glorious comet. A terrifying ring presence, a top 10-15 heavyweight and deserving HOFer.
Nicolino Locche-Old View-Perhaps the greatest defensive fighter after Wille Pep. An all-time great.
New View-The first statement above may still be true. But he had only a few big wins outside his home country and you wonder about the draws he got at home with Carlos Ortiz and Ismael laguna. A great fighter, but not a top 50 guy.
Tommy Hearns-Old View-A not quite all-time great. Defined more by his losses to Leonard and Hagler than his wins.
New View-Old View is REALLY a MORON! Cuevas, Benitez, Duran, Hill, Schuler, Kinchen, Roldan, Andries, Medal and Randy Shields? Are you kidding me? What a fighter!
Ray Robinson-Old View-Without question the greatest practicioner of the art in history.
New View-As impossible as it sounds? He is still underrated.
Where am I wrong and who have your opinions changed on?
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