Is this a Golden-Era of talent?

[Ricky_]

Perhaps one for the historians, as my knowledge is somewhat thin in eras prior to the 90's.

In no particular order:

Lomachenko
Rigondeaux
Kovalev
Crawford
Golovkin
Ward
Spence
Canelo
Roman Gonzalez
Mikey Garcia

That's a list of 10 incredible fighters.

Imo, in my time following this sport, this is the deepest talent pool at the pinnacle of the sport that there has been.

[Covfefe]

I think so, add to that that pretty much any big fight around the globe is screened here on some channel does mark this out as a golden era, it has been for a while too. Boxing, in this country at least, seems as big as it has been for twenty years.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

No, it's one of the most sparse.

[Covfefe]

No, it's one of the most sparse.

Than the early 2000s?

Maybe I'm thinking exclusively in British terms but the early to mid 2000s was a very barren apart from Hatton.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

No, it's one of the most sparse.

Than the early 2000s?

Maybe I'm thinking exclusively in British terms but the early to mid 2000s was a very barren apart from Hatton.

I wouldn't consider the early 2000's a golden era either. But yeah, better than now. It's a golden era for the UK now, no question.

[dagilechia]

i think we should add Joshua, Usyk and maybe Inoue too - yes it seems to be a good era right now IMO

[Boxing Prospect]

A golden Era for Japan and the UK, for America we're on a downswing...

[Covfefe]

Despite all the coverage we get now I do miss the small hall shows we used to get on Friday nights on sky. Some crackers on there over the years.

Moore-Macklin was a classic. A few of Moore's fights were great on there too.

[gilgamesh]

A golden Era for Japan and the UK, for America we're on a downswing...

Eastern Europe is doing well right now too.

[Tanzio]

A golden Era for Japan and the UK, for America we're on a downswing...

I disagree. I think that it has swooned and it is now recovering.

[dagilechia]

A golden Era for Japan and the UK, for America we're on a downswing...

I disagree. I think that it has swooned and it is now recovering.

i agree with you. it is a golden era especially for the Eastern Europeans

[Boxing Prospect]

A golden Era for Japan and the UK, for America we're on a downswing...

I disagree. I think that it has swooned and it is now recovering.

With which bit?
The UK scene which has the likes of Kelly, Taylor, Yarde breaking through
Or the Japanese which has Higa, Kyoguchi, Inoue, Ioka, Higa, Ken Shiro, Tanaka and Maruta?

[gilgamesh]

The guys at the very top are usually always really good in any era, but the contender pool is a hell of a lot more shallow than it used to be, and the road to a World title used to be a hell of a lot more difficult to traverse.

Still is, if you pick up a few losses early in your career, but if you got a shiny, pretty record you quickly get rushed into World Title talks.

[Jip]

Perhaps one for the historians, as my knowledge is somewhat thin in eras prior to the 90's.

In no particular order:

Lomachenko
Rigondeaux
Kovalev
Crawford
Golovkin
Ward
Spence
Canelo
Roman Gonzalez
Mikey Garcia

That's a list of 10 incredible fighters.

Imo, in my time following this sport, this is the deepest talent pool at the pinnacle of the sport that there has been.

90s

Tyson
Holyfield
Lewis
Gomez
Jones Jr
Toney
Hopkins
Trinidad
Hoya
Vargas
Mosley
Barrera
Morales
Hamed
Lopez

2010-2010 is very good, but not phenomenal like in the 90s

[Ricky_]

A golden Era for Japan and the UK, for America we're on a downswing...

I disagree. I think that it has swooned and it is now recovering.

4 of the top 10 are American.

[Ricky_]

No, it's one of the most sparse.

In what era do you think you would find a stronger top 10 than currently?

[SaadOffTheDeck]

No, it's one of the most sparse.

In what era do you think you would find a stronger top 10 than currently?

All of them? I mean i'd have to do more research than I care too and obviously every division wouldn't be weaker but I see less accomplished Boxers than I ever have.

[Ricky_]

No, it's one of the most sparse.

In what era do you think you would find a stronger top 10 than currently?

All of them? I mean i'd have to do more research than I care too and obviously every division wouldn't be weaker but I see less accomplished Boxers than I ever have.

My bad - i should have been more specific - i was talking specifically of the fighters at the top, rather than broadly speaking of the talent across the sport.

So the current top 10 (in no particular order) in my OP.

Jip posted a p4p list from the 90's that included Tyson Lewis Rjj Barrerra etc.

[Boxing Prospect]

A golden Era for Japan and the UK, for America we're on a downswing...

I disagree. I think that it has swooned and it is now recovering.

4 of the top 10 are American.

When usually it's more...

[SaadOffTheDeck]

In what era do you think you would find a stronger top 10 than currently?

All of them? I mean i'd have to do more research than I care too and obviously every division wouldn't be weaker but I see less accomplished Boxers than I ever have.

My bad - i should have been more specific - i was talking specifically of the fighters at the top, rather than broadly speaking of the talent across the sport.

So the current top 10 (in no particular order) in my OP.

Jip posted a p4p list from the 90's that included Tyson Lewis Rjj Barrerra etc.

Same answer, but that's more subjective since you're strictly talking about talent. There are some very high caliber fighters now, just not a ton of competition. I remember someone, I think it was JIP, was talking about how all the top guys used to fight. They didn't there was just so many more of them. Though 115 and under is very strong now.

[Ricky_]

I disagree. I think that it has swooned and it is now recovering.

4 of the top 10 are American.

When usually it's more...

America's biggest problem lies in the ams. They just aren't winning the golds, kids want to be like Floyd or Broner rather than Ali or Ward.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

4 of the top 10 are American.

When usually it's more...

America's biggest problem lies in the ams. They just aren't winning the golds, kids want to be like Floyd or Broner rather than Ali or Ward.

Kids want to be like Mike and many other sports. It's just not a big deal here anymore. They've been overpaid for so long the promoters haven't had to work. They build no more regional draws on the way up and the PBC has been a disaster of major proportions. Instead of drawing in new fans or bringing back the millions that used to be fans, they've just proven why it's not a big sport in America.

[Ricky_]

For reference, BoxRec keeps a record of past RingMag p4p top 10's.

Here are the lists for the 90s:


http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/The_R ... und--1990s

[SaadOffTheDeck]

It's comparable to some of the 10's, but overall it's a much weaker era. That's the thing, dozens of guys could be argued for those spots.

[Ricky_]

It seems the Ring Magazine p4p top 10 is recorded from 1989-present:

1989
Mike Tyson
Julio Cesar Chavez
Pernell Whitaker
Michael Nunn
Antonio Esparragoza
Meldrick Taylor
Azumah Nelson
Raul Perez
Virgil Hill
Marlon Starling



So to compare the top 10 p4p from eras prior to 89 requires a good memory.