80s Heavyweight scene vs 00s Heavyweight scene

[DrDuke]

Those two are quite similar.

In the 80s there were 2 dominant champions: Larry Holmes and Mike Tyson. They both were absolute forces and had no opponent of their level, no one else of ATG level in this division. Holmes actually faced Ken Norton, but it was in the 70s. Tyson already had a threat provided by Holyfield, but Evander became a truly major player in the 90s. Yet in the Holmes era there were some minor belt-holders, while Tyson decided to unify.

In the 00s Holyfield and Tyson were shot, Lewis was still there for a while, but then he retired on top leaving the throne to some minor belt-holders and eventually to Klitschko brothers, who in the result gathered all the belts, what was by the early 2010s though. And obviously Klitschkos didn't face any ATGs in the 00s during their reigns, cause there just were no one of such boxers.

So, what scene seemed to be stronger?

The 80s with top competitors like Tim Witherspoon, Pinklon Thomas, Michael Dokes, Michael Spinks, Bonecrusher Smith, Tony Tucker, Tony Tubbs, Trevor Berbick, Mike Weaver, Gerrie Coetzee, Gerry Cooney, Greg Page, Buster Douglas...

Or the 00s with top competitors like Hasim Rahman, Samuel Peter, John Ruiz, Chris Byrd, Corrie Sanders, Lamon Brewster, Oleg Maskaev, Sultan Ibragimov, Nikolai Valuev, Ruslan Chagaev, Siarhei Liakhovich, David Haye, Shannon Briggs?

[HomicideHenry]

As inconsistent as the 80s Heavyweights were, they were always dangerous. The 2000s guys seemingly would lose and never really recovered. They didn't bounce back as well as the 80s guys could.

[DrDuke]

As inconsistent as the 80s Heavyweights were, they were always dangerous. The 2000s guys seemingly would lose and never really recovered. They didn't bounce back as well as the 80s guys could.

That's the point indeed. The 80s guys were tougher for sure.