Why have recent boxing decades for the heavyweight division been so much weaker compared to previous eras?
When looking at the 60s, 70s 80s and 90s in the heavyweight division, the pool of talent was so much more obvious and clear cut.
That being said, although this decade from 2010-2019 is in my opinion stronger than the one from 2000-2009, on the whole I feel that both decades have been weaker than others prior to it.
How have America for example, a nation who has produced some of the greatest heavyweights to grace this earth, including the likes of Liston, Ali, Frazier, Foreman, Holmes, Tyson, Holyfield, Bowe etc gone to producing fighters like Wilder, Breazeale, Guinn, McCline, Barrett, Whitaker, Austin etc who are not in the same league. Even the likes of the 'second rate' fighters compared to the renowned 'greats' like Young, Tubbs, Biggs, Page, Tate, Weaver, Witherspoon, Tucker, Douglas and McCall had more talent that the crop from 2000 to the current day.
Why is this? Is it just an unfortunate coincidence or is it due to the fact that more money is offered in other sports now at a less costly risk to an athlete's health? Would love to know opinions on this!
What's happened to heavyweight boxing?
Re: What's happened to heavyweight boxing?
There just can't be the same picture all time. The scene is changing. In the 00s there was a lack of remarkable talents. However, the 80s are also sometimes considered to be not so strong. At least 80s' two neighboring eras are much stronger. Actually even Joe Louis' era at some point provided not the best opposition for Louis. And today's era looks pretty decent. Maybe Wilder is disgracing it for some extent, but at least he finally faced Ortiz and won.