The 1970s: A Golden Decade of Boxing

[elmersalsa]

Let's talk about the 1970s decade in boxing. It's unbelievable that this decade is more than 50 years old. Unbelievable! It was a great decade in boxing.

If we talk about the 70s decade, of course the main topic was Muhammad Ali and the heavyweights. Did we gave the heavyweights more attention than anybody else? Of course we did. It was the only weight class that was the most lucrative at the time until the arrival of the great Sugar Ray Leonard.

The 70s decade was mostly dominated by Latin boxers. Since the year 1969, a constellation of great boxers from Latin America arrived since the magnificent Cuban boxer, Jose "Mantequilla" Napoles, became boxing world champion by beating champion Curtis Cokes. Napoles made boxing history to become the first boxer of Hispanic language or heritage to be named The Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year.

By 1976, American boxing without the heavyweights was in decay. The crying of new heroes in the lower weight classes was loud and clear. Only two boxers born in the United States where boxing world champions: Muhammad Ali (of course) at heavyweight and Danny "Little Red" Lopez at featherweight. The majority of the rest of the world champions? Were Latin boxers.

Latin America reached at its peak in this decade, forming an army of great boxers like Napoles (Cuba/Mexico), and Mexican greats like Ruben Olivares Miguel Canto, Pipino Cuevas, Carlos Zarate, Alfonso Zamora, Lupe Pintor, Rafael Herrera, and Chucho Castillo. Puerto Rican greats like Wilfred Benitez, Wilfredo "Bazooka" Gomez, Samuel Serrano, Esteban De Jesus and Alfredo Escalera. Of that group, Benitez became the youngest champion in boxing history at the tender age of 17 in March '76. And the first Latin boxer to secure a million dollar payday in '79.

Alexis Arguello became the first boxing world champion of Nicaragua. As well as Antonio Cervantes of Colombia.

In that decade, Ali at heavyweight, Gomez at super bantamweight, became the greatest boxers ever in their respective divisions. But two of the best of the decade were truly remarkable. They became the best ever in their respective weight classes. They were Carlos Monzon of Argentina at middleweight and at lightweight, the great and incomparable Roberto Duran of Panama.

In the Far East, Japan, Thailand and South Korea produced fantastic champions. Japan gave us the magnificent Masao Ohba, Kuniaki Shibata, Yoko Gushiken, Guts Itshimatsu and Koichi Wajima. Thailand gave us the fantastic Chartchai Chionoi and a Thai Boxing champion named Saensak Muagsurin. He became world boxing champion with only 3 professional fights! And South Korea gave us Soo Wang Hong and Chan Hee Park.

But, American boxing had hope when in 1976, they created perhaps, the greatest Olympic boxing team in history comprised by the brothers Leon and Michael Spinks, Leo Randolph, Howard Davis and great Sugar Ray Leonard, who in the 80s, became the greatest fighter of that decade.

Let's talk about this magnificent era of boxing. Who do you like? What was your favorite fighter and fight? And who really was the best fighter of the 70s. Any anecdotal stories of the 70s boxing scene. And what was really like where boxing was king on free TV

[gilgamesh]

Oh to have been alive in the Era when all the biggest names, and biggest fights were on Free network Television. It really was a Golden Age for the Sport.

The Welterweights were great with the Sugar Man coming in toward the end of the decade, and many other Legends operating there in the meantime.

The reign of Carlos Monzon one of the all time most dominant Middleweight Champions was still in full effect throughout most of the decade, and a fine reign it was.

The reign of Roberto Duran one of the all time greatest Lightweight Champions who moved up to defeat Sugar Ray Leonard in one of the last great fights of the decade.

You had the thrilling action of Matthew Saad Muhammad and Danny "Little Red" Lopez in absolutely unforgettable wars.

And oh just...the Greatest Heavyweight division of all time. That's all. In the 1970's the Heavyweight Champions were Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Muhammad Ali and finally Larry Holmes. I mean...Holy sh*t. Talk about a Murderers Row.

[elmersalsa]

Talking about the 70s decade, here were the best fighters of their respective weight classes:

Heavyweight: Muhammad Ali (USA)
Light-Heavyweight: Bob Foster (USA)
Middleweight: Carlos Monzon (Argentina)
Jr. Middleweight: Koichi Wajima (Japan)
Welterweight: Jose "Mantequilla" Napoles (Cuba/Mexico)
Jr. Welterweight: Antonio Cervantes (Colombia)
Lightweight: Roberto Duran (Panama)
Jr. Lightweight: Alexis Arguello (Nicaragua)
Featherweight: Danny "Little Red" Lopez (USA)
Super Bantamweight: Wilfredo "Bazooka" Gomez (Puerto Rico)
Bantamweight: Carlos Zarate (Mexico)
Flyweight: Miguel Canto (Mexico)
Jr. Flyweight: Yoko Gushiken (Japan)

This is a great line of fine world champions!

[gilgamesh]

I believe Canto still is tied for most title defenses at his weight class for title defenses isn't he?

I know Bazooka Gomez has a ridiculously dominant title reign at 122

[elmersalsa]

Talking about the 70s decade, here were the best fighters of their respective weight classes:

Heavyweight: Muhammad Ali (USA)
Light-Heavyweight: Bob Foster (USA)
Middleweight: Carlos Monzon (Argentina)
Jr. Middleweight: Koichi Wajima (Japan)
Welterweight: Jose "Mantequilla" Napoles (Cuba/Mexico)
Jr. Welterweight: Antonio Cervantes (Colombia)
Lightweight: Roberto Duran (Panama)
Jr. Lightweight: Alexis Arguello (Nicaragua)
Featherweight: Danny "Little Red" Lopez (USA)
Super Bantamweight: Wilfredo "Bazooka" Gomez (Puerto Rico)
Bantamweight: Carlos Zarate (Mexico)
Flyweight: Miguel Canto (Mexico)
Jr. Flyweight: Yoko Gushiken (Japan)

This is a great line of fine world champions!

Of the 13 best fighters of that decade, 8 were from Latin America. It's a testament of total dominance from the countries of Hispanic countries.

[elmersalsa]

I believe Canto still is tied for most title defenses at his weight class for title defenses isn't he?

I know Bazooka Gomez has a ridiculously dominant title reign at 122

Miguel Canto did 14 title defenses at flyweight. I still think that is an all-time record for the division. Canto is definitely top 100 pound per pound great boxer in my view. He is one of the top 5 greatest flyweight boxers like Jimmy Wilde, Pascual Perez, Pancho Villa and Fidel La Barba.

[elmersalsa]

Wilfredo "Bazooka" Gomez had 17 title defenses, all won by knockout. I think that GGG got the record now with 18 consecutive title defenses won all by knockout in the middleweight class.

[gilgamesh]

I believe Canto still is tied for most title defenses at his weight class for title defenses isn't he?

I know Bazooka Gomez has a ridiculously dominant title reign at 122

Miguel Canto did 14 title defenses at flyweight. I still think that is an all-time record for the division. Canto is definitely top 100 pound per pound great boxer in my view. He is one of the top 5 greatest flyweight boxers like Jimmy Wilde, Pascual Perez, Pancho Villa and Fidel La Barba.

In the modern era Chocolatito wasn't too shabby either. He didn't stick at Flyweight super long, but it feels like he could've held his own with any fighter in that weight range ever.

[elmersalsa]

Smokin' Joe Frazier was the Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year in 1967, 1970 and 1971

[elmersalsa]

Here's a clip of Smokin' Joe Frazier capturing the Undisputed World Heavyweight Crown against WBA World Champion Jimmy Ellis.

[gilgamesh]

I'd say it was Disputed until he beat Muhammad Ali personally, but he definitely unified his Title, and solidified his reign with the Jimmy Ellis win. It's a good thing for Joe's legacy that he won that 1st bout with Ali honestly, because if Ali had comeback and beaten the guy who became Champ in his absence then Frazier would've just kinda been written off as a guy who was never a True Heavyweight Champion, he was just holding it for Ali.

Thankfully for Frazier that was not the case. He DID beat Ali, and proved himself a Heavyweight Great in the process.

[elmersalsa]

I'd say it was Disputed until he beat Muhammad Ali personally, but he definitely unified his Title, and solidified his reign with the Jimmy Ellis win. It's a good thing for Joe's legacy that he won that 1st bout with Ali honestly, because if Ali had comeback and beaten the guy who became Champ in his absence then Frazier would've just kinda been written off as a guy who was never a True Heavyweight Champion, he was just holding it for Ali.

Thankfully for Frazier that was not the case. He DID beat Ali, and proved himself a Heavyweight Great in the process.

Ali vs Frazier I was the greatest fight of all-time. It solidified Smokin' Joe Frazier as one of the top ten all-time heavyweights and a top 50 pound per pound all-time great fighter. He really put it on him.

[elmersalsa]

George Foreman stepped into the top 10 in the heavyweight rankings in August 4, 1970 when he stopped hard-rocked chinned George Chuvalo of Canada in only 4 rounds

[Expug]

There were great champions back then of course.
There were also a ton of contenders and even guys who never really made it into the top five who were entertaining and dangerous. A tough out for anyone.
It was a different world. Boxing overall was huge.
We could list many terrific fighters who played a big role in the popularity.
In terms of nationalistic pride , boxing, in my memory was , at least here, more of an ethnic pride thing.
You were Irish, Italian, Mexican, Puerto Rican, Polish, etc.
The nationalistic , country pride thing was in the amateurs. Olympics, etc.
pros it was different, although here, in the amateurs, guys also wore their ethnicity on their sleeve.

[scorpio83]

George Foreman stepped into the top 10 in the heavyweight rankings in August 4, 1970 when he stopped hard-rocked chinned George Chuvalo of Canada in only 4 rounds

Actually Elmer, Foreman stopped Chuvalo in 3 rounds not 4, but I get your point how great boxings in the 1970s were.

[BroughtonRulesRefuge]

- Ali wrote to Nat saying he was vacating his title so his sparmate Ellis could fight Frazier for it

As I recall, the WBA had already stripped Ali for rematching Liston and held a tourney that Ellis won, so Frazier won the WBA that Boxrec in a dispute with the WBA cancels, but also Frazier won the WBC and NYSAC titles...

[Ambling Alp II]

Not what happened. The WBA did strip Ali for fighting Liston in 1965. They declared the winner of the Machen-Terrell fight as the WBA champion. Terrell won. Ali later beat Terrell to get the WBA title back.

Then in 1967, the WBA stripped Ali of the title again. They had an 8-man tournament which Ellis won.
The boxing establishment just loved Ali.

[elmersalsa]

In one of his greatest performances, Smokin' Joe Frazier defended his World Heavyweight Crown against the Light-Heavyweight King, Bob Foster. Foster, a terrific champion at 175lbs and in his complete prime, never had success against the heavyweights, including here with Frazier.

Frazier was too big, too strong and too relentless for the hard-punching great that at 175lbs, he was invincible. At heavyweight, Foster couldn't cope with the Big Dogs power. Frazier decapitated Foster with a terrific left hook, retaining his crown by knockout in 2 rounds.

The fight was on November 18, 1970 in Detroit, MI

[elmersalsa]

By the end of the year 1970, Mexican boxing idols Jose "Mantequilla" Napoles and Ruben Olivares lost their respective world crowns.

Napoles dubiously and mysteriously lost the welter crown to Billy Backus by TKO in 4 rounds in Syracuse, NY in December, and Olivares lost by TKO in the 14th round against Mexican Civil War rival Jesus "Chucho" Castillo in October.

[elmersalsa]

Billy Backus vs Jose "Mantequilla" Napoles fight #1
December 3, 1970
Syracuse, NY



Chucho Castillo vs Ruben Olivares Fight#2
October 16, 1970
Inglewood, CA

[elmersalsa]

Muhammad Ali came back to fight after 3 years in exile in boxing for refusing to fight the Vietnam War because of religious and ethical beliefs.

On October 26, 1970 at the Memorial Auditorium in Atlanta, GA, Ali is back defeating top contender Jerry Quarry by TKO on cuts in 3 rounds.

A question. Was the fight rightfully stopped?

[elmersalsa]

Muhammad Ali vs Jerry Quarry fight #1
October 26, 1970
Municipal Auditorium, Atlanta, GA

[giacomino]

Wilfredo "Bazooka" Gomez had 17 title defenses, all won by knockout. I think that GGG got the record now with 18 consecutive title defenses won all by knockout in the middleweight class.

GGG's first 7-8 "title defenses" were absolute garbage fights. The difference between an era when there were two beltholders and four. Gomez won his title against an established beltholder with a 50-2 record. GGG won his belt against an unknown opponent who finished 41-37 and was knocked out 28 times

[gilgamesh]

Muhammad Ali came back to fight after 3 years in exile in boxing for refusing to fight the Vietnam War because of religious and ethical beliefs.

On October 26, 1970 at the Memorial Auditorium in Atlanta, GA, Ali is back defeating top contender Jerry Quarry by TKO on cuts in 3 rounds.

A question. Was the fight rightfully stopped?

On television honestly it's hard to tell how bad the cut was, but I can't imagine it wasn't pretty severe for them to have called a halt to such a big fight so early.

I've always been of the opinion that Ali should be credited with title defenses against Quarry and Bonavena in 1970, because he was still the TRUE World Heavyweight Champion, never having been beaten for his title, and Quarry and Bonavena were both legitimate contenders, they certainly were not soft comeback opponents.

[Ambling Alp II]

Always remember the following for Ali fights:

If Ali won by decision, it was a bad decision.
If the referee stopped the fight and Ali won by TKO, the referee should not have done so.
If the opponent's trainer stopped the fight, (even if his fighter can no longer see) the fight should not have been stopped.
If the opponent is counted out, the referee counted too fast.