BoxRec

It seems that most people think Ali as the best, yet he lost 5 times.

Surely Rocky Marciano should be the best has he was unbeaten in 49 fights

In boxrec top 20 heavies lennox lewis is 18th and only lost twice. How come he is not 2nd, there are on there with losses in the double figures how can this work

It really comes down to who you have fought and how well you did against the competition you faced.

A champion and legend should be some one beyond just statistics, it is about who he faced, was tried by and just how well he reigned for.

I am sure you shall get a great many answers and opinions on it all.

In the case of Marciano, it shows the test of time, when a good champion resists the urge to make a 'come back' or hang inside the ring for that bit to long.

Many could argue that Ali's losses would be 2 had he retired before it got to bad.

Or if Holmes retired after his first Spinks or even second spinks 'loss' his record would have less 'L's on it.

But it is in losing that both these and other men, showed there character by coming back as champions. Losing is a phase of winning.

But these days fighters fight less often, is that because of increased power and risk of injury.

Some old fighters fought over 100 times they must have fought every month. How would Dempsey and Johnson do against modern day greats like Hide

Boxing these days is more complicated. They make more money for less. More champions appear.

In the past guys were so active because they wanted to eat. Sometimes challengers are rushed to a title fight, most often once they lose or become exposed they have no next step and disappear or retire.

In the old days plenty of top and active guys hang around, what else were they going to do ?

Boxing also was often on free to air TV, pretty regular on in each city where the public would go to watch.

Here in Adelaide for example we have no regualr pro boxing matches and I am sure it is the same in other cities. Boxing is becoming a niche sport in many parts of the world where it once was a staple.

Robinson wrote:Boxing these days is more complicated. They make more money for less. More champions appear.

In the past guys were so active because they wanted to eat. Sometimes challengers are rushed to a title fight, most often once they lose or become exposed they have no next step and disappear or retire.

In the old days plenty of top and active guys hang around, what else were they going to do ?

Boxing also was often on free to air TV, pretty regular on in each city where the public would go to watch.

Here in Adelaide for example we have no regualr pro boxing matches and I am sure it is the same in other cities. Boxing is becoming a niche sport in many parts of the world where it once was a staple.

thats write there is alot more money in professional sports now lestening the need to fight so often

plopeater wrote:But these days fighters fight less often, is that because of increased power and risk of injury.

Some old fighters fought over 100 times they must have fought every month. How would Dempsey and Johnson do against modern day greats like Hide

Again, Hide is not a modern day great

How do you think your man hide would do against other modern HW greats.