The generational gap between fighters of today and the past
While the boxing world is in a grueling twelve-round fight with COVID-19, the only place fans can see their favorite fighter is social media and it is interesting the conversations one can find them intertwined in.
There has always been a discussion on the difference of fighters from the past (old school) and the current generation’s crop of fighters. Many fans and enthusiasts feel the barrier keep between the two keeps the sport from thriving as much as it could.
Furthermore, it has often been expressed that maybe it is jealousy, given the fact today’s fighters make a boatload of money more than their predecessors. However, the counter-argument has been that today’s fighters don’t show the old school the proper respects, and because of social media, they feel entitled without proving it first.
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Such a conversation on Twitter involved unified welterweight champion Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. (26-0, 21ko), former IBF Junior middleweight champions Ishe “Sugar Shay” Smith (29-11, 12ko) and the man he beat for that title, fellow contender TV series brother Cornelius “K9” Bundrage (36-6, 20ko).
Regardless of who you side with, there are various examples of fighters from different eras having a misunderstanding: former undisputed champions Lennox “The Lion” Lewis and “Iron” Mike Tyson, and today’s top heavyweights former WBC champion Deontay “Bronze Bomber” Wilder and unified champion Anthony “AJ” Joshua. Then there was former pound for pound fighters Floyd “Money” Mayweather and Andre “SOG” Ward.
Boxing has always had a comparison of which era was the most competitive. Could the champions of today be champions in any era?
These are conversations that make the sport great. It is a good tool to help educate more people about the sport.
By: Garrisson Bland
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