Why was this era the “Golden Age of Boxing”? A seven minute fights not much of a fight. Sure, Foreman punched hard, so did Mike Tyson.
Why was boxing almost absent from sports coverage throughout the decade of the 00’s when Wladimir and Vassily Klitsco dominated it. Is boxing only “golden” when Americans dominate it?
The same could be asked bout the 1990s, and Lenox Lewis’s domination of the sport in that decade.
Lewis was a three-time heavyweight champion, same as Ali. Lewis was a Olympic Gold Medalist, same as Ali. His combined three reigns tally 3086 days, one of the longest in boxing history. Lewis successfully defended his heavyweight title 14 times. Wladimir Klitsco successfully defended 23 times.
Frasier won 10 defenses. Foreman 5.
I’m starting to think as Boomers fade from the scene there is going to be a lot of shuffling on the “best heavyweights” list. Who knows, Ali might even end up under Joe Louis.
I know I’m in the minority on this. Maybe it’s like music: the era of three-channel TV meant there could be bigger stars than the era of 10 million YouTube channels. What music event will ever equal the Beatles in Shea Stadium for novelty and massive press coverage?
But Boxing has a longer history, in both directions, than Classic Rock. So, it’s not exactly the same.
Maybe it’s all down to “fighters who had fights called by Howard Cosell”?
I think it had a lot to do with the radio fights. Back then you listened and so the announcers carried the fights sometimes better than the boxers did
It’s amazing how television had destroyed many great sports
Look at the major league sports, television had caused them to change the rules to get better audiences.
I’ll add Tyson in the greats, but there was a time of no name champions.
Middle weights stated getting better play ad then the boxing groups split up and like wresting were different champions at the same time
I won’t disagree that every generation sees things differently, and I’m 64 do my heroes were the ones of the 60d and the 70 s while I was growing up
Howard Cosell:
“and DOWN goes Frasier”
Probably one of the most famous sports quotes ever. I believe it was from the second Ali/Frasier fight, The Thriller in Manila or was it The Rumble in Jungle.
Last year when all the present live sports were cancelled because of covid ESPN had all the Ali/Fraser fights on TV one week.
Then they had all of the Tyson fights. I think they all might have had some the Sugar Ray Leonard fights too.
This was really the golden age of boxing.
Several factors contribute to this designation.
First, the heavyweight division was red-hot during the decade with a deep pool of talented challengers to go along with four supremely talented champions during the decade: Frazier, Foreman, Ali, and Holmes.
Second, the decade held probably the greatest matchup in boxing history. A "fight of the century" that actually lived up to its billing. How often are you going to have two undefeated heavyweights still in their primes each with a valid claim to THE legitimate heavyweight title? This fight was so big that it drew in millions of non-boxing fans who then continued to follow boxing for several years after that.
Boxing had an identifiable spokesperson during this decade in the charismatic Muhammad Ali who attracted attention in all that he did. Boxing also had other personalities in the decade that had more regionalized but still fanatical followings: Roberto Duran in the Latin World, Carlos Monzon in South American (and later Europe), and Rueben Olivares in Mexico.
Once people were attracted to the sport, the quality of the competition and the performers was outstanding in all the weight classes during the 1970s. These guys are in serious contention for the title of GOAT in their weight classes: heavyweight - Ali and Foreman, light-heavyweight - Bob Foster, middleweight - Carlos Monzon, super welterweight - Antonio Cervantes, lightweight - Roberto Duran, junior lightweight - Alexis Arguello, featherweight - Eder Jofre (although passed his best days), super bantamweight - Wilfredo Gomez, bantamweight - Rueben Olivares and Carlos Zarate.
Is boxing only “golden” when Americans dominate it?
Probably. It is just a fact that boxing needs the American fanbase and media to flourish. Is it wrong for Americans to cheer for Americans when every other country likewise cheers for its local hero? There is a reason that almost all the great fighters come to the U.S. for their big fights.
Why was boxing almost absent from sports coverage throughout the decade of the 00’s when Wladimir and Vassily Klitsco dominated it...The same could be asked bout the 1990s, and Lenox Lewis’s domination of the sport in that decade.
I think all three are underappreciated by American fight fans. I don't think that any of the three would have beaten a primetime Ali or a primetime Tyson, though.
I’m starting to think as Boomers fade from the scene there is going to be a lot of shuffling on the “best heavyweights” list. Who knows, Ali might even end up under Joe Louis.
Best heavyweight list will always be in flux. As time rolls on, more candidates have to be added to the list, necessitating that some get shuffled out. The one "modern" heavyweight that I think time will be favorable to is Evander Holyfield. Ali is probably rated above Joe Louis more often than not but I don't think it is frequent enough to say that it is the consensus. Personally, if the two fought three times, I think Ali wins the first, Louis the second (as he was always better in rematches) and third is truly a tossup (and if you forced me to make a call, I would say Ali by a split decision but I'd say it without much confidence).
It was the Golden Age of Boxing because you had some of the greatest fighters ever all near their prime and fighting each other. Foreman, Ali and Frazier all would have been the best of their era had they not shared an era. Lewis just didn’t face that competition.
By the 00s you have the problem of which belt, too many governing bodies, no more certainty. We are no longer in a situation for casual fans or non-fans to know who the heavy weight champion is. And again the talent pool just isn’t there.