The old timer aficionados (a possible oxymoron) like to hone in on the heavyweights because that division is unlimited regarding size. They assert that bigger is not better and that old timers like Jack Johnson would rampage through the current division. Notwithstanding the coordinated giants of today, these “historians” contend that hard times breed hard men, forgetting of course that Eastern Europe and the global ghettos has been rife with hard times for decades. Their focus has been on the U.S. and their Geritol-based whining has become flat-out tiresome. Comments like,
“…even a blind heavyweight champion in a wheelchair would be lauded as a superman in this era..
Or
“… Welcome to the brave new era of the big and the super-sized and a title belt for one and all. Never mind the lack of talent - feel the muscles, suck up the promo bullshit, learn to recite the current heavyweight ‘champions’ off by heart (careful you don’t forget one of them) and tell yourself you’re having a great time and that your head isn’t really aching.”
“How would [Jack] Johnson have done against today’s heavyweight pretenders? It would be a joke. Jack often toyed with overmatched opponents. During the fight he would talk and wave to ringsiders he knew, or carry on conversations with reporters while hapless opponents tried to hit him. Today he could send out for a full course meal, finish it with one hand, then have a cigar, read the evening paper and follow it with a short nap – and he would still come out the winner! “Bottom line: in my opinion, Jack Johnson is the greatest heavyweight champion of all.”
Are infantile and laced with pejoratives aimed at anyone and anything not historic.
They also whine that “Boxing is dead” but this has been heard even in the very best of times. It’s difficult to keep a good thing down, as it suddenly emerges where it once was previously dormant.
Modernists seldom go after old timers, mostly because they don’t claim to have been at ringside for Harry Greb or Jack Johnson fights. Modernists discuss what they have seen and what they have learned firsthand. Modernists deal with what they can feel and touch; they are realistic.
“…even a blind heavyweight champion in a wheelchair would be lauded as a superman in this era..
Or
“… Welcome to the brave new era of the big and the super-sized and a title belt for one and all. Never mind the lack of talent - feel the muscles, suck up the promo bullshit, learn to recite the current heavyweight ‘champions’ off by heart (careful you don’t forget one of them) and tell yourself you’re having a great time and that your head isn’t really aching.”
“How would [Jack] Johnson have done against today’s heavyweight pretenders? It would be a joke. Jack often toyed with overmatched opponents. During the fight he would talk and wave to ringsiders he knew, or carry on conversations with reporters while hapless opponents tried to hit him. Today he could send out for a full course meal, finish it with one hand, then have a cigar, read the evening paper and follow it with a short nap – and he would still come out the winner! “Bottom line: in my opinion, Jack Johnson is the greatest heavyweight champion of all.”
Are infantile and laced with pejoratives aimed at anyone and anything not historic.
They also whine that “Boxing is dead” but this has been heard even in the very best of times. It’s difficult to keep a good thing down, as it suddenly emerges where it once was previously dormant.
Modernists seldom go after old timers, mostly because they don’t claim to have been at ringside for Harry Greb or Jack Johnson fights. Modernists discuss what they have seen and what they have learned firsthand. Modernists deal with what they can feel and touch; they are realistic.
Days of Whine and Roses
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