Ron Lyle and Sonny Liston started boxing in prison

[klip11]

Ron Lyle was doing time back in the 60s for 2nd degree murder. He started boxing while in prison and turned pro upon his release. He was a top contender in the 1970s and was 6'3 220 pounds and was known as a hard puncher. He knocked out Ernie Shavers and floored George Foreman multiple times. He fought Muhammad Ali but was stopped.



Sonny Liston was doing time for armed robbery when he started boxing. He became the prison boxing champion and after he was released, won the National Golden Gloves tournament. He turned pro in 1953 or 1954. He was 6'1 212 pounds in his prime and was one of the hardest punchers ever seen in the heavyweight division. In 1962, he won the heavyweight championship of the world by knocking out the Reigning Champion, Floyd Patterson in one round.




In 1963, Liston KO'd Floyd Patterson in 1 round in the rematch.

 

[The Grinch]

It was way easier to become a "pro boxer“ back then, less competition than today

 

[klip11]

@BrutalMogger
@try2beme
@Xangsane
@Trilogy

 

[klip11]

It was way easier to become a "pro boxer“ back then, less competition than today

Wdym? Back then, there were only 8 weight classes and one champion per weight class and fighters fought more often. Today, there's a million weight classes and multiple belts per weight class, fighters fight once a year and pick and choose opponents.

 

[The Grinch]

Wdym? Back then

Less fighters = less competition

Nowadays you have 10 times the amount of fighters competing in one weight class, so you have to be even better in order to make it and assert yourself against all of them

 

[klip11]

Less fighters = less competition

Nowadays you have 10 times the amount of fighters competing in one weight class, so you have to be even better in order to make it and assert yourself against all of them

Fighters back then were more skilled overall. The talent pool was deeper back then