TO SUMMARISE
The times they are a-changin’
ACCORDING to Boxrec, there are approximately 21,000 active professional boxers in the world, and while that seems plenty, the level of activity is miles away from that of the last century. Back in the early 1900s to the late 1950s, there was a different level of motive and opportunity. Events such as two world wars and economic depression meant that for much of that time even the ‘affluent’ world saw hardship and financial necessity pushing people into boxing. The rewards were low, but that also meant that boxing shows were not expensive entertainment. Promoting as often as possible and paying as little as possible was the strategy and, in turn, presented the need and the opportunity for boxers at all levels to fight often.
Today it is almost unheard of for a world-rated fighter to compete 10 times in a year, but when Sugar Ray Robinson won the welter crown in December 1946, it was in his 16th fight of that year. He continued a high level of activity, such that when he lost his middleweight belt to Randy Turpin it was in his seventh bout in two months. We will never see that level of activity again, nor will we see unbeaten runs the size of those on the previous pages – many of which were plotted through the most dangerous waters imaginable.