Fighters who were crap in the gym, but good come fight night

[cotto20]

Any others?

[PetethePrince]

Originally Posted by Duodenum

In Skehan's biography of Marciano, I read that "Time!" would be called in panic as soon as he started throwing his Suzy Q at Cesar Brion. Another time, Dempsey is supposed to have told Rocky to nail a prospect of his "on the button" if he left himself open, which Marciano did, causing a nasty gash and quickly ending the session.

From what Skehan wrote, the Rock was eager to spar when he first originally began training for the sport, but that his initial enthusiasm backfired quickly. You knew the guy, and I don't know how accurate Skehan's account is, but it gives me the impression that Marciano had to hold back if he was to get any opportunities to spar at all. Skehan also indicated that he could explode in anger when sucker punched, like he briefly did when his kid brother socked him in a Maine exhibition. (Apparently, Peter reminded him in a clinch that he was about to commit fratricide. With a temper like that, I wouldn't be inclined to test him either!)

You're confusing Peter with Louis or better known as 'Sonny'.

[Duodenum]

Originally Posted by PetethePrince

You're confusing Peter with Louis or better known as 'Sonny'.

Probably. (It's been years since I read that biography, borrowed from a friend, so my recall of certain details is admittedly sketchy. Generally, I remember the violent bits.)

[ThinBlack]

Larry Holmes.

[Hookie]

Originally Posted by red cobra

Carlos Monzon was, in his unorthodox training methods, not a "gym warrior". In fact, he thought that was foolishness. He was quoted as saying "young fighters, especially Americans, leave too much of themselves in the gym when they battle in sparring too much, and whenever I talk to a young fighter I tell them they shouldn't do that", and that he "worked only on certain things" when in training, that "the body needs a rest". He also cut down his two pack a day smoking habit to a pack or less while in training (lol). His efforts inside the ring don't need any elaboration from me.

Monzon was the first name I thought of when I saw this thread.

[The Funny Man 7]

Nigel Benn admitted himself that Freddie Pendleton (a lightweight and a .500 level journeyman at the time) used to beat him up so badly in the gym that Benn's headgear would be knocked loose and halfway around his skull after a round or two of sparring.

Granted Pendleton had a reputation for being a beast in the gym, the kind of guy who never performed quite as well under the bright lights, but damn, Nigel was a super middleweight.

[MrBumboclart]

Well Mickey Walker must be one. He couldn't care less about training. There was a clip of him working out on youtube and the apathy was hilarious, he was even dancing to some 'swing' as he hit the bad he was so bored.

Ketchel is another. He saw no competition or excitement in hitting a bag or sparring -- he just loved to fight!!

[Bollox]

Duran once became so enraged because sparring wasn't going so well that he ripped his gloves off and tried hitting anyone and everyone in and around the ring. The entire gym emptied out pretty quickly

[Theron]

Tony Zale definatley

There's a story i read a while back and there was a champion training at the gym Zale was working at and he wanted to pick an easy person to spar with he picked Zale because he was horrible on the heavy bag and looked like it was winning i believe, and then obviously Zale proceeded to beat him in sparring, guess Zale thought it should be a fight...

[Sailor Liston]

Sonny Liston hangin around,dinking and have nicé time with womans

[DDDUUDDDEE]

James Toney... didn't he used to neglect literally everything else in training and just spar non stop?

[Hattons Hook]

Originally Posted by DDDUUDDDEE

James Toney... didn't he used to neglect literally everything else in training and just spar non stop?

Didnt do him any harm to be fair

[DDDUUDDDEE]

Originally Posted by Hattons Hook

Didnt do him any harm to be fair

The body of a god

[tommy the hat]

Ali was a notoriously bad gym fighter.

[slip&counter]

Believe it or not Pernell Whitaker didn't look THAT sensational in the gym. Especially in sparring, many fighters would get the best of him who wouldn't lay a glove on him in an actual bout.