Least athletic SUCCESSFUL boxer in history

[Dempsey1238]

I just saying it was his stance, and foot work that made the Rock slow in the ring. He needed to brace his feet, get the footwork NEEDED , and powerful legs to get that knockout power going. If Ali could learn how to do that, he would be a powerful puncher. Most of the power punchers outside of Dempsey or Tyson were pretty slow on foot in regards to heavyweights. Louis, Marciano, and even Foreman were pretty slow on foot.

[Seamus]

Originally Posted by cross_trainer

intelligence, skill, heart, or other similar factors.

as vague as these supposedly "unathletic" features are, I find them very protean to the concept of what is athletic. skill is only practiced by those who are blessed with the ability to harness their physical components best, heart is often merely a misnomer for stamina and recuperative skills... which leaves us with the amorphous "other factors."

the term athletic is entirely too vague which is just where it is prefered by those who want argue it in a vacuum.

[Marciano Frazier]

Originally Posted by tays001

he wasn't very nimble on his feet could he of competed in football , basketball , track, base ball and hockey ? no and he failed at base ball

No, you're dead wrong. Marciano didn't make it to the Major Leagues in baseball(like 99.9% of all players who aspire to make it there), but he was one of the absolute best in his region and a local hero; he only got to the Major League try-outs because he was considered to have a serious chance at being a Major League player. Not only that, but he was an all-start linebacker in football and ran a record touchdown in his local stadium. Marciano was a very athletic guy.

[Senya13]

Carlos Monzon

[NickHudson]

i think it would be fair to say that strength, speed and stamina are 'pure' athletic qualities that translate across sports.

are there any boxers that have been succesful, despite deficiencies in one or more of these qualities?

tony tubbs is a good one, also buster mathis senior.

Originally Posted by Seamus

He was one of the most athletic, a three sport guy in HS, who got a tryout in the majors, who had more stamina than damn near any heavy or cruiser who ever lived, and was as strong as an ox. What more do you want?

Someone, please give me an absolute definition of athletic? Is it posing and preening with cut muscles while you can't deliver a basic combo or fall at the first jab?

The term "athletic" or its horrible counterpart "athleticism" can not be graded in a vacuum. They need to be judged within the context of an athletic endeavor. Thus, any legit World Champion is extremely athletic by definition; he excels at the top level in an athletic forum. If you want to talk about guys who had skills in more than just boxing, that is different. But proficiency in basketball or baseball or rugby does not translate into being better boxer.

[Lacyace]

Joe Frazier

[fists of fury]

Maybe Tommy Burns? I'm not that familiar with the guy, but I can't recall ever reading anything where he was praised for his athletic prowess.

[cross_trainer]

Originally Posted by MexicanJew

This question is an Oxymoron. It is the equivalent of asking what was the worst team to ever win the Superbowl. Or what was the worst athlete to win a gold medal in the olympics. No champion can be a success without some degree of athletic prowess. Maybe some had more than others, but they would not have reached the level that did if they had lacked athletic ability

But "Worst team ever to win the superbowl" is not an oxymoron. Of all of the teams that ever played in the superbowl and won, one is bound to be worse than the others.

[cross_trainer]

Originally Posted by Seamus

as vague as these supposedly "unathletic" features are, I find them very protean to the concept of what is athletic. skill is only practiced by those who are blessed with the ability to harness their physical components best, heart is often merely a misnomer for stamina and recuperative skills... which leaves us with the amorphous "other factors."

the term athletic is entirely too vague which is just where it is prefered by those who want argue it in a vacuum.

I'm referring to heart as determination to win, rather than a simple physical ability to sustain punishment. And skill, although I admit that it requires coordination, is more a function of one's ability to grasp how "it's all supposed to work" and practice diligently.

Athleticism can be defined. One's raw physical abilities--reflex, stamina, speed, power, strength--are generally essential to winning in sports. It would be hard to argue that a guy with blazing reflexes, a national-level 100 meter dash time, powerlifting score, Olympic lifting poundage, and iron man level abilities in marathons would not do well in sports. But boxing is a bit different--it's a skill sport where the fastest, strongest, and otherwise genetically gifted often lose to the fighters who can simply figure out their opponent's style better...as canny old Archie Moore would agree.

[OLD FOGEY]

Originally Posted by cross_trainer

I'm referring to heart as determination to win, rather than a simple physical ability to sustain punishment. And skill, although I admit that it requires coordination, is more a function of one's ability to grasp how "it's all supposed to work" and practice diligently.

Athleticism can be defined. One's raw physical abilities--reflex, stamina, speed, power, strength--are generally essential to winning in sports. It would be hard to argue that a guy with blazing reflexes, a national-level 100 meter dash time, powerlifting score, Olympic lifting poundage, and iron man level abilities in marathons would not do well in sports. But boxing is a bit different--it's a skill sport where the fastest, strongest, and otherwise genetically gifted often lose to the fighters who can simply figure out their opponent's style better...as canny old Archie Moore would agree.

Who in your judgement is the poorest athlete to become heavyweight champion?

And the best?

[cross_trainer]

Originally Posted by OLD FOGEY

Who in your judgement is the poorest athlete to become heavyweight champion?

And the best?

Hmm...


Poorest: Jersey Joe Walcott (at the age he was when he acquired the championship...he relied more on skill and weird rhythm than athleticism)

Best: James J. Jeffries

[mcvey]

Originally Posted by cross_trainer

Who is it?

Tony Galento fought for the Heavyweight title and floored ATG Joe Louis,will that do?

[mcvey]

Originally Posted by mcvey

Tony Galento fought for the Heavyweight title and floored ATG Joe Louis,will that do?

Willie Meehan fat and light hitting gave Dempsey fits.

[Darthmage]

Originally Posted by cross_trainer

A guy without exceptional physical gifts....without particularly amazing natural reflexes, stamina, "chin", power, or speed, who compensates with boxing intelligence, skill, heart, or other similar factors.

I was going to say John Ruiz but then again he compensated with things like... hugging so there goes that idea.

[TBooze]

Least athletic SUCCESSFUL boxer in history

His name is Joe Grimm and he feared no man.