Assuming you are correct, if SRR was ahead of his time physically "possibly due to genetic advantages", then wouldn't that in itself make him extraordinary. Is RJJ not extraordinary because he is also physically ahead of his time(in his prime)? Surely man should right the wrong of nature, and set this genetic anomaly straight. lol Like a handicap to help out the slower horse. I prefer your stance that the strong(advantaged) should unapologetically dominate the weak(disadvantaged). Unless of course you were being facetious.
Roy Keane did, you're right. I think Wayne Rooney boxed as an amateur too, don't know what sort of level he fought at, though.
Not really. I'd never seen a fighter literally on a dead run away from an opponent. And Peterson isn't even all that big a hitter. You could make a case that the other 2 ran for longer, but when Khan decided he needed to run, he flat out ran. Literally.
Right because that explosive power and speed is something common in boxing. Just go ahead and slap yourself and get it over with. atsch
I feel SRR was ahead by coming in at Welter, big without the need of crude draining...Genetic could be that his body'. Just built that way. Today big guys can fight at lower weights due to advances in S & C... So SRR was a big a guy who was able to fight with full stamina I find it impressive, but I feel RJJ was gifted by amazing reflexes and speed at his weight that can't be replicated...even with modern S & C...maybe in the future RJJ select genes can be used, but the recipient must have RJJ same mindset & ring experience for it to workk RJJ lost because Koreans had a cultural need for a Gold Medal. All cultures are influenced by old females and weak males...which feeds irrationality
I think folks already made mention but we need to narrow down the definition of athletic to a solid definition as it can get kinda granular. I would lump fighters who either performed well in other sports as well as possessing physical gifts including but not limited to superior fast twitch muscles, strength, speed, dexterity, agility, durability, explosiveness, hand eye coordination etc, etc
Come on man. Knock it off with that. You make yourself sound simple. It doesn't make sense to you why a slower footed, slower handed guy with limited mobility would be considered less athletic than a guy who is faster of foot, with better reflexes, handspeed and mobility?
Because in order to be competitive in a 100m sprint, you must have well developed fast twitch fibres which make you fast / explosive and great anaerobic conditioning which are both important attributes for most top fighters which is why most of them include sprints in there training schedule. Being able to run a marathon doesn't really help in boxing terms as it's aerobic unless you fight at a single pace for 48 rounds .
Not saying it is the most important, just what I find curious. Others too, that's why the 100metre sprint is the most watched event in the Olympics or any track and field event. So someone can claim to be the fastest! But sure, we should do others too. Paul Williams for marathon. Wlad for hammer. 400m backstroke, that depends on how strong a swimmer they are.