Name a fighter who achieved greatness PURELY ON "technical" SKILL ...

It's a tall order to be a great fighter and be average in every departement except one, but Archie Moore, Harold Johnson, Napoles and McCallum are fighters that fit the bill reasonably well, I'd say. Gans perhaps?

 

Jim Watt. Not an all timer but a real champ.

The guy had nothing outstanding other than being completely disciplined. Everything he did was within basic boxing techniques and keeping it very simple.

 

Maybe the Duran of the Moore and Barkley fights?
Maybe doesn't fit ALL of the categories but he might come pretty close.

 

Was going to put Watt .not brilliant at any one thing just good at all the basic skills and always in great shape .

 

Good thread!

I personally don't think a guy can become truly great without some sort of physical edge, somewhere.

But since you're asking:

John Ruiz - pretty average HW, he managed to do a lot with what he had
Brian Mitchell - if you forget about his chin and stamina, he was fairly average physically.
Andre Ward - Doesn't strike me as being great in any one category but always seems to win.

 

How about Miguel Canto
If Watt is on here then I'll add Albert Davila
Gilberto Roman?

 

Nicolino Locche

 

I get the impression Tommy Ryan's success was largely down to his intelligence as a fighter, though I don't get the impression he was untalented.

 

The distinction that is made is with those who he could get away with things other couldn't because of special ability or attributes. Rewatching some of Pac's fights, I was really struck by how he could be off balance or out of position and still lethal. It's something RJJ commented on in Bradley III for example. And he should know.

Some fighters just were exceptional athletes that could get away with things even other ATGs couldn't. Doesn't mean those other ATGs weren't athleticslly gifted. That's the very basic argument that for some reason just won't get across.

As for Moore, I'd say a lot of his punching power was down to technique that he honed over the years. I don't recall that he was reslly viewed as a puncher when a young, strong and quite fast MW.

And Gans, from what I've seen of him he didn’t seem very fast or hard hitting, just composed and technical.

I'd also throw Arguello in there. Hard hitting yes, but more a function of technique and timing than explosive muscles.

 

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Best freely avalible footage, to my knowledge of Gans. His stamina and engine certainly seems incredible, and he seemed to have extremely good power and toughness.

Very much an ATG IMO

 

The "Will of the Wisp", Willie Pep. Supposedly won a round in a fight and didn't even throw a punch.

 

I guess maybe Willie Pep?

 

Barrera

 

Maybe a Ken Buchanan. Seems his movement and technical abilities carried him most of the way. He wasn't winning because of his physical advantages.