Rank these attributes in order of their importance to greatness

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by mrkoolkevin, Mar 19, 2019.


  1. mrkoolkevin

    mrkoolkevin Never wrestle with pigs or argue with fools Full Member

    18,440
    9,578
    Jan 30, 2014
    Generally speaking, how would you rank these traits in terms of their importance to boxers' chances of achieving greatness?

    -punching power
    -handspeed
    -mobility/footwork
    -punching precision and accuracy
    -durability and chin
    -defensive abilities (reflexes and technique)
    -mental toughness/heart
    -professionalism and consistency
    -Ring IQ and the ability to adapt on the fly
    -luck/chance
     
    Last edited: Mar 25, 2019
  2. PhillyPhan69

    PhillyPhan69 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    18,097
    15,575
    Dec 20, 2006
    Not sure this can truly be done but....

    8 -punching power
    7 -handspeed
    3- mobility/footwork
    4 -punching precision and accuracy
    5 -durability and chin
    2 -defensive abilities (reflexes and technique)
    6 -mental toughness
    9 -professionalism and consistency
    1 -Ring IQ and the ability to adapt on the fly
    N/A -luck/chance
     
  3. mrkoolkevin

    mrkoolkevin Never wrestle with pigs or argue with fools Full Member

    18,440
    9,578
    Jan 30, 2014
    Good answers. Thanks for taking a crack at this!
     
    Pat M and PhillyPhan69 like this.
  4. roughdiamond

    roughdiamond Ridin' the rails... Full Member

    10,187
    19,439
    Jul 25, 2015
    To be truly great? It depends on the fighter, but I'll try and sort them.

    1. mental toughness
    2. Ring IQ and the ability to adapt on the fly
    3.durability and chin
    4.mobility/footwork
    5.punching precision and accuracy
    6.defensive abilities (reflexes and technique)
    7.punching power
    8.handspeed
    9.professionalism and consistency
    10. luck/chance

    Note that I'm think from purely a H2H viewpoint. If resume and era was considered, luck /chance and consistency would be much higher, as luck influences the opponents you may meet, and consistency is more obvious through retrospect, which is why you cannot judge a fighter till his career is over. I assume you judge both mostly equally?

    Some fighters were absolutely great without some of these things on the list, mainly power. However, no fighter was great without mental strength.
     
  5. roughdiamond

    roughdiamond Ridin' the rails... Full Member

    10,187
    19,439
    Jul 25, 2015
    Also, great thread. Very interesting to think about in an otherwise individualistic sport.
     
  6. KuRuPT

    KuRuPT Boxing Junkie Full Member

    8,462
    2,814
    Aug 26, 2011
    I'm slightly confused on why defense abilities has (reflexes and technique) next to it... but there is no place for offensive technique or reflexes which seems as important. I get there are offensive categories like Handspeed, Punching power, Punching precision... still though I think technical prowess/reflexes, offensively, are just as important if not more so than those listed.
     
  7. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft He Who Saw The Deep Full Member

    27,130
    44,897
    Mar 3, 2019
    1. Heart (I know it's not there but it's required)
    2. Mental Toughness
    3. Durability and Chin
    4. Footwork
    5. Hand speed
    6. Defence
    7. Punch accuracy
    8. Punch Power
    9. Professionalism

    I replaced Luck with Heart as it's neither are really a skilled but one is a must and the other is well luck
     
    Reason123 and The Malibu Mauler like this.
  8. mrkoolkevin

    mrkoolkevin Never wrestle with pigs or argue with fools Full Member

    18,440
    9,578
    Jan 30, 2014
    Good point. I thought about using offensive skills and technique but I ended up punting on that because there’s so little consensus about what that even means (some posters seem to think that even the crudest heavyweight champions had excellent offensive technique).
     
  9. mrkoolkevin

    mrkoolkevin Never wrestle with pigs or argue with fools Full Member

    18,440
    9,578
    Jan 30, 2014
    I guess I see heart as overlapping with mental toughness. Both seem to revolve around how people perform while dealing with pressure and adversity.
     
  10. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft He Who Saw The Deep Full Member

    27,130
    44,897
    Mar 3, 2019
    Yeah Fair enough, I always linked heart as an in ring quality, like can you get up after Tyson's just knocked you down, and always linked Metal Toughness as an out of ring quality, like being scared if him
     
  11. KuRuPT

    KuRuPT Boxing Junkie Full Member

    8,462
    2,814
    Aug 26, 2011
    Fair enough. Though we should all KNOW what the hell technical ability means, when people aren't being disingenuous that is.
     
  12. BitPlayerVesti

    BitPlayerVesti Boxing Drunkie Full Member

    8,584
    11,099
    Oct 28, 2017
    1. Ring IQ and the ability to adapt on the fly
    2. professionalism and consistency
    3. mental toughness
    4. punching precision and accuracy
    5. durability and chin
    I think these can be workable in any combination, as long as there's enough overal.
    punching power
    handspeed
    mobility/footwork
    defensive abilities (reflexes and technique)

    And lastly
    luck/chance
     
  13. Gazelle Punch

    Gazelle Punch Boxing Addict Full Member

    7,082
    8,766
    Aug 15, 2018
    Durability and chin
    Mental toughness
    Ring iq (and a good corner)
    Power
    Accuracy
    Foot work
    Speed
    Defense
    Professionalism
    Luck (which to me isn’t even a factor these guys work hard for results or done and have not so good results)
     
  14. GOAT Primo Carnera

    GOAT Primo Carnera Member of the PC Fan Club Full Member

    2,665
    2,687
    Jan 28, 2018
    First attribute in hindsight of greatness or H2H lvl:

    1) class.
    2) "Because he was on another level."

    Ohhhhhhhmmmmmmmm
     
  15. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    23,315
    26,480
    Jun 26, 2009
    Dedication and conditioning should be an entry as well.

    Find me a great fighter who didn’t have those attributes ... and that edge in conditioning (which comes from dedication) has many a time made the difference in a close fight — either finishing rounds stronger or finishing the fight stronger.