I know this can be a tough question to answer, but I'm looking for who you'd pick as the most naturally gifted athlete. Somebody you'd expect to be good at whatever sport he put his mind to more so than the others. Jack Johnson Joe Louis Tyson Holyfield
You have talented in the title. Gifted in the question. Hate questions like this because they are misleading at best and impossible to answer at worst. Let me start off by saying this: Gifts are given to you. In terms of boxing Gifts were given to you by god at birth. Reflexes, amount of fast twitch muscle etc etc. Talent is developed through training. Dedication and discipline. Tyson was gifted. 5’9” and 190 lbs at 13. Physically gifted puncher as well, clean with either hand. His talent developed under the peak a boo system but was not natural at all. If you are speaking in terms of gifts as in “gifted” it was Tyson. The man was given everything and still managed to fcuk it up after Jim Jacobs died. I don’t however see any of the names listed being able to play in the NBA or NFL.
Physically Tyson, he was naturally very fast and powerful. Mentally Louis, cool under fire with a unmatched killer's instinct and a sense a purpose.
IMO, Talent and Gifts are synonymous. A person who is gifted is born with it. A person who is talented is born with it. A person who is skilled, developed their abilities which may or may not have come naturally. Michael Jordan had natural talent, but because he practiced constantly he was also skilled. Scottie Pippen had next to no natural talent, but he trained, practiced and developed skill. Roy Jones born with natural talent, but didn't hone his gifts, so when his natural speed & reflexes decipated, he had no skill to fall back on. Bernard Hopkins stated he wasn't born with the gifts of Roy Jones. so he trained constantly developing skill. With those examples, Tyson is my pick. Johnson 2nd. Both guys were born with natural power: a gift. Both guys had the ability to see punches coming; talent. Holy wasn't born powerful, 1st time he beat Qawi, he wasn't muscular, whereas Tyson was pretty thick as an amateur. Holy wasn't the fastest, didn't have superb reflexes and mentally he was strong, but was easy goaded into fights. Joe Louis developed skill. Very accurate. Economical with his punches but he always landed more than he missed. Gifted with that Bomb Right Hand. Tyson out of those picks was the most gifted, talented.