Was Roy Jones Jr really a natural talent?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by lufcrazy, Aug 3, 2020.


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  1. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace Full Member

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    I've been reading a lot about his relationship with his father, the endless torturous training sessions, the humiliation, the abuse.

    And it got me thinking about the 10000 hour rule.

    This is nothing to do with what Jones achieved in his career, just whether or not you class him as a natural talent, or the by product of one of the most sadistic training regimes known to man?
     
    lufcrazy, Aug 3, 2020
    lufcrazy, Aug 3, 2020
    #1
  2. CaravanDweller

    CaravanDweller Member banned Full Member

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    No talent at all, all luck and peds
     
    CaravanDweller, Aug 3, 2020
    CaravanDweller, Aug 3, 2020
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  3. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    NT.
     
    mcvey, Aug 3, 2020
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  4. reznick

    reznick In the 7.2% Full Member

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    Probably a combination of both, but more so hard work.

    Interestingly enough, I just watched a short segment on Robinson where he explains his belief that his boxing ability was a god given talent that he had nothing to do with. A stark difference from most fighters owing their success to hard work and training.
     
    reznick, Aug 3, 2020
    reznick, Aug 3, 2020
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  5. Glass City Cobra

    Glass City Cobra H2H Burger King

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    You do realize Peds aren't going to give you high ring IQ and cat like instinct right? You have to have actual skill for them to work. You can't just give peds to a random guy with no technique or experience and expect him to win a world title.
     
    Glass City Cobra, Aug 3, 2020
    Glass City Cobra, Aug 3, 2020
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  6. greynotsoold

    greynotsoold Boxing Addict

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    Most naturally gifted, amazingly talented boxers have been taught from a young age.
     
    greynotsoold, Aug 3, 2020
    greynotsoold, Aug 3, 2020
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  7. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    That hard training probably helped him stay one step ahead of his opponent at almost every turn, but those god given reflexes and fast twitch muscles had a fair bit to do with it as well.
     
    Bokaj, Aug 3, 2020
    Bokaj, Aug 3, 2020
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  8. CharlesBurley

    CharlesBurley Well-Known Member banned Full Member

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    A bit of both. Talent alone without hard grind and you're unlikely to be champion. You or I do Jones training and we aren't anywhere near what he became.

    On the other hand. Zab Judah might be as naturally talented as Jones. But he didn't train as hard.

    Also Jones ring IQ was complete next level. Nunn was equally as athletically talented but couldn't evade punches in the same way as Roy.
     
    CharlesBurley, Aug 3, 2020
    CharlesBurley, Aug 3, 2020
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  9. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Both McCallum and Hopkins has named Jones as the smartest guy they fought. That's high praise indeed.
     
    Bokaj, Aug 3, 2020
    Bokaj, Aug 3, 2020
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  10. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace Full Member

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    I feel like there's been loads of athletic boxers through the years. And plenty of those have had ko power.

    But very few actually have this level of dominance that a Jones, a Whitaker, a Mayweather have had.

    I think labelling them a natural talent is actually a bit dismissive of the hours they put into the gym to achieve that level of dominance.

    Without the training regime he endured, there's no way Jones would have been the fighter he was imo.
     
    lufcrazy, Aug 3, 2020
    lufcrazy, Aug 3, 2020
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  11. mrkoolkevin

    mrkoolkevin Never wrestle with pigs or argue with fools Full Member

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    mrkoolkevin, Aug 3, 2020
    mrkoolkevin, Aug 3, 2020
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  12. CharlesBurley

    CharlesBurley Well-Known Member banned Full Member

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    It's also dismissive of their ring IQ. Meldrick Taylor is another top level athlete, so is Jermaine Taylor. Boxing is partly about who makes the least mistakes.
     
    CharlesBurley, Aug 3, 2020
    CharlesBurley, Aug 3, 2020
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  13. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace Full Member

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    Very chess like.
     
    lufcrazy, Aug 3, 2020
    lufcrazy, Aug 3, 2020
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  14. CharlesBurley

    CharlesBurley Well-Known Member banned Full Member

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    Yep, imagine playing chess and letting them pick off your pieces and expect to win

    Also Lennox vs Vitali - Chess - who wins?
     
    CharlesBurley, Aug 3, 2020
    CharlesBurley, Aug 3, 2020
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  15. CaravanDweller

    CaravanDweller Member banned Full Member

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    Excuse me sir who put 50p in you
     
    CaravanDweller, Aug 3, 2020
    CaravanDweller, Aug 3, 2020
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