Who were the guys who seemed to keep in training all year long, avoided blowing up between fights, and essentially treated their fitness and technical development as a full time, year-round job? The guys whose lives were basically one long training camp?
I would say the Eastern European fighters like the Klitschko's were 24/7 type guys who were never really out of shape or had to lose weight when not training for an up and coming fight.
The answer is Bernard Hopkins, any era. He's the ultimate answer. One day off after each fight, then back. Trained Christmas day, not because he had a fight in January but because he might have one in April. Trained his wife's birthday, trained on his kid's birthdays. Did not eat a chocolate bar for something like 20 years. He was an animal, an obsessed lunatic. There was something deeply, deeply wrong with Bernard Hopkins.
Good premise. I was only thinking about this recently. Norton came to mind because he always appeared in great shape in and out of the ring. Perhaps not always specifically training for boxing but deference to health and fitness in general. As I’ve read, a lot of fighters hated training but duly applied themselves for the sake of each and every fight, understanding the value. Post career though it seems the high end training served as aversion therapy for a lot of fighters who looked like they hadn’t sniffed a gym or taken any exercise in years. They experienced levels of conditioning we’ll never know but they also managed to let themselves go to a stage we would never allow for ourselves. Middle of the road is the best way to be I think. : )
Monzon. No I’m not saying he trained off season. He certainly trained hard for each and every fight it seems, as per his physical form and all important performances in the ring. Otherwise, the word is he partied hard, drank, smoked, what have you. However, if you weren’t privy to these habits, just based on appearances between fights,, he always looked in perfect fighting trim, healthy and ready to go. I wanna know how the hell he managed that. I suppose the answer is he simply had awesome genes? I dunno.
I was actually coming in here to throw that exact name out. He came to mind even before Tubbs and Galento.
Eder Jofre was beating top featherweights and won the title in his late 30s. A pro for 21 years. He was very disciplined with his diet.
No particular order but these all spring to mind Bernard Hopkins Marvin Hagler Rocky Marciano Ricky Burns Joe Calzaghe Floyd Mayweather Anthony Corolla Joe Louis Evander Holyfield
Don't most pros, though? Not obsessively like Hagler or Hopkins, but like a day job? An hour or two, five days a week (with vacations, especially after fights). I think the tales of some fighters laziness are a bit overblown to give them cover for losses.
Yes, and trained all year and with the exception of a glass of wine here or there, didn’t drink either. Only weakness was he had/has a sweet tooth!
I don’t believe I have ever seen Frank Bruno with any extra fat on him in between fights. To this day, he keeps himself in tremendous shape.
I am not bad. I am an ultra runner, and I dabble in the murky world of HEMA. Those are my hobbies, so I am always operating at a certain level.