Fighters that blew your mind/ once in a lifetime talents

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Mike_b, Apr 26, 2022.


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  1. Mike_b

    Mike_b Boxing Addict Full Member

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    James toney. Was able to have the conditioning of a well endurance level athlete. He maintained it at cruiser weight, against vasily jirov, a tremendous pace set by the European s volume punching. He managed to get by with just sparring (no roadwork, skipping or padwork) curtailing him to go 12 rounds when: he was in his late 30s, was at an all time high at heavyweight where he held his own against HEAVY opposition and who says his training methods are wrong?

    Some athletes have the ability to do things their own way, James was no exception. Like Allen Iverson said "practice? " Lol. Other athletes that could get away from conventional rules: Roy Jones Jr, Shaq, Jones could do everything wrong technically wise but still whip azz. Shaq was still badazz without knowing how to shoot a free throw. Just like GGG at 40 it boggles my mind that jt had the lungs to go the distance!

    Lights out! there's a book coming out (2023) James Toney at chapters/ indigo, McNally Robinson . Ps and yes he had the ability to fight tired too, and still win bouts while doing so!
     
    Mike_b, Apr 26, 2022
    Mike_b, Apr 26, 2022
    #1
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  2. OP_TheJawBreaker

    OP_TheJawBreaker NOBODY hit like that guy! Full Member

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    Emanuel Augustus

    Honorable Mentions:
    Marvin Hagler
    Mike McCallum
     
    Last edited: Apr 26, 2022
    OP_TheJawBreaker, Apr 26, 2022
    OP_TheJawBreaker, Apr 26, 2022
    #2
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  3. Tockah

    Tockah Ingo's Bingo Full Member

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    Wilfred Benitez, the right man in the wrong time. In nearly most other eras he would have dominated a long reign as champion, Benitez made it look as if he had a precognition before a punch was thrown. He is one of the greats. But there were so many ATG in the division at the time, it just proved to be just too much for Benitez.

    He obviously under-performed often, he burned himself out as the youngest champion ever, but when we had glimpses of what Benitez could have been, it was something special.
     
    Tockah, Apr 26, 2022
    Tockah, Apr 26, 2022
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  4. Pugguy

    Pugguy Ingo, The Thinking Man’s GOAT banned Full Member

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    Manny Pac. Small but an amazing force of nature nonetheless.
     
    Pugguy, Apr 26, 2022
    Pugguy, Apr 26, 2022
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  5. Themessiah

    Themessiah El Jefe Full Member

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    I also think Toney, everything was so natural to him
     
    Themessiah, Apr 26, 2022
    Themessiah, Apr 26, 2022
    #5
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  6. Bukkake

    Bukkake Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Inoue looks a bit special!
     
    Bukkake, Apr 26, 2022
    Bukkake, Apr 26, 2022
    #6
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  7. 88Chris05

    88Chris05 Active Member Full Member

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    Comes with a slight caveat that he maybe needed to be facing a certain style of fighter to do this. But to this day I can still watch a Salvador Sanchez fight, which I've seen plenty of times before, and literally be shaking my head and and saying "Wow" to myself in amazement at what he could do, and the sheer style with which he did it.
     
    88Chris05, Apr 26, 2022
    88Chris05, Apr 26, 2022
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  8. Dynamicpuncher

    Dynamicpuncher Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Roy Jones Jr
     
    Dynamicpuncher, Apr 26, 2022
    Dynamicpuncher, Apr 26, 2022
    #8
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  9. RulesMakeItInteresting

    RulesMakeItInteresting Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Foreman wiping out Frazier and Norton. Not sure there's ever been such a freakily impressive one-two of wins like that in the heavyweight division since. His ko of Moorer was way up there, too.

    Holmes coming off the floor against Shavers. No one who watched that fight with me could believe he got up, and when he started taking control again less than a round later...just jaw-dropping.
     
    RulesMakeItInteresting, Apr 26, 2022
    RulesMakeItInteresting, Apr 26, 2022
    #9
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  10. Skins

    Skins Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I though Roy Jones had the talent to be the best ever when he was coming up. It didn't pan out like that, but I thought his talent was like something I had never seen before, or since, really.
     
    Skins, Apr 26, 2022
    Skins, Apr 26, 2022
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  11. Noel857

    Noel857 I Am Duran

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    There was a time when Roy Jones Jnr was being talked about as perhaps the greatest ever
     
    Noel857, Apr 26, 2022
    Noel857, Apr 26, 2022
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  12. The G-Man

    The G-Man I'm more of a vet. banned Full Member

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    Anymore details on tge Toney book?
     
    The G-Man, Apr 26, 2022
    The G-Man, Apr 26, 2022
    #12
  13. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Ray Leonard threw I think it was 23 right hands in the first round of their fight and landed zero.

    He came back to the corner and Angelo Dundee told him to forget about the right and concentrate on the left.

    Ray replied, ‘But he’s RIGHT THERE.’ Even with his speed he couldn’t land a right from in the pocket until he wore Wilfred down.
     
    Saintpat, Apr 26, 2022
    Saintpat, Apr 26, 2022
    #13
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  14. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I saw him live once — against Sugar Boy Malinga — and I’ve never seen anything like him in all my years. He could throw and land a precise punch in the time it takes to blink. Not only the hand speed, but the reflex and ability to process information in an instant.
     
    Saintpat, Apr 26, 2022
    Saintpat, Apr 26, 2022
    #14
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  15. Dynamicpuncher

    Dynamicpuncher Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    That must of been a treat to watch to him live in his prime i'm envious.
     
    Last edited: Apr 26, 2022
    Dynamicpuncher, Apr 26, 2022
    Dynamicpuncher, Apr 26, 2022
    #15
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