Name a boxer that's skilled but doesn't have that "dog in him"

I think what made it work is that Kitten Hayward very much fits the type of fighter OP is talking about here. Ton of skill but lacking the grit of tough-guy Philadelphians of his weight and era.

 

Rigondeaux gutted it out against Ceja and won a rough fight against that huge Japanese guy.

 

In that case Loma also gutted it out in tough fights with Linares, Ortiz, Haney.

 

Andre Dirrell certainly had serious talent and skills but lacked that drive and determination to be even greater. Still shocking how he wasn’t able to win a world title while his brother Anthony Dirrell did.

 

Dude lost against Hane and Ortiz was a track meet. Didn't mean to hurt your feelings.

 

Not at all. I just went along with your criteria. I can easily say that Rigo quit against Loma and did a track meet with Casimero and Astrolabio.

 

It's telling that you're stuck with fights that happened well after his prime and another past prime and at the wrong weight.

In his prime, he showed some dog against Donaire and Amagasa. Post prime, he did against Ceja. He wasn't challenged all that much in his prime though. His am career also checks out.

 

Tony Tucker and Filip Hrgovic seem to lack that extra gear needed to be elite.

 

Jerry Quarry?

 

Acelino Freitas.

 

I mean look the way he bounced back after those 3 stoppages losses and the effort he put into the AJ fight in his last after the embarrassing Fury loss. Sure he isn't the most gritty but his mental toughness isn't anywhere near as bad considering this.

 

Yeah you only have to look at the 1st fight with Peter. Down 3 times an hurt plenty of other times throughout but he didn’t gave up an even hurt Peter in the last round when Peter was going all out for the late ko. Wlad was dog tired near the end but still pulled off the decision win

 

Disagree. Wlad had an iffy chin, not an iffy heart. I've never seen him get knocked down without trying to get back up and fight on. Kind of like Bowe in the end. Golota was kicking the crap out of Bowe but Bowe never stopped trying to win.