The importance of good sparring partners

From what I understand, Roy Jones often used weak sparring parteners so he would look good against them. Apparently, it boosted his confidence.

 

I think some of the more obvious answers here are

1. George Foreman - Sparred for Sonny Liston

2. James Jeffries - Sparred for Corbett

3. Larry Holmes - Sparred for Ali

4. Oliver McCall - Sparred for Tyson


As far as who has done without? I'm not familiar enough with the history of sparring partners to know who everybody trained with, but at the same time, does a good sparring partner necessarily have to be a great fighter in the ring?

 

Godfrey along with Bill Tate was a longtime sparring partner for Dempsey ,he also worked with Firpo ,Dempsey used them for strength ,as he was notoriously hard on his sparring partners,he also used Kid Norfolk and Allentown Joe Gans,for speed.Larry Gains ,who sparred with Jack said when Dempsey decided not to use a particular partner for a day ,the relief,on the guys face was something to see.
Just finished the book, Cinderella Man,one chapter tells how Braddock was coming up the ranks and serving as a sparring partner for Tom Heeney.Braddock realised the value of top class sparring partners and when he could afford it later ,made sure he had them.

 

Most greats had hard sparring, this doesn't necessarily mean with great fighters, but you can learn tricks competing in sparring with great fighters. Some rarely spar, such as Calzaghe.

 

I think that some of your more seasoned journeyman can often bring tricks to the table, given that many of them spent a fair amount of time in the ring with world class fighters, beit in an actual matches or other sparring sessions.

 

I think Ali and Holmes did well because of them, helps you maintain your edge and balance.

 

I think its a fight to fight basis. I think its important to find a sparring partners that emulates the style of the fighter your facing and that dont just act as a moving bag.

 

Just about every boxer worth more than a grand a fight today spars up, and its been like that for a while.

I would say sparring is key to success, but there are notable exceptions. Larry Holmes learned to be a champion in Ali's camp, though. Many future studs are "studying" under Manny Pacquiao right now. List goes on, and history's list is deep as well.

 

Carlos Monzon wasn't a big believer in sparring. He thought it caused boxers to burn out more quickly. His polar opposite was of course Bennie Briscoe.

 

Didn't Brendan Ingles fighters only body spar? He produced some good fighters.
How many fighters have been ruined by gym wars?

 

I think it boils down to being a sparring partner for whom. Being a sparring partner for the boxer types is ideal and those guys absorb and learn.

The problem is for guys that are sparring partners for the punchers. Too big a physical toll. I always thought sparring with Foreman ruined any chance Stan Ward ever had.

 

My old fella always swore by good sparring in fact when he fought Rose they both shared the same sparring partner, good pro Don Johnson who had been in with loads of top feathers of the day and actually had a win over Howard Winstone on points in London. Johnson lost his fight on the night on cuts and the refereee was Jimmy Carruthers. Johnson had beaten Carruthers back in 1962.
Talking of Winstone, he sparred with a young Ken Buchanan and I know his chief sparring partner for the 3rd Saldivar fight was Ruben Olivares.
I remember my dad telling me he was in the gym when Saldivar training for one of the Winstone fights had to broken up from Love Allotey, perennial contender when their sparring session turned into an all out fight.