I don't like the answer. Marciano had natural one punch power, steel chin, great athleticism, and very well built body...all he had to do was put it together. Marciano had alot of skill in his crouch. I would say Carlos Baldomir is a much better answer. the guy had no natural skill, average power, etc and still won an undisputed title.
What exactly qualifies as "the least"? Barkley had decent power, a chin and desire. Marciano was a legit freak of nature athletically. My answer, Zab Judah. Got more respect than his meager heart and lack of aggression ever deserved.
Seamus I agree with your view. I dont think Barkley or Marciano quaflies. We need to find a fighter who had no power, bad chin, no skill, no jab, bad defense, cut easily, awful athleticism, no movement...yet still made the top 10 in a tough era.....The answer is CHUCK WEPNER!!!
I tend to believe that each fighter made out of his talents, proclivities and potential exactly what were there to begin with. It is a self-evident fact. I could give a **** for could-haves, would-haves and should-haves.
I'd have to go with a guy from my old neighborhood in Brooklyn, Paddy DeMarco. Painful to watch and couldn't punch, but became the Lightweight Champion of the World.
I wonder how Suzie would have rated Wepner's chin had fought in the 50s? The man clearly had a great chin.
IMO, the title of this debate goes to Joe Hipp. He was just a bruiser with decent power, no skills though. Still he won a minor title at HW and challenged Seldon for the WBA title. Lost, but hell, for a man with relatively no great ability, he went far.
Juan Martin Coggi http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=8166&cat=boxer Almost totally unknown today, but look at that record in detail. He wasn't a big puncher, he wasn't a "natural" when it came to acquiring skills, his reflexes weren't anything special, his hands were fast but not very fast, his footwork was average, he didn't have an iron chin (his durability had more to his defence than his chin) and he didn't have exceptional stamina. Yet he had a very successful, if obscure, career.
Frank Bruno, definitey not a natural but made the most out of what he did have. A pole of a jab and power.