Fighters that could achieve proper balance regardless(Ali)-guys you never see get set

We are talking savants, I believe. Naturals, guys that walk on water. How much is physical and how much is mental may be a non sequitur, since I've never been able to clearly detach them myself. But let's say that much of it begins in the brain. I think you may find that guys like this have quite the fluid brain to begin with. Nothing happens, no part of a body budges, until the brain sends a message for it to do so. So are we talking a high speed nervous system which allows some fighters to throw effective punches almost in mid air?

 

Come on .

Ali started boxing when he was 12 and was for a long time a hard a worker as anyone who ever laced on a pair of gloves. Ali made use of his genetic talents,but what looks effortless and 'natural' in the ring is the product of years of grind and tedious repetition in the gym.

 

They all started boxing when they were 12. If that was all it took they'd all be able to do it. You don't think that Ali was more gifted than most? Of course it is true that what we are watching is the product of years of sweat. But we are all born with natural capabilities. What we do with them is another thing.

 

More physically gifted than most. Yes.

I believe too that,even as a boy, he liked to show off and perform these moves in the gym (some times disastrously) . His trainer would have been unusual in that he didn't try to curb his style .

BTW I think Frazier, Norton,Foreman and Holmes started a lot later than 12. For them it was serious business from the beginning they set foot in the gym.

 

Yeah and for some, like Pep, it was never very serious business, and yet look at what he could do. I think the ability to throw effective punches when not set in the textbook sense is something very few can do, regardless of how much training they've had.

 

they reckon when ali was young he tained harder than anyone - not interested in women or nothing - ain't that ironic lol - he just trained. he used to throw that left jab at the heavy bag constantly as a young kid over and over just that technique to get it great. you gotta put the hard work in like he did at an early age.

 

I'm glad he found time to make up for it. :good

 

Chinx whats your thoughts on Wilfredo Gomez?

still waiting for McGrains great ideas he promised on thsi thread

im going to watch some fighters on YT tongiht and report back

 

Roy Jones vs. Merqui Sosa kd was a nice example of Roy being set while appearing not the least bit balanced. Ditto the Glen Kelley knockout.

Jersey Joe Walcott's walkaway right sometimes could fit the criteria of not being "set" in the traditional sense of the word.

 

I agree. Sure, Ali was blessed with godly natural abilities, but he used thousands upon thousands of hours in the gym to hone his special style and special techniques. When people use the word savant you get the feeling he just had to step into the ring for it all to come out. This was not the case. He was as hard a worker (at least until the lay-off) and as meticulous with what he was doing as anyone has ever been.

 

Would be interesting to watch some clips. Can you dig some up?. Walcott's movement is something that really deserves deeper studies.

 

They all spend years in the gym to hone their skills. But few can do what the guys mentioned on this thread can do, so how do we reconcile the difference?

 

As I said, Ali had more talent coming in than almost anyone. But he worked harder than most as well. And I think that very few have been as conscious and meticulous in developing their own practices and techniques as Ali. He was his own trainer in many ways.

 

Fair enough, my man. This thread is about guys who throw effective shots whilst not set in the textbook sense. I guess I'm not convinced that you can train for that. That precise ability seems more a God given talent.