The semantic distinction for me comes in separating the terms "talent" and "ability". Can be a tricky extraction.
:huhMonzon wasn't a workhorse at all. In fact he wasn't much for training, period. He smoked like a chimney, and when did train it was more or less on his own time. His stamina was seemingly innate. He would rarely expend unnecessary energy (to him) in the gym doing cardio or anything that he felt would over-exert himself, instead opting to work on the subtler nuances of his style. His timing and accuracy with his fists, the biggest parts of his game, were also more or less natural talents that he perfected over time, mostly through experience in the ring rather than hard training. In the ring, he was about as basic a stylist of that caliber that there's been. He just had a built-in sense of what to do at the right time. When you add in his general demeanor and unsurpassed ability to pull out the win by any means necessary, he's probably one of the best examples of a natural fighter I can think of, despite his less than stellar athletic ability and training habits.
Monzon was a great worker in the gym. He honed his skills like hell during workouts. I read an interview on him in The Ring from the late 80's and also some quotes from his trainer. I do agree that he was talented at what he did. His timing was immaculate and he picked his moments as good as any fighter.
I've heard the exact opposite, that he didn't usually start training for a fight until a few weeks prior, and when he did train, he would focus his energy on small things he felt he needed to perfect, rather than over-exerting himself on the typical things most fighters would. He may have honed his skills sparring a lot of rounds as well, but my point was that a lot of what he was able to do in the ring he had a natural inclination for.
Kid Gavilan and NO Willie Pep? - I think Galivan rates up there in terms of Gifted Athleticism. but in terms of most "talented boxers" he is not even close. He was defintley a little sloppy at times but made up for it with his gifted athleticism.
I agree with you, and I do think he was the most naturally talented boxer. Perhaps I'd say he was to Boxing what Capablanca was to chess. If I would, I would sig that entire thing...
Ray Robinson Joe Louis Julio Cesar Chavez Pernell Whitaker Henry Armstrong This is slanted by what I have seen on film and what I have seen live.
Sugar Ray Leonard Muhammad Ali Tommy Hearns Roy Jones Jr Wilfred Benitez Sugar Ray Robinson Roberto Duran Evander Holyfield Arron Pryor Floyd Mayweather Jr
great thread! from those i've seen: roy jones duran robinson pep meldrick taylor tommy hearns ali from what i've read: greb benny leonard sam langford jack johnson