Top five most physically gifted fighters

As a lose definition i take physically gifted to mean the level of the more basic inherent athletic traits relevant to the sport, as well as someone being huge for their weightclass, durability etc

Of course plenty of things are tied into how mentally able and technically apt a fighter is as well.

Naturally talented would encompass the ease a fighter does everything in the ring first and foremost.


Judah is a great example of someone who was physically gifted but not overly naturally talented imo.

 

Naseem Hamed

 

Seen as active boxers in their primes.
1. Prenell Whitaker
2. Roy Jones Jr.
3. Floyd Mayweather Jr.
4. James Toney
5. Bernard Hopkins

Overall
1. Benny Leonard
2. Ray Robinson
3. Prenell Whitaker
4. Roy Jones Jr.
5. Ray Leonard

 

Sweet list. :good

 

Why ?

He's undoubtedly very fast. He has a natural read of the flow of the fight that most boxers don't possess. His counter-punching instincts are excellent.

His timing and accuracy are outstanding.

I don't really see how his natural talent can be denied.



All that said...


Floyd fears Pac.
:deal

 

I would consider Zab to probably be as 'gifted' as Floyd in some ways.

He probably has more Speed and power. But his instinct for the game is not at Floyd's level. Nor is his timing, nor his anticipation of where his opponent is going to be and what he's going to do.


I do believe he has mainly squandered his talent. His conditioning is not at Floyd's level.

Some might argue that conditioning is created.

I believe its a combination of what you're born with and how you develop your natural talents. And I think Zab is inferior to Floyd on both counts.




In addition, there is a 'will' factor here. Floyd has shown more ability to impose his will on the progress of the fight.

Both look pretty much the same against lesser opponents, but when faced with A level opposition, Floyd can keep his focus and his will engaged to a greater degree than Zab.

Floyd, IMO, ducked Cotto, but I have little doubt he would have beaten him. Decisively.



I believe overall, Floyd has better boxing skills than Pac. But he trails Pac in the 'will' department, the mental toughness.

And so if they ever meet, I think that, combined with Pac's superior speed in delivering combinations, might be enough to rattle Floyd to the point where it would negate the razor-thin advantages that Floyd possesses.

I have no doubt whatsoever that Floyd fears Pac, and has a bowel flutter every time he thinks about that fight.

 

George Foreman deserves a mention.

He didn't have speed or the greatest reflexes but his natural physical strength and power is just amazing.I've never seen a guy who could so easily shove around 200+ pound men like George could and it was that great strength that allowed him to compete with young men when he was in his mid 40's.

 

Marciano had something you are born with. God-given. No amount of training could produce that.

 

Aren't most of those attributes due to the fact he was surrounded by the game since infancy? His understanding of the flow? His counter punching instincts (an absurd notion as their are no genetic instincts ingrained for boxing counterpunching, no more than there are for making basketball shots or dribbling in footy)?

Even his speed his is as much practice as inborn talent. Hell, I throw faster combinations today at 41 than I did at 35 because I have been going to the gym more and practicing more, repeating the activity until its part of muscle memort. Likewise I imagine much of his speed has been achieved by a ridiculous number of hours of repetition.

 

Roy Jones
Ray Robinson
Cassius Clay
Thomas Hearns
Ray Leonard
Wilfredo Benitez To be 17 and win beat a great like Cervantes you have to be
Mike Tyson
Roberto Duran
Pernell Whittaker
Meldrick Taylor no body is taught speed like that
Hector Camacho ^^

 

It's seems folk idea of "natural talent" only involves speed.

What about a talent for fighting, a la Langford or Dempsey or Greb or Frazier?

But I suppose Hector Camacho and Meldrick Taylor are more "naturally talented"?

 

CUCHULAIN ABU!!!