Champions and especially ATG's are different and driven people... Who stands out to you?...And what do you think was their experience(s) that qualifies in making them especially hard to beat?
Jack Johnson. The man dealt with oppression and racism that we couldn't even imagine in this day and age. Had his life threatened whenever he stepped in the ring. Started out with the horrible sadistic game of Battle Royal and moved on up to fight proffessionally and became champion in an era much tougher than this.
Salvador Sanchez - Calm with an unwavering self belief. Carlos Monzon - Calm with an unwavering self belief. I think Sanchez and Monzon were similar. But Sanchez ocassionally had a slight smile on his face and seemed joyous at times. Monzon had the emotionless look of a shark. Marciano - Indomitable will and determination.
He may not have shown it outside the ring, but he was so professional inside the ring. Toney's calm, cool-headed style is extremely hard to shake. It's one of his best attributes. Same goes for Floyd Mayweather, Junior.
Joe Frazier, up against the best man in mind games Ali, still went in and gave Ali the fight of his life two times. Getting up each time Big George knocked him down. Tough, tough, man.
For me, Monzon definitely. he was the most remorseless, cold blooded calculator I can think of. He just refused to be beaten. Yes, cold and emotionless like a shark. That's most impressive.
I agree Red,...but you're skimming the surface. What in YOUR opinion made him that way? If you don't mind me asking...
Amazing man, Johnson...Very strong willed in an unbelievable position. Would have cracked most people.
I think Monzon was unique among most fighters...esp. unique amongst Latin fighters in that he had that ability to be cold and unemotional..I think he would have been a killer..a murderer..a hit man in life were it not for boxing. He had the ability, I think, to harness a potential killer's relentlessness, and to detach himself from any surge of human emotion that would detract from the goal of victory. He was like an alien predator that knew all he had to do was just walk down and impose himself on an inferior opponent. He was smart enough to employ the right tactics against the right foe..like to box and throw many punches on the retreat vs Briscoe, for instance, but he did stand and trade with BB in the last 5 rounds. He had incredible mental toughness and resolve, with more than made up for the lack of spectacular natural gifts and speed and power, though he did have power, esp. in the earlier stage of his title reign. This mental toughness was no better shown than in the 2nd Valdez fight, when he bounced right up from that kd to impose his will gradually on Valdez.
Great breakdown, although, I hate the fact that Monzon actually was a killer in his life. Your breakdown is exactly how I view Monzon.