Best maximizers of potential

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by dmt, Feb 26, 2025.


Page 1 of 3
  1. dmt

    dmt Hardest hitting hw ever Full Member

    11,410
    17,261
    Jul 2, 2006
    Fighters who were perhaps gifted but who were certainly not extraordinarily gifted who maximized their potential and made the most out of what they had?

    In no order:

    Larry Holmes
    Dimitry Bivol
    Bernard Hopkins
    Jerry Quarry

    Just a few names that come to mind.
     
    dmt, Feb 26, 2025
    dmt, Feb 26, 2025
    #1
    Ice8Cold and northpaw like this.
  2. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

    52,879
    44,639
    Apr 27, 2005
    I'm going to add Mike McCallum. He was far from crazy fast or powerful but he learnt his craft well to the point of being extremely hard to beat. His skill and timing were extremely on point.
     
    JohnThomas1, Feb 26, 2025
    JohnThomas1, Feb 26, 2025
    #2
    Lankykong, USFBulls727, robert ungurean and 4 others like this.
  3. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

    52,879
    44,639
    Apr 27, 2005
    Joe Frazier was so much more than the sum of his parts.
     
    JohnThomas1, Feb 26, 2025
    JohnThomas1, Feb 26, 2025
    #3
    Keleneki, USFBulls727, Flash24 and 7 others like this.
  4. dmt

    dmt Hardest hitting hw ever Full Member

    11,410
    17,261
    Jul 2, 2006
    Yes you are right. In some ways he was gifted. Its very unusual for a 5'11 man to carry 205 lbs of weight without carrying excess fat but Frazier was lean and very gifted in terms of his built.

    But yes, short reach, good but not great footspeed, mostly relied on left hook, decent but not great right hand etc. His dedication to his left hook, body punching, physical conditioning etc. made him great. But i agree he wasn't extraordinarily gifted.

    Great pick.
     
    dmt, Feb 26, 2025
    dmt, Feb 26, 2025
    #4
    robert ungurean and JohnThomas1 like this.
  5. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

    52,879
    44,639
    Apr 27, 2005
    Cheers dmt.
     
    JohnThomas1, Feb 26, 2025
    JohnThomas1, Feb 26, 2025
    #5
    robert ungurean likes this.
  6. Jakub79

    Jakub79 Active Member Full Member

    1,011
    1,129
    Mar 3, 2024
    Muhammad Ali
    Rocky Marciano
    Joe Calzaghe
    Evander Holyfield
    Oscar De La Hoya
    Lennox Lewis
    Bernard Hopkins
    Floyd Mayweather
    Darius Michalczewski
    Joe Louis
     
    Jakub79, Feb 26, 2025
    Jakub79, Feb 26, 2025
    #6
    Journeyman92 likes this.
  7. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 MONZON VS HAGLER 2025 Full Member

    19,057
    21,102
    Sep 22, 2021
    Roy Jones Jnr - always in shape, immensely talented and very creative id say he did as much as he was ever capable of, he missed some fights we can debate he should’ve caught but really I think in terms of performance he got to his peak.
     
    Journeyman92, Feb 26, 2025
    Journeyman92, Feb 26, 2025
    #7
  8. dmt

    dmt Hardest hitting hw ever Full Member

    11,410
    17,261
    Jul 2, 2006
    I personally wouldn't put the likes of Ali and RJJ in there. Yes, they maximized their potential but they were so extraordinarily gifted, its hard for me to put them on that list. This is more about fighters who were fairly gifted but maybe not exceptionally gifted. Ali and RJJ were forces of nature.
     
    dmt, Feb 26, 2025
    dmt, Feb 26, 2025
    #8
    Jel, George Crowcroft, robert ungurean and 4 others like this.
  9. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 MONZON VS HAGLER 2025 Full Member

    19,057
    21,102
    Sep 22, 2021
    Would you take Bobo Olson perhaps? Or Buddy McGirt then?
     
    Journeyman92, Feb 26, 2025
    Journeyman92, Feb 26, 2025
    #9
  10. dmt

    dmt Hardest hitting hw ever Full Member

    11,410
    17,261
    Jul 2, 2006
    No.
     
    dmt, Feb 26, 2025
    dmt, Feb 26, 2025
    #10
  11. Jakub79

    Jakub79 Active Member Full Member

    1,011
    1,129
    Mar 3, 2024
    Ali achieved a lot, nothing more could be done... Perfect place, time, sports form, personality, it couldn't have been done better. He had a lot of luck and a lot of skills... He could have ended his career earlier, that's all... but he made the most of it.
    Roy Jones could have achieved more, could have fought better opponents, could have been more focused and could have made better decisions about his fights and the length of his career
     
    Jakub79, Feb 26, 2025
    Jakub79, Feb 26, 2025
    #11
  12. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

    26,689
    17,744
    Apr 3, 2012
    Agit Kabayel.
     
    NoNeck, Feb 26, 2025
    NoNeck, Feb 26, 2025
    #12
  13. MaccaveliMacc

    MaccaveliMacc Boxing Addict Full Member

    4,463
    6,707
    Feb 27, 2024
    Roids were the maximizer in his case.
     
    MaccaveliMacc, Feb 26, 2025
    MaccaveliMacc, Feb 26, 2025
    #13
    Smoochie likes this.
  14. Rockin'

    Rockin' Member banned Full Member

    204
    245
    Feb 24, 2025
    The best maximizer of potential is to show up on fight night in crazy good shape.
     
    Rockin', Feb 26, 2025
    Rockin', Feb 26, 2025
    #14
    George Crowcroft, robert ungurean, Ice8Cold and 1 other person like this.
  15. northpaw

    northpaw Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    17,236
    10,797
    Jun 5, 2010
    Winky Wright. He built a HOF career on nothing but pure skill and durability.
     
    northpaw, Feb 26, 2025
    northpaw, Feb 26, 2025
    #15
    Lankykong and robert ungurean like this.
Page 1 of 3