I have experience in all aspects of boxing. Trainer, manager, and strength/conditioning coach. My fighters have succeeded at the elite level as both amateurs and professionals. My stance on this subject comes through education, experience, and interaction with other professionals in the industry.
The thread, sorry ta say, c, took a contentious tone, which being hard-headed, I more than contributed to. Clearly, you're an impassioned fight guy -- trainer/manager 'n strength coach -- who exhausts every way possible to improve his charges, not just one more cheerleader with a towel 'round his neck, which I see all too often nowadays.
you are in for a bright long future with kind of insight into the minds of mankind conditioner....hey
i can understand both where they are coming from. there is an old school thinking that a fighter was brn with power or non, speed or non, a suspect chin or a good one. of course conditioning coach and probably new trainers would want to disprove this old school thinking and say that you can improve under my guidance and technique. it is somewhat a challenge to these young blood that old thinking is the way of the past and modern techniques and science could help and do wonders.
it's really hard to chime-in with a limited boxing gym experience but from what i see, techniques and proper punching form can improve the effectiveness of ones punch. but i am with you that i don't think a punching power can really improve that much. from what i see with punchers, they are really blessed with it from the onset of their careers. a trainer could already distinguish a guy with power on his punches from the first day in the mits and the heavy bag. so i understand your quote that someone would be hitting the bag the hardest on his first session. it is like trying to test oneself while having a great enthusiasm to give it all on your first try.