Fighters that sparred a lot and fighters that didn't?

Makes absolute sense. And Ali was a different animal again - LOTs of sparring but there was also his disturbing propensity to willingly take punishment during almost each and every session. Frightening.

 

Thank You, good info - and useful clarification on the fighting shape vs sharpness distinction.

 

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I've heard Joe Calzaghe didn't spar much, if at all.

 

I remember reading Larry Holmes sparred more than 300 rounds in training camp for a few fights — I think Ali and Cooney, maybe the second Shavers fight.

Of course he came up sparring with Ali (and sometimes Frazier) when he was still an amateur, so that was his element.

 

Harry Arroyo an 80's lightweight alphabet champion is said to only have shadowboxed

 

Today it’s the Buck Smith way.