For the longest time I've always thought that boxing hardcores overvalue skills. Skills and technical proficiency are critical, but at the very highest levels of the sport most guys have pretty solid technique. Take a look at the 2 best HWs in boxing. Fury and Usyk are both technically sound, but they are also total genetic freak jobs. No man their size should be able to move like they do. They move like much smaller men. Wilder is also another top HW (though he has little skill), but is a genetic freak with a huge punch. Beterbiev, Inoue, Lopez, etc. All genetic freaks. Most past ATGs were as well. It helps to be able to launch 1200 power shots and not get tired or be an explosive freak of nature. Or have an abnormally study chin and long reach, etc. Standing in front of mirror and perfecting your technique with shadow boxing or with the heavy bag usually won't prepare you for a genetically superior athlete.
Freddie Roach recalled his first time training Pacquiao. He said I've seen kids come through the gym with power and I've seen some with speed, but I never had a kid walk through that had both.
How's Inoue a genetic freak? The success of his fight game isn't predicated on athleticism and he's not a massive mover...
I still think his reach is wrongly recorded. At the Martin fight they had him at 80,5 inch reach which is huge but not the freak 84 they had him at earlier. I always felt that was more realistic. Maybe cause he had huge hands they measures his reach differently with hands open or something?
In some cases thats true. Especially with elite speed or power. You cant prepare for a Roy Jones for example. On the otger hand we have Hamed who is one of the biggest punchers ever p4p but he gets schooled by Barrera. Or Khan who had elite handspeed but a paper chin that was caught often.
Barrera had came to my mind as a master technician (most skilled of the big 3 Mexicans of his era) who beat a genetically superior Hamed. Although Hamed's technique was so horrible it looked like he lacked even basic proficency. When Barrera fought Pacquiao he was overwhelmed by sheer genetic talent.
Thomas Hearns is the first to come to mind as far as being a genetic freak. Skinny tall frame with a big height and reach while packing a huge punch.
We have had extensive discussion & whole threads dedicated to whether Liston's wingspan-reach is one arm measured from the shoulder-is overstated. It may well be, but we do not know for sure. Rarely some guys have about the same "ape factor".-wingspan more than height, for him an 84" would be a very rare +11.5-or maybe really +8. What makes freakish WS possible is normally also having a really wide chest/wide clavicles-although manute Bol certainly did not, & he was a +11" at 8.5 feet!! But wingspan is always measured to the fingertips. Liston had massive hands & long fingers.
Roy Jones Jr speed and reflexes Tyson Liston's reach Hearns at 147 Valuev I guess fits the description as well just based on his size