Interesting Manny Steward Quote

its almost like we've figured out the formula for shaping a great fighter or something

 

Well I think it's pretty simple.

The more you box, the better you get at boxing.

No need to complicate it.

 

Recuperation time and skill development-centered training also seem pretty important to maximizing athletic performance.

 

Boxing is the best way to develop boxing skill. I'm sure some here will argue otherwise, like saying the earth is flat.

 

A catchy slogan but I’m not sure what you’re basing it on.

And regardless, seems pretty obvious that some combination of actual boxing with many more hours of deliberate practice in the gym is much more conducive to developing boxing skills than just boxing alone, right? (And also more conducive to one’s physical health in the ring)

 

Yes, I know my post is a generalised statement.

However, you have to actually box to make your practised skill applicable. Not saying that skills training isn't important (it is), but at a higher level, boxing more makes you a better boxer. It's that simple.

Obviously, it's different for rank amateurs, but we aren't talking about them, so I wasn't getting specific.

I also agree with you about recovery. Some of these boxers actually boxed too much, though really overdoing it was rarer than people think, and lots of non title bouts, six rounders etc were quite comfortable for boxers at a higher level.

Also, who is your Avatar pic, if you don't mind me asking?

 

I'll add my two cents to this based on what I know from a life time in this sport. The argument that older fighters were better based on them having more fights is simply not true. Most of those guys fought so often because they needed money and because of that they ended being punchy and in a lot if cases died way before there time.

I grew up boxing in the 80's and 90's and while most of the top guys only have maybe 40 or 50 fights when they retire from the pro ranks now days, the majority of them had hundreds of fights at the amateur level. Oscar, Floyd. Pernell, Jones Jr etc. All had lengthy amateur careers where they truly learned how to fight way before going pro. A lot of great fighters from the old days did not have that luxury and had to learn the hard way.

 

I'm basing in on years of experience, research and the thoughts and actions of thousands of boxers and trainers, including hundreds of whom I've known personally.

Boxing includes boxing in the gym.
I don't know where the idea is coming from that boxers of yesteryear didn't partake in many hours of deliberate practice in the gym or that trainers didn't have a clue about developing fighters in the gym.

 

This is very true but the thread is about Steward's statement about the better "4 and 6 round" fighters of those eras.
I'm pretty sure Steward is talking about skillful well-rounded journeymen who had long careers precisely because they were pretty good. Or some might have had short careers but were good.
The guys who generally didn't get the main event but were good preliminary and semi-final fighters.

I agree, they fought because they needed money and boxing is danger to any man's health.
Hence why modern fighters fight less, it's not because fighting less makes a fighter better as some would have us believe.

De La Hoya, Whiaker, Oscar, Floyd etc. are ATG champion fighters.
I doubt Steward, or anyone really, would ever argue that they wouldn't have gone far in any era. They are likely to be champions in any era, almost guaranteed to be greats in any era.

 

It's Max Baer looking at the x-ray of his hand after the doctor explained to him that it wasn't broken.

 

I remember seeing a comment from the time suggesting Ted Kid Lewis wasn't performing as well because he was fighting too often, so it's something people have been aware of for a while too.