Most genetically gifted boxer ever?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by SonnyListon>, Jun 21, 2024.


  1. SonnyListon>

    SonnyListon> #1 Sonny Liston fan Full Member

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    Boxing undoubtably is an extremely skill based sport but just like with anything else, theres bound to be inequality’s formed at birth. With boxers like Primo Carnera who were champs based entirely on genetics, who are some others who were similarly gifted?

    NOTE: this is not a thread to discredit anyone, if your here to bash someone you don’t like this isn’t the thread.
     
  2. Gazelle Punch

    Gazelle Punch Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Sometimes I hate Hearns because I feel like he changed boxing forever. Coaches became obsessed w finding tall skinny guys lol.
     
  3. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Liston for his time,

    Holmes.

    Barbados Joe Walcott for the freakish arms.
     
  4. SonnyListon>

    SonnyListon> #1 Sonny Liston fan Full Member

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    Its crazy to see all the articles and such explaining how much of a physical monster Liston was, contrasted with the fact he was only 6’1
     
  5. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    But the reach and huge fists!
     
  6. Totentanz.

    Totentanz. Gator Wrestler Extraordinaire banned Full Member

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    Liston would've set a precedent if he beat Ali. Everyone would've been looking for big, bulky dudes with long arms rather than skinny dudes who could move. Maybe we would've seen guys like Holmes form a completely different style, since he fits the build otherwise.
    I also agree about Holmes' build, maybe it's because he's the true shadow champion of the eighties, but he was a physical marvel, and nobody really noticed it. Combine that with his outwardly offensive version of Ali's outwardly defensive style, and there's no wonder why he dominated every man he crossed until he started to age.
     
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  7. Melankomas

    Melankomas Prime Jeffries would demolish a grizzly in 2 Full Member

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    Probably Corbett, he’d have to be a marvel of genetic speed to get away with the nonsense he did.
     
  8. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 Mauling Mormon’s Full Member

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    Joe Grim in a way.
     
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  9. ikrasevic

    ikrasevic Who is ready to suffer for Christ (the truth)? Full Member

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    Roy Jones Jr. can be selected. and Foreman can, ONLY for the reason that I won the Olympic gold medal with about 20 amateur fights.
    Other boxers, like Oliver McCall, can be chosen because I'm not sure how much chin can be trained and how much is genetic.
    It all depends on your taste; which boxing virtue do you value the most: speed, strength, chin, stamina...
     
  10. Glass City Cobra

    Glass City Cobra H2H Burger King

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    In terms of the eye test (raw talent: speed, reflexes, timing, power, coordination, etc) Roy is objectively the most gifted fighter of all time.
     
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  11. ikrasevic

    ikrasevic Who is ready to suffer for Christ (the truth)? Full Member

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    Totally agree, but if "best chin" is your taste, then Oliver is above Roy.
    And stamina can be a favored boxing virtue.
    In that case, we would probably also consider boxers from the beginning of the twentieth century, who boxed 45 rounds (Willard?).
    It is not easy to judge the "Most genetically gifted boxer ever".
    It all depends on who favors which boxing virtue or virtues.
     
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  12. Glass City Cobra

    Glass City Cobra H2H Burger King

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    Well if you simply tally the number of individual gifts, I'm sure Roy comes in 1st place even if he doesn't have a rating in every single category like stamina or chin.
     
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  13. Mike Cannon

    Mike Cannon Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Jimmy Wilde : how on earth did he generate so much power from a frame like his ??? does this fit the topic..
     
  14. Jakub79

    Jakub79 Active Member Full Member

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    Roy’a Jonesa, Mike Tyson, George Foreman, Sonny Liston, Muhammad Ali, Wasyl Lomachenko. Genetic freak.. biggest probably was Big George
     
  15. ikrasevic

    ikrasevic Who is ready to suffer for Christ (the truth)? Full Member

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    And I completely agree with that.
    And I regret that he didn't finish his career after the fight with Ruiz.
    How would the P4P ATG list be written then?