Most Relaxed Elite Operators

Some good names mentioned already I would add Yoko Gushiken to the list.

 

Esubio Pedroza, Chavez Sr.

 

Mustafa Muhammad, Kev Finnegan, Medel, Starling etc. All the other talented but lazy f#ckers who calmly thrived on inviting punches and punishing people on the counter.

The guys with terrific late rounds acceleration and stamina often have very slow beating hearts, able to return to something like their resting rates in between rounds, which requires tremendous relaxation of both body and mind. Sanchez as mentioned, but men like Saldivar, Marcel, Arguello, Pedroza, Buchanan, Ohba etc.

Griffith was great at accurately pacing himself and easily maintaining his technique and offensive timing over 15 and under pressure, another sign of a relaxed body and mind. Monzon and Ortiz also great at this.

Khaokor Galaxy was very unflappable and relaxed, Khaosai too in his own steady and methodically aggressive way. Sahaprom was a great mention by George and Payakaroon by rough. The Thais in general it seems. Kingpetch, Borkhorsor, recently Sor Rungvisai.

Gerry Penalosa was like a Buddhist monk with a Zen-like approach and stoic expression. I remember the mighty john Garfield, God bless him, being in awe of Penalosa in sparring, so he said.

 

Has anyone mentioned Giardello yet?

 

Riddick Bowe deserves a mention. For a fighter with questionable conditioning, Bowe set a quick pace and never seemed to be struggling for energy late on. Impressive when he was usually carrying a fair few extra pounds.

Anyone mention Mike McCallum? Far more relaxed in the ring than out of it by all accounts.

 

Read about him and seen him mentioned before, not very knowledgeable though, so I decided to look him up a bit after seeing this. Damn, this guy must've been born in a Boxing ring! Just totally unflappable and smooth, and a super skilled southpaw to boot. I'm gonna enjoy myself watching his bouts.

Mind recounting those sparring stories if you can, Tin? I have always been fascinated with relaxed, creative fighter types and their working processes, as it were.

 

Hagler initially came to mind.
Chris Eubank sr
Donald Curry ( at his unbeaten best )
Ali
Sugar Ray Leonard
GGG

 

https://www.boxingforum24.com/threads/tell-me-about-gerry-penalosa.299635/#post-9254120

Have a look at that thread about Penalosa mate, there's a bit of chat between john and I on it. Addie was a good poster too, very articulate. It's the only thread I can find with anything on it relevant. The rest of the talks I had with john about Gerry were private messages iirc. Said he used to go to the Wildcard just to watch Penalosa spar and that he used to make bigger fighters look pedestrian. It's a shame Penalosa was so one-paced, overly methodical and slow on the front foot even at super fly. Should have been a big distance between him and the likes of Cho and Tokuyama who he dropped controversial decisions to. Lovely fighter to watch but extremely frustrating.

 

Billy Graham George Benton

 

Bruce Curry wasn't the most calm or the most elite but it was the deciding factor imo when he warred with Brooks.

 

Benton is a great call, Robert.

 

Thanku TR

 

Sam Langford in footage we have looks like he was always under control and never overcommited with his attacks. Cool and collected master.

 

Carlos Monzon,was ice cold and had total composure during a fight.