Name a boxer that's skilled but doesn't have that "dog in him"

I think what made it work is that Kitten Hayward very much fits the type of fighter OP is talking about here. Ton of skill but lacking the grit of tough-guy Philadelphians of his weight and era.

 

Rigondeaux gutted it out against Ceja and won a rough fight against that huge Japanese guy.

 

In that case Loma also gutted it out in tough fights with Linares, Ortiz, Haney.

 

Andre Dirrell certainly had serious talent and skills but lacked that drive and determination to be even greater. Still shocking how he wasn’t able to win a world title while his brother Anthony Dirrell did.

 

Dude lost against Hane and Ortiz was a track meet. Didn't mean to hurt your feelings.

 

Not at all. I just went along with your criteria. I can easily say that Rigo quit against Loma and did a track meet with Casimero and Astrolabio.

 

It's telling that you're stuck with fights that happened well after his prime and another past prime and at the wrong weight.

In his prime, he showed some dog against Donaire and Amagasa. Post prime, he did against Ceja. He wasn't challenged all that much in his prime though. His am career also checks out.

 

Tony Tucker and Filip Hrgovic seem to lack that extra gear needed to be elite.