What fighters never lost that ability to go to war? The only one I can think of is Bobby Chacon, who fought well beyond his prime, and consistently fought wars, yet never lost that physical ability to take punishment. I mean from 1980 to 1988 when he finally stopped fighting, he only lost twice, once to Boza, and another to Ray Mancini (which could be argued for an early stoppage in Bobby's case, but it was probably best not to take the chance). He never lost that ability to go to war, just watch the fight with Art Frias from 1985, it's a complete shootout. Even fighters like Arturo Gatti, Rafael Limon, Carmen Basilio, and Matthew Saad Muhammad eventually lost that ability later in their careers, their bodies simply unable to take the wear and tear anymore. What do you guys think?
Schoolboy was an interesting case, because he got by on youth and sheer talent in his earlier career, but was even then known to be lacking in conditioning and stamina. He gassed in the first match with Boza Edwards, then rededicated himself as a widower faced with young children to raise and support. I do wonder what he might have done with that kind of commitment from the beginning. Would Olivares have ever defeated him? No question in my mind whatsoever that he wins Boza Edwards I, probably by knockout. He still doesn't likely beat Arguello, but could have made things far more interesting. Watch Limon-Navarrete I. The Chacon of Boza Edwards I would have unquestionably gassed against Rafael in that situation. Really, I think he did lose it at the end of Boza Edwards I, and at the end of Arguello, but then recaptured it through the magic of hard training for the first time in his career before Limon IV. He never lost it again.
I agree with what you're saying, but I'm not sure you understood exactly what I was referring to. A fighter's stamina and overall conditioning are different than their ability to wage war and take punishment, though I acknowledge they do affect each other. Chacon certainly lost the drive to really commit himself at times in his career, but he could always do battle and persist. That's not something you can acquire from training, only to a certain extent. That extent being your conditioning and stamina which help you push on in a tough fight. But guys like Chacon, Gatti, Saad, Limon, Basilio, Holyfield, etc. had something extra even beyond that, and that is why they often times came out on top in these incredible ring wars. But all those guys except for Chacon eventually lost that extra ability later in their careers.
I don't think Holyfield ever really lost the ability to "go to war". At the end of Holyfield's career nobody would go to war with him... it was his only chance at victory sometimes... but in the fights he lost his opponent choice not to fight Holyfield's fight. Lewis, Ruiz, Byrd, Toney, Donald, Ibragimov... none of them "went to war" with Holyfield. Rahman did and lost, Savarese did and lost, Nielsen did and lost, Botha did and lost. Oquendo didn't want to but Holyfield still beat him. He was robbed vs. Valuev.
^ I would agree with that and I am not a fan of Evander . He was very good especially for a guy who used three weapons, right , left and his noggin'...
I do see what you're saying here. I do also think there's a difference between the Holyfield of old versus his earlier career. He may have been up for a good scrap even still in his later career, but nothing like his earlier career. The battles he had in his later career were nothing like they had been. And the same can not be said of Chacon.
Although Hearns was falling to pieces physically near the end, he never lost his fire and willingness to sling bombs. The same kind of applies to Henry Armstrong. Although he wasn't as effective after the Zivic fight, he still had stamina and guts in abundance.
I feel like Hearns was one of those strange cases. I mean you've got this world class fighter, with a body designed for pure boxing, and that incredible ability to produce deadly power. His body would betray him though, it wasn't meant for war in the ring. But as you said, his fire and will would push him so far. It's strange to wonder what could have become of Hearns' career if he had fought like he was essentially meant to. A lot of those losses could potentially have been wins. Nonetheless, I feel like the boxing community gives him his respect, because he was a warrior in the ring, and he didn't need to be, we know he gave us so many exciting fights, sometimes even at the price of his victory.
