I noticed that alot of good boxers fall off due to lack of conditioning. I think conditioning is an improtant factor in being a great fighter. Good condition helps fighters when they have to dig deep, when they've been hurt (recovering), stamina, and power. It also shows discipline and dedication to your craft. I've seen so many fighters fall off because they weren't in consistant shape -- either faded late in fights or never could withstand a punch. JMM Floyd Mayweather Shane Mosley Manny Pacquiao Bernard Hopkins Joe Calzaghe RJJ Pavlik are just a few active fighters that remain in tip top shape before every fight. Yeah a few of them had set backs, but it was never due to them being out of shape. A few guys that were up and down in their conditioning include M.A. Barrera DLH Zab Judah Jermain Taylor Lennox Lewis Vargas Toney Winky Wright
I guess that's what separates from others, the ones that take their cardio workouts seriously ! Some guys do train a lot but not on stamina workouts !! That's the key ! It may sound funny, but the Rocky IV kind of training they showed for Rocky was a good example of stamina workouts ! Running up heels in snow to your knees, etc..
I agree with you but the thing is that fans often argue about who would win if both fighters were in their peak form and in these cases you have to assume that both fighters would be in their best condition for this hypothetical match-up. Its reasons why Tyson can still be considered a top10 heavyweight because greatness is a mixture of achievements and potential, though the potential part is much harder to quantify and much more subjective.