Top 10 most naturally talented fighters you've ever seen?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Bokaj, Aug 7, 2011.


  1. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    The guys that just had it in a way other greats didn't. Who everything came very easy and naturally to, and whose physical abilities allowed them to perform their skills to a very high effect. My top 10 would be something like this:

    1. RJJ
    2. Ali
    3. Pep
    4. Jersey Joe Walcott
    5. Toney
    6. Jack Johnson
    7. Hamed
    8. SRR
    9. SRL
    10. Duran

    HMs: Loche, Benitez, McCallum, Kalambay (EDIT: Instead of Tyson)
     
  2. SenorRamirez

    SenorRamirez Active Member Full Member

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  3. atberry

    atberry Boxing Junkie banned Full Member

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    Benn
    Calzaghe
    Jones Jr
    Nunn
    McCallum
    Taylor (Meldrick)
    Pep
    Locche
    Ali
    Benitez
    Graham
     
  4. DDDUUDDDEE

    DDDUUDDDEE Undisputed Ambien (taker) Full Member

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    RJJ
    Toney
    Pep
    SRR
    SRL
    Meldrick Taylor
    Tyson
    Benitez
    Ali
    Khan
     
  5. RockysSplitNose

    RockysSplitNose Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I remember some amateur footage of Tyson and Teddy Atlas was being asked at ringside whether he would say Tyson was 'a natural' and Atlas said "I wouldn't call him a 'natural'...he doesn't work in the gym like that?". So I'd dare say with Tyson it was a lot of sweat guts and listening
     
  6. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    You may be right. I was thinking hard about Tyson. On one hand he was technically very advanced at a very young age (and also had great physical abilities), but the way he moved always had more a feel of hard drilling than that natural smoothness guys like Benitez, Toney, Ali, Pep, McCallum etc had.
     
  7. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Thinking about it, I probably put Toney too low. I've heard that the guy only took up boxing in high-school and still he was a world class technician already in his early 20's.
     
  8. kmac

    kmac On permanent vacation Full Member

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    yes, i usually sit back and think how benn and calzaghe were much more talented than ali. :lol: holy ****.
     
  9. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    :lol:
     
  10. Swarmer

    Swarmer Patrick Full Member

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    ali clearly lacked Calzaghe's iron chin and blinding speed
     
  11. TIGEREDGE

    TIGEREDGE Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Ray Robinson is rather low. he should be a lock for the top 3. Agree with your Number 1. Robinson never showed the athletic prowessess of Jones
     
  12. Swarmer

    Swarmer Patrick Full Member

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    No order:

    Jones
    Ali
    Robinson
    Whitaker
    Canzoneri
    Louis
    Langford
    Charles
    McLarnin
    Tyson
     
  13. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    John Garfield, who watched both men train and fight, had Pep down as the more naturally talented, so that kind of excludes Robinson from the top 3 in my book. That, and that I think that the guys I have in front of him just had more natural smoothness. That's a very subjective thing, though.
     
  14. Swarmer

    Swarmer Patrick Full Member

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    Robinson deserves a top 10 spot either way for incredible use of torque in his single shots and combinations, better at putting together truly heavy shots than any fighter in history with a few exceptions. Pep's lack of hitting ability hurts him here.
     
  15. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Yea, Robinson deserves a top 10 place. His offense was just fantastic. Off the charts, really.