Who were the fittest, most dedicated boxers?

Fitzsimmons, by default, being he was a professional blacksmith
between fights.

 

You guys are ****in weird.

 

While I don't think boxers today are on average as talented as those years ago, I think they're in better condition. Most of the fighters I see are pretty ripped.

 

Being "ripped" doesn't necessarily equate to being in "better" condition. Fighters of the past took more fights,...boxed more rounds, ect.,..

 

Funny thing about Duran is that before the first Leonard fight, I heard Dundee say "Duran is weak in the gut, he never does his table work. No one ever tested him there" Implying a body attack from Leonard which never came. Maybe Dundee was just trying to confuse Duran spies.

 

Boxers of the past probably had better "ring conditioning". They seemed to spar a lot more & of course they fought more often. Fighters today are in great shape but maybe lack the edge that being "battle tested" gives you.

 

This is popular reasoning in this forum but I disagree. Fighting other men regularly takes a lot out of you.

 

Dedication: Hopkins

 

Jeff Fenech.

 

Marciano...worked his ass off getting ready for a fight...

 

Sanchez always seemed to be in top shape, even though he wasn't always "on" for every fight.

 

Hagler said that no one will every take his belt and he trained with that mentality.

 

So many - probably the first to come to mind would be Marciano and Holyfield although unfortunately for me there is always that whiff of suspicion with Holy's methods - Gene Tunney I think was never in anything other than perfect shape and Vlad too but again there's that whiff of suspicion with Vlad what 'help' he's had - Ezz and Wally always looked in great shape too - some fighters looked like they were in great shape at times in their careers but then at other times didn't look so hot so maybe their dedication dropped off too much but those guys are the ones I can't really remember seeing out of shape to any extent - oh and I hear Jeff was also insane in training

 

Manny.

Throws hundreds upon hundreds of punches ALL with power and NEVER tires.

 

In terms of dedication, hard to top JM Marquez' willingness to consume his own urine.