Is having this mindset what really sets ATGs apart from others? Of course they will still need a certain degree of skill, but is what's in their mind (the will to win), just as important? I'm of the sort that thinks will is most important of all. If one goes into a boxing ring, or anything else in life, thinking they'll lose, it is a self-fulfilling prophecy for them! They already thought they would lose before ever stepping into a ring, business decision, or whatever.. Real winners in life always refuse to lose. In boxing it is a matter of entering a ring believing the other guy can't beat you. Ali fought by this precept, he may have lost, but he never once thought he wasn't the greatest in the ring in any of his bouts. Marciano was of the same ilk of Ali using this argument, even though his style was vastly different. The point I'm making is all of the ATGs never entered a ring thinking they would lose, and they nearly always came out with that something special that kept them from losing. And I feel this is true of Ali, Holmes, Marciano, Louis, Dempsey, Frazier etc. etc. in spades. These are the guys HW fans always keep comparing to each other, why? Because they are the best of all in boxing! And they are also the ones who took the skill they had and believed the most in it. ALI, while I don't think he was the greatest, epitomized this thought process better than any person ever in boxing! Your own views regarding "A Will to Win"?
I think Carlos Monzon is a perfect candidate for this. He was never intimidated and never doubted himself. In the ring I don't recall him ever being thrown off his gameplan and his will was indominatable. His opponents were broken down over the fight and eventually conceded. Greatest Middleweight ever
Yeah, I agree about the self-fulfilling prophecy. If the mind is strong, and the will indomitable, the body will follow. Marciano is hard to go past in this regard. While I am not religious, I have noticed that the HWs with Faith appear to be mentally v.strong, perhaps because they believe some greater power is looking out for them, and so they can't get hurt... Ali, Foreman (2nd coming) and Holyfield are good examples of this.
Frazier, Ali and Holyfield spring to mind immediately. Outside of the HW's Hagler deserves a mention.
Ali and Holmes leap forth. Jeff fenech overcame a lot in plenty of fights too with sheer intensity. SRL for all his glimmer sure had the inner fortitude.
