I think this list is gonna be hard, because boxing talent is somewhat subjective. I think guys automatically equate talent with handspeed, but that isn't always accurate (although speed is very important). Chavez was way more talented than Judah and Khan, for instance, despite being slower than them. Anyway, here are the five guys I would consider the most naturally talented fighters in history: Leonard Jones Duran Robinson Ali/Whitaker I know that's six, but whatever . HMs: Pep, Pac, Floyd, Sanchez, Gomez, Benitez, Harada, Tyson, Hagler, Qawi, Napoles, Chavez, Pryor. You'll notice that not EVERY fighter on this list was a speed demon (some were). But these guys just stand out IMO for having insane boxing talent.
I don't have any issue with someone who wants to insert Pac in the top 5, or Floyd. To me, guys like Whitaker and Duran were more "natural" talents than Floyd, as Floyd has worked about as hard as anyone in history at perfecting his craft. I think fighting talent came a bit more naturally to Duran and Pea, which is why Floyd barely missed my 5.
I should have added Monzon. Monzon was ridiculously talented, when you consider that he probably spent just as much time smoking and fucking models as he did training.
It's hard because I pretty much think all elements of a fighters game at the very highest level can be put down to talent. I've no doubt Sugar Ray Robinson worked very hard to get skills like his, but it's an aptitude for learning which let him excell past other fighters equally dedicated. The reason why Robinson's speed and fluidity is more impressive than Gamboa's, is because Robinson had the intangibles to back them up and use it at the very highest level. An innate quality which took him to that highest level, IE: talent. It's a slippery slope, because almost every little detail of these highest level fighters can be attributed to hardwork and talent, but when they're the ones who got there despite others working just as hard, means the only other multiple left in play is raw talent. Plus, what about fighters so extraordinary with a lack of experience, like Benitez? Shouldn't they get extra points for being 17 and still dethroning one of the best junior-welters ever? It was a great win won by raw talent. It's hard. But for this, to keep it simple, let's call talent a mixture of athleticism, toughness and aptitude for learning, the things you can't massively improve just by training them forever. Well, you can, but Oscar De La Hoya was never gonna have the skills of Duran, or the stamina of Jeff Fenech. So based on that criteria, I'd say your top five is absolutely fine; although I wouldn't have Ali. I actually don't think I'd have Ali that high at all. Certainly below Tyson, Hagler, Napoles, etc. Anywho, I'd have them: Robinson Leonard Duran Jones Whitaker
The one guy on my list who might standout is Qawi. Qawi went from a boxing novice in prison to an ATG in a REMARKABLY short amount of time. I don't care how dedicated you are, unless you have insane talent, you can't do something like that.
I was thinking Qawi was out of place, but he does fit well. Unbelievably tough with a great aptitude for learning, plus, he has insane reflexes and timing. Definitely up there when you consider what it takes to do what he did. Hagler is another who's just criminally underrated in terms of talent. People like to make out that he was a regular bloke who put the work in and became great. As much as it's an inspirational story, it's not true. Hagler was an insanely talented man.
While he's not nearly as great as anyone I've listed so far, I think Hamed deserves HM. The skills weren't there, but he had extremely rare talent. Some guys were so unique they can't be duplicated. Duran, Ali, and Jones are the most notable three. Hamed wasn't a fraction as good/great as those guys, but... he can't really be duplicated.
Yup, 100% agreed on Hagler. The narrative is that Hagler was just some guy who trained like no other. While that's true, he was also absurdly talented. Sanchez IMO actually has a legit case for top 5. Sal's natural talent was just off the charts.
For me, aside from the obvious, what impresses me about Sanchez was his aerobic capacity. It took him 47 seconds for his heart rate to comeback down to a regular pace. He came out the start of each round fresh and calm, because he didn't have to regulate his breathing and wasn't panicking as his heart pounded against his chest. Over 15 rounds, when each time you get a break, you start settling down quickly, and the other fella is wasting time gathering himself, it builds up. Sanchez's second wind came early enough where he ended up getting a third. It's why he came on so strong in the late rounds so often.
I think Arguello for his offensive talent deserves mention. Guys can train their entire lives and not be able to throw the kind of left hook he flattened Olivares with. That's just talent.
Nikolai Valuev. Of course, he belongs nowhere near the all-time lists, but he achieved a respectable career with absolutely zero skill and nothing but born qualities (=talent)
A fighter who I think doesn't get the enough credit for his unearthly athleticism, is Hilario Zapata. Aside from having the same sort of movement you'd see from Keanu in the Matrix, he was also had extremely dexterous feet, and was a pair of rapid hands when he chose to let them go.
Yeah, he slipped my mind. He can definitely go on the HM list. Happy Lora can go on the HM list. Lora was almost like a Canto-Gomez hybrid.
Surprised nobody mentioned hearns, hes in my top 5 for sure. But as Georges said, it's incredibly hard to really isolate talent, especially at the top level. I rebember rj being mad when people referred to him as the most talented fighter ever. Cause it implied that everything came easy to him, while he knew he worked his ass out to get this "talent"
Toney is also from the same mold. Begin his career fairly late and was just a natural fighter. To a certain extent, as average as marciano looks, he obviously was very talented. Again, he only started boxing very late, and beat some atg who weren't that much smaller than him
All fighters on the elite level have to work hard. Some work harder than others, but regardless of how hard they train, 99% can't do the things Roy could do.
Marciano was tough, strong, hit like a truck and had endless stamina. He's an incredibly talented heavyweight, and it's rare you find one with those aspects. However, I'd say no matter what way you define talent, split hairs or twist things, Tyson, Foreman, Louis and Ali have to go above him.
Yeah, I would agree that those are the four most talented heavyweights, only I would add Lewis to the list.
I should have mentioned Kid Gavilan. The Keed was an exceptional talent. The fact that was so fast, so creative, and literally never ever ever got tired.
