I was having an arguement with a mate earlier, there are things a boxer is born with, which can't be taught. Natural attributes. To be effective at the elite level, which of these attributes would you see as the most important, which as the least? And WHY? Things like skill etc can be taught, so aren't included. No one is born with technique, it's always moulded in some way, via teaching, visual engagement (tv) or enviroment. However out of natural physical gifts, what is the most valuable asset? What can be absent yet not debilitating to a career at the elite level. If you was a boxer, a guy fighting at the top level, what would you want to have in your armoury? You would require at least two of these to succeed at elite level imo. Please rate in order. Speed Power Chin Natural Strength
By the way I would say speed is clearly the most valuable natural asset in boxing, followed by power, chin and strength.
Yup, the way I see it, speed has the potential to trouble ANYBODY, no matter how good the opponents technique, in fact speed and chin could spell trouble for a huge percentage of fighters. Power can be negated more, but is still a big big weapon to have. Chin is of course very valuable, but it can't WIN fights for you, and strength is important but not necessary as we saw in the Pac fight.
In would argue that there are number of other important (arguably more so) intangible qualities that cannot be taught.
Power??? As in Punching Power? ...if so then i take that...a fighter w/ average everything else..and punching power of Jackson, Foster, Foreman, etc kinda power will have a decent career....
Typical CONTRARIAN Tam-Tam BULLSHIT...If the Points U Speak Of were THAT OBVIOUS, U've have NO Problems Elaborating on them... REED::
Ability to work and train hard. That is one and IMHO themost important. And it is a talent: some can spend eigth hours a day in the gym and find the motivation every day to work out their problems. Muhammad Ali was one of them. Also your body has to be able to take the training. Guts and attitude are a form of talent too: they can get better some (just like power) but either you have them or not. Also body coordination (which enables you to learn techniques), that you can control your moves and use all muscles needed at the same time. Pernell Whitaker was awesome in this sense
Bottom Line, SPEED KILLS... Speed = the Ability to CONSISTENTLY Beat your Opponent to the Punch AND the Ability to Hit your Opponent w/Shots he DOESN'T See Coming...OBVIOUSLY a Fighter WON'T B Successful Based PURELY on Speed, but if REED Could Pick & Choose 1 NATURAL Attribute to Have, he'd Pick SPEED 1st... THEN Probably Chin...THEN Power... REED:hammert:
Heart I suppose could be considered an "attribute", I know its a cliche, but anyone who steps in the ring and competes at a decent level has heart, some more than others sure, but even so, heart won't win you fights against the very best alone. Whereas speed conceivably could. What if you have all the heart in the world but no chin? Doesn't mean shit, just means you'll try and get back up off the canvas alot ::. However if you have speed and no chin, you can STILL possibly compete with the best guys around. My point is, speed is a necessity to reach the highest echelons of the sport, whereas while the others are important, some more so than others, you can get by without them.
Whilst you make good points, I don't see the ability to work or train hard as something you are born with, if someones cutting corners on the gym it is laziness on their part, but a great trainer wouldn't let it happen imo
Yup, definitely, you see guys like Roy Jones and Calzaghe who make tons of technical errors in the way they fight, but because of their speed it compensates for it, and can even make the unorthadox styles an advantage. Interesting you would have chin over power, would you say it's a toss-up between the two Reed? Or do value chin alot higher than power?
Im aint saying heart over speed but you have a guy like Fraudley Harrison he appears to have all the attributes but lacks the heart to succeed.
That's a good example mate and I see what you mean, to be honest with you though, whilst he does appear to have deficiencies in the heart department, I think Audleys issue is more to do with stamina, he seems to only fight in spurts and then goes quiet. Also his chin isn't the best.
Let be honest the guy is a bum - but he is big, strong and athletic if he had a little heart he could have had a career.
That we see differently then because I think a good trainer can help you with your work ethics but to get to the top you have to have the ambition yourself. You have to have the will to do tens of thousands of repeats of basic moves and give your everyting even when nobody is watching. It is the same as with speed, which I think is the most important physical attribute: with good trainer and correct exercises you can gain more speed, but Jeff Lacy does not become Roy Jones with any training
Or calmness. I don't think you can teach a guy that natural love of standing in the pocket with potential KO punches grazing over either side of his head and being able to function at a high level. That's what makes a really great fighter, IMO. Certainly a shit load of sparring helps but allot of it is down to a certain innate temperament.
It's VERY Close, No Doubt...But U're More Apt to LOSE a Fight w/a POOR Chin than U R if U Can't Punch a Lick...The "FeatherFisted" Thread is FULL of Guys that were Successful DESPITE their LACK of Pop...But How Many Successful Fighters were there w/SHITTY Chins???... REED::
Good call. To a certain extent 'skill' is in-born. Or at least the ability to sponge up and apply the skill set is in born.
