GREATNESS!... HOW DOES A FIGHTER REACH GREATNESS?.......

[Sweet Scientist]

Wow, what an interesting and complex question...

First, you need loads of God given natural talent...the natural talent then needs slowly 'matured' through dedication...dedication to training and improvement...dedication to an outstanding work ethic...for a period in your life, nothing is more important than your goal to be the best you possibly can...dedication to sacrifice, you just can't always do what you want (or eat everything you want i.e. Riddick Bowe )...and you need to surround yourself with quality people...both in and out of the ring!...a good management team, a good promoter...and you absolutely, positively need to be mentally tough...it won't always be easy, you need to be able to think on your feet, things don't always go as planned in a fight...

...and obviously, you (like everyone) need to avoid drugs...and alcohol (plenty of time to drink when you retire in your 30's)...there were a lot of borderline great fighters who were sadly derailed by these things...

...then you need reasonable longevity...a 'prime' that lasts longer than 15 seconds...you need to have 'heart'...have to be able to take a punch, have to be able to 'weather the storm' after you've been really hit, have to be able to get the hell up off the canvas if/when you get dropped...you
have to come back from defeat, even the 'great' fighters lose fights...but the great ones come back unless old age is part of the reason...you need to be consistent in your performance and preparation...

...You must have some quality opposition...you need (or at least would like to have) a couple 'rivalries' that will bring out the best in both fighters...you need to successfully survive some 'wars'...If you dominate everyone you fight, you will be criticised for having 'weak', 'hand picked', or 'over the hill' opposition...you obviously shouldn't 'duck' competitive opponents...

...but most importantly...you need to win...and win...and win...and win...

...one last thing...it doesn't hurt to have a PR man and some positive media exposure...Kind of like the old question, 'if a tree falls in the forest and nobody is around, does it make a noise?'...If you're a great fighter, and nobody in the general public knows about you, you won't get the full advantages of it...you won't make the kind of money you deserve...the die hard boxing fans aren't enough to make a great fighter financially successful...You want to be remembered by people who know nothing about boxing!!!...that's not a bad thing...that's success!!!

[BoxBuzz]

And what SS has succinctly stated just about says it all. and yet I always have something further too add. The recipe for a great champion is somewhat like the recipe of a fine beer. But that is metaphor for another time and another thread.

[silkov]

Yeah, one of the things I've noticed over the years is that there have been many fighters who seemingly have had the talents to reach greatness but they have failed to realise their potential... often after reaching world class or winning a world title. Some who come to mind are Mando Ramos, Mike Dokes, Greg Page, Hector Comatcho, Riddick Bowe...

[silkov]

Well at least you had the respect to not raise your voice to my mother. Everytime I did the ass beating was doubled.

Also for the record my mother fought many different opponents. Most were related by blood, but there were a few good scrapes in the neighborhood. She was victorious in all bouts. There was one old bag down the street who was much heavier than ma....so to say she never moved up in weight to fight is just not fair or true. It mattered not the age, weight, sex, nationality, race, eye color or your opinion. If you didn't do as you were told, you were in for a fight, and an ass beating!!! The rematches were just more of the same. That to me qualifies as an all time great

But how many all timers did she face?.. . sounds like she feasted on a diet of dishwashers and little boys. .... bad competition man!... a female Roy Jones!!!.

[silkov]

My mother was never stripped of her title either.....her clothes yes. But that is a whole different subject

WWWHHOOAA!!!. .. Don't go there dude! :x :x :x :x :x :x 8) this is a family forum!!!.. ..

[tonyevs]

For me for a fighter to gain greatness he has to achieve the almost impossible.

To clear out his own weight class and beat the heavier weight fighters that rule the weight above.

Thats why I disagree when certain fighters get called great when they beat the fighters moving up, it only counts for me with the fella moving up because he is the one at the disadvantage in natural size.

Ray Robinson
Ezzard Charles
Roberto Duran

These are the type of fighters that deserve the great tag.

I won`t write who I think doesn`t deserve the tag...you know the ones who I mean

[ringsider]

sounds like she feasted on a diet of dishwashers and little boys. .... bad competition man!... a female Roy Jones!!!.

Now that crossed the line!! Roy Jones never fought any one who was a threat. My ma fought all comers. My ma didn't lose to southpaws either. Iron Mike feasted on a diet of trash too, an he will be remembered in boxing history.

I think my ma qualifies as an all time great, she was undefeated in a lifetime of fighting. Rocky Marciano was only undefeated in the ring

[silkov]

sounds like she feasted on a diet of dishwashers and little boys. .... bad competition man!... a female Roy Jones!!!.

Now that crossed the line!! Roy Jones never fought any one who was a threat. My ma fought all comers. My ma didn't lose to southpaws either. Iron Mike feasted on a diet of trash too, an he will be remembered in boxing history.

I think my ma qualifies as an all time great, she was undefeated in a lifetime of fighting. Rocky Marciano was only undefeated in the ring

I guess your mom didn't take chemical 'assistance' either!!??.....