Successful unathletic slick boxers

[ElJefe]

A person can possess the perfect physical attributes required to execute the sweet science in a flawless manner without possessing a muscular well-defined body.

While this might be true, it sort of defeats the point of the question as any boxer with good skills would inherently be considered athletic because their physical attributes enable them to box to a good level.

[Enlightened-One]

I think some are confusing unathletic with looking unathletic.

Pro wrestler Somoa Joe looks unathletic but realy isn't. Ultimate Warriror looked athletic but wasn't at all.

Exactly this! Both Furys are extremely athletic.

Compared to someone like Wilder or Joshua? If you were to get all 4 of them on a track or in a gym I'd say Wilder and AJ would dominate in terms of speed, strength in relation to body weight, explosiveness etc. Tyson and Hughie are clever boxers but I wouldn't describe them as athletic in comparison to Wilder in terms of out and out physical capabilities.

A fighter doesn’t have to be a heptathlete, a decathlete, world-class at cross-fit training or anything else like that – instead, they only need to possess the right physical attributes to execute the sweet science.

A fighter with superior knowledge and skill will nearly always beat an opponent whose strengths are mainly power and fitness.

[ElJefe]

Exactly this! Both Furys are extremely athletic.

Compared to someone like Wilder or Joshua? If you were to get all 4 of them on a track or in a gym I'd say Wilder and AJ would dominate in terms of speed, strength in relation to body weight, explosiveness etc. Tyson and Hughie are clever boxers but I wouldn't describe them as athletic in comparison to Wilder in terms of out and out physical capabilities.

A fighter doesn’t have to be a heptathlete, a decathlete, world-class at cross-fit training or anything else like that – instead, they only need to possess the right physical attributes to execute the sweet science.

A fighter with superior knowledge and skill will nearly always beat an opponent whose strengths are mainly power and fitness.

I'm fully aware of that but that's not the point of the question. I believe the OP is looking for examples of fighters who have that superior knowledge and skill and are therefore slick, despite not being someone who you'd expect to excel in a test of athleticism.

Hence me suggesting the Fury cousins, who are slick boxers but probably wouldn't come close to matching the athletic capabilities of fighters such as Wilder or Joshua if they were tested in a purely athletic setting with no emphasis on boxing, such as track and field events or gym work.

[jamamb]

ya, white guys cant jump and all that

but seriously, for example how would you know how a guy like wilder would perform in the fitness gym for example? or that hed blow fury away in tennis or football or judo?

[Enlightened-One]

ya, white guys cant jump and all that

but seriously, for example how would you know how a guy like wilder would perform in the fitness gym for example? or that hed blow fury away in tennis or football or judo?

They're judging a book by its cover, without possessing any real knowledge of the state of their actual physical capabilities.

[Enlightened-One]

Compared to someone like Wilder or Joshua? If you were to get all 4 of them on a track or in a gym I'd say Wilder and AJ would dominate in terms of speed, strength in relation to body weight, explosiveness etc. Tyson and Hughie are clever boxers but I wouldn't describe them as athletic in comparison to Wilder in terms of out and out physical capabilities.

A fighter doesn’t have to be a heptathlete, a decathlete, world-class at cross-fit training or anything else like that – instead, they only need to possess the right physical attributes to execute the sweet science.

A fighter with superior knowledge and skill will nearly always beat an opponent whose strengths are mainly power and fitness.

I'm fully aware of that but that's not the point of the question. I believe the OP is looking for examples of fighters who have that superior knowledge and skill and are therefore slick, despite not being someone who you'd expect to excel in a test of athleticism.

Hence me suggesting the Fury cousins, who are slick boxers but probably wouldn't come close to matching the athletic capabilities of fighters such as Wilder or Joshua if they were tested in a purely athletic setting with no emphasis on boxing, such as track and field events or gym work.

All you're doing is judging a book by its cover, without possessing any real knowledge of the state of their actual physical capabilities.

The only thing that matters is possessing the right combination of physical attributes to execute the sweet science in a flawless manner.

Wilder and Joshua have exceptional power, but that’s pretty much the only physical attribute that they both have that should be considered special.

[Taansend]

Boxing isn’t a bodybuilding contest.

A person can possess the perfect physical attributes required to execute the sweet science in a flawless manner without possessing a muscular well-defined body.

In fact, to be pedantic, all the dictionary definitions of the word “athletic” generally refer to physical capability rather than possessing an aesthetically pleasing physique.

You really are an idiot.

You're just stating the obvious, you tit. This is just a light hearted thread about boxing & you have to pretend you're the font of all knowledge again

You never fail to disappoint, you muppet.

[IKSRTFO]

I think some are confusing unathletic with looking unathletic.

Pro wrestler Somoa Joe looks unathletic but realy isn't. Ultimate Warriror looked athletic but wasn't at all.

Exactly this! Both Furys are extremely athletic.

Compared to someone like Wilder or Joshua? If you were to get all 4 of them on a track or in a gym I'd say Wilder and AJ would dominate in terms of speed, strength in relation to body weight, explosiveness etc. Tyson and Hughie are clever boxers but I wouldn't describe them as athletic in comparison to Wilder in terms of out and out physical capabilities.

Sure Wilder and Joshua may be more athletic, but that doesn't mean that Fury isn't athletic. I'd even say he has shown to have more stamina than Joshua does.

[IKSRTFO]

Compared to someone like Wilder or Joshua? If you were to get all 4 of them on a track or in a gym I'd say Wilder and AJ would dominate in terms of speed, strength in relation to body weight, explosiveness etc. Tyson and Hughie are clever boxers but I wouldn't describe them as athletic in comparison to Wilder in terms of out and out physical capabilities.

A fighter doesn’t have to be a heptathlete, a decathlete, world-class at cross-fit training or anything else like that – instead, they only need to possess the right physical attributes to execute the sweet science.

A fighter with superior knowledge and skill will nearly always beat an opponent whose strengths are mainly power and fitness.

I'm fully aware of that but that's not the point of the question. I believe the OP is looking for examples of fighters who have that superior knowledge and skill and are therefore slick, despite not being someone who you'd expect to excel in a test of athleticism.

Hence me suggesting the Fury cousins, who are slick boxers but probably wouldn't come close to matching the athletic capabilities of fighters such as Wilder or Joshua if they were tested in a purely athletic setting with no emphasis on boxing, such as track and field events or gym work.

Correct. Obviously, no boxer will be a couch potato but there are examples of slick boxers who uses skill to be slick (ie IQ, angles, pure defense and delivery of punches) as opposed to athletic ability (ie quick hands, quick feet, exposiveness.)

[Sequitorian]

Chris Arreola? ...

... and there was this Indian dude about 30 years ago who fought out of like Arizona or somewhere ... looked like the dough-boy but a pretty good boxer ... maybe even "slick" ... had a bad knee ... always wore a brace ...

[IKSRTFO]

Chris Arreola? ...

... and there was this Indian dude about 30 years ago who fought out of like Arizona or somewhere ... looked like the dough-boy but a pretty good boxer ... maybe even "slick" ... had a bad knee ... always wore a brace ...

I'm talking unathletic as in unathletic ability, not unathletic look. There are many people who look athletic but are not and vice versa.

[Sequitorian]

Chris Arreola? ...

... and there was this Indian dude about 30 years ago who fought out of like Arizona or somewhere ... looked like the dough-boy but a pretty good boxer ... maybe even "slick" ... had a bad knee ... always wore a brace ...

I'm talking unathletic as in unathletic ability, not unathletic look. There are many people who look athletic but are not and vice versa.

I'm glad ... but I'm talking unathletic as in unathletic physique ...

... and I'm going to continue talking unathletic as in unathletic physique ...

... doo dah ... doo dah ... ...

[Sequitorian]

Chris Arreola? ...

... and there was this Indian dude about 30 years ago who fought out of like Arizona or somewhere ... looked like the dough-boy but a pretty good boxer ... maybe even "slick" ... had a bad knee ... always wore a brace ...

I'm talking unathletic as in unathletic ability, not unathletic look. There are many people who look athletic but are not and vice versa.

I'm glad ... but I'm talking unathletic as in unathletic physique ...

... and I'm going to continue talking unathletic as in unathletic physique ...

... doo dah ... doo dah ... ...

Joe Hipp ... (broke Tommy Morrison's jaw before getting KO'd) ...

[IKSRTFO]

Chris Arreola? ...

... and there was this Indian dude about 30 years ago who fought out of like Arizona or somewhere ... looked like the dough-boy but a pretty good boxer ... maybe even "slick" ... had a bad knee ... always wore a brace ...

I'm talking unathletic as in unathletic ability, not unathletic look. There are many people who look athletic but are not and vice versa.

I'm glad ... but I'm talking unathletic as in unathletic physique ...

... and I'm going to continue talking unathletic as in unathletic physique ...

... doo dah ... doo dah ... ...

Fine. It just doesn't matter what physique you have as long as you can do was required. Like WWE guys Kevin Owens and Bray Wyatt look like a couple of truckers but are more athletic than Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior ever were. Shaq always struggled with his weight but is always a threat on any team he's been on until he was past prime.

[ElJefe]

A fighter doesn’t have to be a heptathlete, a decathlete, world-class at cross-fit training or anything else like that – instead, they only need to possess the right physical attributes to execute the sweet science.

A fighter with superior knowledge and skill will nearly always beat an opponent whose strengths are mainly power and fitness.

I'm fully aware of that but that's not the point of the question. I believe the OP is looking for examples of fighters who have that superior knowledge and skill and are therefore slick, despite not being someone who you'd expect to excel in a test of athleticism.

Hence me suggesting the Fury cousins, who are slick boxers but probably wouldn't come close to matching the athletic capabilities of fighters such as Wilder or Joshua if they were tested in a purely athletic setting with no emphasis on boxing, such as track and field events or gym work.

All you're doing is judging a book by its cover, without possessing any real knowledge of the state of their actual physical capabilities.

The only thing that matters is possessing the right combination of physical attributes to execute the sweet science in a flawless manner.

Wilder and Joshua have exceptional power, but that’s pretty much the only physical attribute that they both have that should be considered special.

I've already acknowledged that all that matters is that boxers have the athleticism to box, but again, that's not the point of the question as I understand it. And it doesn't mean that some boxers can't be more athletic than others in the purest sense of that word.

I've seen Anthony Joshua run 100m in 11.5 seconds, for example. I'd be very surprised if Fury could get anywhere near that. I'd back Joshua over Fury in most tests of athleticism. Does that mean he'd win a boxing match? Not necessarily, but that's not what the topic is about.

[Blodhemn]

Vitali Klitschko and Guillermo Jones come to mind. Goofy and uncoordinated but very well schooled, unorthodox styles of "slickness".

[Counter-puncher]

Vitali Klitschko and Guillermo Jones come to mind. Goofy and uncoordinated but very well schooled, unorthodox styles of "slickness".

good examples

[chuck9788]

Holy crap, that Tommy Morrison vs Joe Hipp highlight reel was insane!!

[phillykid]

Can't believe noone mentioned Bernard Hopkins, who is one of the best examples of this.

Early in his career, Bernard didn't really seem to have any specific tangible athletic qualities with the exception of being tall and rangy.

Roy Jones was able to beat him with just one hand in their first fight.

But through experience and dedication and a good trainer, Hopkins became a slick masterful boxer with surprisingly deceptive speed and power.

[lazboy]

Can't believe noone mentioned Bernard Hopkins, who is one of the best examples of this.

Early in his career, Bernard didn't really seem to have any specific tangible athletic qualities with the exception of being tall and rangy.

Roy Jones was able to beat him with just one hand in their first fight.

But through experience and dedication and a good trainer, Hopkins became a slick masterful boxer with surprisingly deceptive speed and power.

I mentioned him first. Give me the respect please. Give me the cool points.

[phillykid]

Can't believe noone mentioned Bernard Hopkins, who is one of the best examples of this.

Early in his career, Bernard didn't really seem to have any specific tangible athletic qualities with the exception of being tall and rangy.

Roy Jones was able to beat him with just one hand in their first fight.

But through experience and dedication and a good trainer, Hopkins became a slick masterful boxer with surprisingly deceptive speed and power.

I mentioned him first. Give me the respect please. Give me the cool points.

Ah you're right, good sir.
I now walk away humbled.

[lazboy]

Haha. Happy someone agreed. He was the model for it. Especially in his old age. Surely his younger opponents were more athletic than him just by grace of them being younger - he found a way to negate that.

[NateJR]

Nicolino Locche comes to mind. Little to no footwork, average speed, average or below average power, but had uncanny upper body movement. He didn't like to train, he smoked cigarettes ( even sometimes between rounds) constantly and wasn't a athlete at all in the true sense.

[Counter-puncher]

Nicolino Locche comes to mind. Little to no footwork, average speed, average or below average power, but had uncanny upper body movement. He didn't like to train, he smoked cigarettes ( even sometimes between rounds) constantly and wasn't a athlete at all in the true sense.

[keithmoonhangover]

Tony Tubbs was a very slick boxer.