Fighters Who Could Box Well But Chose Not To

[franciscojavier]

Thinking about this because I’ve been watching a couple Robert Guerrero fights today and he mostly was a rough-and-tough sloppy kind of fighter, but when he wanted to he could be a more schooled boxer-puncher with a nice jab and solid head movement. The commentators kept saying that he was a very slick boxer as a teenager in the amateurs, and that’s why he got the nickname “The Ghost”.

I’ve also heard the same of Gatti, that when he was younger he had a very good jab but decided to become a brawler because it would make him a fan favorite and ensure he could make more money than what lower weight fighters normally do.

[HomicideHenry]

Razor Ruddock

[Seamus]

At times Sugar Ray Robinson.

[emallini]

Tommy Coyle

[AngryGoon38]

Tommy Morrison
Jerry Quarry
Gerrie Coetzee
Arturo Gatti
Mustafa Hamsho
Alan Minter
Mike Tyson

[Controversial]

Muhammad Ali at times

[giacomino]

Bazooka Gomez. Underrated boxer who loved to impose his will. He was known for making all 17 defenses of his jr. featherweight crown by KO, but when he was past his prime he boxed LaPorte's ears off for Sanchez's featherweight belt and was outpointing Nelson until he tired and got caught.

[Ezzard]

Azumah Nelson

[scartissue]

Monroe Brooks
Terry Norris
Angel Espada
Rodrigo Valdes
Mando Ramos
and of course...Razor Ruddock, but he's already been mentioned.

[dmckenzie]

A few small Mexicans could fall into this category, guys who were nice counterpunchers but absolutely went to war when pushed.

Chucho Castillo and Erik Morales are a couple I can think of who could box but would quite as happily get in a scrap.
Morales in the 12th (any 12th) round

[elmersalsa]

The great Thomas "The Hitman" Hearns

[Flump]

The great Thomas "The Hitman" Hearns

Good call. Great skills, but just loved a fight.

[dmckenzie]

Tommy Morrison
Jerry Quarry
Gerrie Coetzee
Arturo Gatti
Mustafa Hamsho
Alan Minter
Mike Tyson

Thinking about this because I’ve been watching a couple Robert Guerrero fights today and he mostly was a rough-and-tough sloppy kind of fighter, but when he wanted to he could be a more schooled boxer-puncher with a nice jab and solid head movement. The commentators kept saying that he was a very slick boxer as a teenager in the amateurs, and that’s why he got the nickname “The Ghost”.

I’ve also heard the same of Gatti, that when he was younger he had a very good jab but decided to become a brawler because it would make him a fan favorite and ensure he could make more money than what lower weight fighters normally do.

Gatti is a good shout.
First time I watched him in the Ward fights, it was obvious there was a lot of skill there and he looked the far more polished boxer but was repeatedly dragged into a fight.
Of course it was easy to look more skilled in with Ward, but Gatti definitely had boxing ability but he loved a scrap.

[Expug]

Matthew Saad Muhammad. After he lost decision to Eddie Gregory/mustapha Muhammad, he turned up the mayhem.

[surf-bat]

Jack Zivic. Most felt he had even more talent than his brother Fritzie. But after knocking out Lew Tendler--something even Benny Leonard and Mickey Walker couldn't do-- he developed an overconfidence in his punching power.

It was mostly downhill from there.