Top 10 Most "Gifted" Fighters of all time

[Goodnight, Irene]

Top-ten most gifted of all-time? Hearns was pretty special on the subject of raw talent & ability --- I could see a top-thirty list being inclusive of him, but top-ten?

That's a little lofty.

[dberry]

Yes G.I. you're in Bizzaro World, I awoke in it the other day. In Bizzaro world, anything can happen, but denial isn't just the river that runs through Egypt.

In Bizzaro World, Zab Judah could have k.o'd Leonard, Hearns, Duran and Haggler all in the same fight.

In Bizzaro World, taking some steroids can turn you from a 40 yo. Geisha girl into the Heavy Weight Champion Of The World, instlling skill, ring craft and years of experience in just afew jabs.

In Bizzaro World, you can make a carreer out of fighting debutants, also rans and well shot has beens (no disrespect intended to such fighters,my hat goes off to you all ), and then expect to be respected, acknowledged, given unlimited world title shots and massive purses.

In bizzaro world, ahh fvck it I think I've gotten my point across.

[BoxBuzz]

Am I in a parallel universe?

Hamed in the top top all-time most talented fighters? Someone just mentioned this, & another person seconded it. I can''t be anymore polite than to say that is simply retarded.

Saad --- now it's all clear. I just said Hearns was great, didn't I? However, for someone to say it's, "nuts" to call Chavez more accomplished than Hearns --- yeah, that could only come from a 'hugger.

Perhaps it's in the translation.
"Talent" is god given and not commitment driven. If you have perfect pitch I consider that talent, you did nothing to create it. In Hamed's case he had a god give ability to operate in a balanced manner in every "out of balance" position you can name. He pushed this absurd ability so far that of course he looked goofy at times. But more amazing was that operating in this rather "non functional" manner, was spectaculary functional. Just like the person who does no sensible vocal practicing and yet opens their throat and sings anything they want in convincing fashion.

Once he began to age and this speed and "savant like") sense of balance began to naturally pass away based on age, he lost his edge rather quickly.

Had he honed his "talent" I don't think many of his peers could have kept up. Can you imagine if he had truly commited his talent to the best trainer in the business from the gitgo? I think he's a perfect example of raw talent without the best follow up.

[Goodnight, Irene]

You're gonna sit there, Buzz, with a straight face, & tell me in all of Boxing history, you cannot come up with a lousy ten names which surpass Hamed for raw talent!?

I don't believe it.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Top-ten most gifted of all-time? Hearns was pretty special on the subject of raw talent & ability --- I could see a top-thirty list being inclusive of him, but top-ten?

That's a little lofty.

If you have someone in a top 30 I don't see how you can call it outlandish for somebody else to have him in the top 10. It's an incredibly subjective question. But if there are ten guys with a better skill set, I haven't seen them. Hearns was pretty much the perfect fighter, minus the beard and he would slug at times when he should have boxed. With a stronger chin, that wouldn't have mattered.

[BoxBuzz]

I think it's harder with Hamed to make a judgement. He was nearly ALL talent, and thus the story of wasted possibilities looms huge in my mind.

Maybe the question can be nuanced, was there anyone who squandered more talent than this guy who still had a fair degree of success? Max Baer maybe? Had he worked at it I believe he could have lived up to his unabashed self promotion. But he wouldn't have had time for all the babbling I suppose.

Also if you include "gifted" in your title (which you did).... you are certainly right. As one of the "gifts" we all either possess or do not possess is the gift of tenacious pursuance. He did not have that gift at all.

[BoxBuzz]

Top-ten most gifted of all-time? Hearns was pretty special on the subject of raw talent & ability --- I could see a top-thirty list being inclusive of him, but top-ten?

That's a little lofty.

If you have someone in a top 30 I don't see how you can call it outlandish for somebody else to have him in the top 10. It's an incredibly subjective question. But if there are ten guys with a better skill set, I haven't seen them. Hearns was pretty much the perfect fighter, minus the beard and he would slug at times when he should have boxed. With a stronger chin, that wouldn't have mattered.

I'll tell you a great "gift" Tommy had. The true gift of being invulnerable to intimidation of any kind. Hearns could not be psyched IMHO....a very rare gift indeed.

[generic screen name]

Riddick Bowe
Roy Jones
Hector Camacho
Pernell Whitaker
Mike Tyson

BTW, I'm only going by guys I've seen a tons of rounds over. I'm not going by all time talent or guys who had a reputation of having good talent.

[BoxBuzz]

granberry would you consider Harold Johnson a candidate for this list?

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Wilfred Benitez

[SaadOffTheDeck]

can think of a few fighters but i dont think they would top the list.

Zab judah is one. Hamed definitely ranks up there and pernell definitely belongs up there.

Judah being gifted is a myth. I honestly think Zab got all he could out of his talent. I'm not implying that he isn't a mental midget, he most certainly is. But he isn't a puncher, nor is he slick. Just a very speedy guy with decent pop.

[Syntax Error]

Prince Naseem Hamed, Muhammad Ali & Roy Jones Jr all had unique gifts that you could not teach any other fighter, but for pure boxing ability, there was none better than Willie Pep IMHO.

Honourable mentions go to Jack Johnson, Pernell Whittaker, Sugar Ray Leonard & Sugar Ray Robinson.

[dr_devious]

Ray Robinson
Benny Leonard
Harry Greb
Ray Leonard
Pernell Whitaker
Willie Pep
Sam Langford
Mohammed Ali
Roy Jones
Jimmy Wilde

[Goodnight, Irene]

Top-ten most gifted of all-time? Hearns was pretty special on the subject of raw talent & ability --- I could see a top-thirty list being inclusive of him, but top-ten?

That's a little lofty.

If you have someone in a top 30 I don't see how you can call it outlandish for somebody else to have him in the top 10. It's an incredibly subjective question. But if there are ten guys with a better skill set, I haven't seen them. Hearns was pretty much the perfect fighter, minus the beard and he would slug at times when he should have boxed. With a stronger chin, that wouldn't have mattered.

The question is one of talent, not skill or skill-set.

[dberry]

I vaguely remember some of Junior Witter's early fights, I haven't seen him fight in a long time, and remember being impressed by his natural talent. I think he was certainly gifted with something that can't be taught.

I was never a fan of Nasseem Hamed, but he to, was blessed with something, he certainly had extraordinary reflexes and increadable power for his weight.

Neither of these two are any where near the greatest but they certainly something unique, I'd say thay where 'gifted' with some natural talent.

Sugar Ray Leonard allso was a 'gifted' athlete, I think.

[Syntax Error]

Top-ten most gifted of all-time? Hearns was pretty special on the subject of raw talent & ability --- I could see a top-thirty list being inclusive of him, but top-ten?

That's a little lofty.

Don't you believe that Hearns was one of the most naturally gifted boxers that ever lived; therefore warranting a possible top 10 ranking?

I've always believed that that Hearns was a bit of stamina & ring intelligence short of being the best fighter that ever lived.

He was the only guy that could outbox a boxer & outpunch a puncher without breaking sweat.

He's nowhere near the greatest fighter ever, but for pure natural talent, he's definitely up with the best IMHO.

[dberry]

Yes Syntax Error, Thomas Hearns , in my oppinion, fits the bill nicely, he was naturally gifted with something that couldn't be taught. He had skills that couldn't be developed s did Roy Jones Jr. and Mayweather and the boxers I mentioned in my last post.

[elmersalsa]

Sugar Ray Leonard was gifted.
Roberto Duran was also a gifted fighter.
Salvador Sanchez is in that list, too.
Others:
Thomas Hearns
Roy Jones, Jr.
Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
Hector Camacho
Ezzard Charles
Willie Pep
Panama Al Brown
Eusebio Pedroza
Ismael Laguna
Hilario Zapata
Miguel Canto
Wilfred Benitez
Muhammad Ali
Mike Tyson

These guys could survive any given fight by just plain gifted ability.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Top-ten most gifted of all-time? Hearns was pretty special on the subject of raw talent & ability --- I could see a top-thirty list being inclusive of him, but top-ten?

That's a little lofty.

If you have someone in a top 30 I don't see how you can call it outlandish for somebody else to have him in the top 10. It's an incredibly subjective question. But if there are ten guys with a better skill set, I haven't seen them. Hearns was pretty much the perfect fighter, minus the beard and he would slug at times when he should have boxed. With a stronger chin, that wouldn't have mattered.

The question is one of talent, not skill or skill-set.

LOL, you seem confused. Ever heard of natural ability? Some might call them gifts.

[Goodnight, Irene]

Confused? Don't think so. You specifically wrote...

"If there are ten guys with a better skill-set, I haven't seen them."

The thread is about the ten most talented fighters. Skills have nothing to do with the question. I was responding to the statement you made.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Confused? Don't think so. You specifically wrote...

"If there are ten guys with a better skill-set, I haven't seen them."

The thread is about the ten most talented fighters. Skills have nothing to do with the question. I was responding to the statement you made.

You're amusing, I include assets like hand speed in with a skill set. It's also talent, get it now?

[Goodnight, Irene]

It was obviously poor-wording on your part. Don't put it back on me, as though I made any error.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

It's not a crucial enough moment in life to care. But there was nothing wrong with my wording.

[Goodnight, Irene]

If you say so.

Personally, I think in a discussion about top-ten talents, when someone says, "If there are ten more skilled fighters out there, I haven't seen them," it's a pretty reasonable assumption the member has mistaken skill for talent.

Call me nuts again.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Anybody that disagrees with you has done something wrong along the way. Not sure exactly where I missed the beaten path.

I'm not falling for the call you crazy trick again. That comes off like a joke that obviously shall be recanted for the end of time.

Anyway, after reading the thoughts of master Irene it's become obvious that not only do I overrate Thomas Hearns, but i don't even understand this question.

Chavez & Dempsey will be my form answer to any question, that should spare me the wrath of the Boxing genius. Other than that I will just follow Irene around and wait until he explains to me fully what talent and skills mean.

I always thought that parts of a skill set like speed and power were gifts, even natural born talents. My whole world has been turned upside down with the revelation that a skill set has NOTHING to do with talent.

We are all honored to post in your world.