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I see this discussed so much on here. Natural athletic ability helps a lot in boxing, but boxing is a unique sport, and often it isn't always about who the best athlete is. If a lesser athlete can stay in the mix with a better athlete, he can grind away at him and come over the top later in the fight. We have seen this so many times. Who was the better athlete, JCC or Meldrick Taylor? Whether you think Meldrick was ripped off by the ref or not, there is no dis*****g the damage JCC inflicted on him.
Plus there is a large skill component to boxing. A guy may not be a super athlete, but if he has a good brain and well rounded skills, he can outbox and outcraft a faster or more powerful opponent. Who was more athletic, Naseem or MAB? Naseem was an athletic freak. He had speed and power in abundance, more so than almost anyone I have ever seen. MAB is no where near as athletic, fast or powerful but he gave Naseem a lesson just with solid technical boxing.
And there are many examples of guys who aren't great athletes, but got to the top with either hard work, a good chin and endurance (Margarito for example), or through developing a great skillbase. (JMM, Hopkins. Not saying they are unathletic, just that they aren't super athletes, and their success came off the back of technique and skill)
So athleticism is helpful, sure, but in boxing it isn't always about the best athlete. Unlike some other sports where you really can't hang with the best unless you have that superior athletic ability, boxing has a place for some guys who aren't great athletes. This is a fight, not a vertical jumping contest, a 100m sprint, or a strongman contest.
Plus there is a large skill component to boxing. A guy may not be a super athlete, but if he has a good brain and well rounded skills, he can outbox and outcraft a faster or more powerful opponent. Who was more athletic, Naseem or MAB? Naseem was an athletic freak. He had speed and power in abundance, more so than almost anyone I have ever seen. MAB is no where near as athletic, fast or powerful but he gave Naseem a lesson just with solid technical boxing.
And there are many examples of guys who aren't great athletes, but got to the top with either hard work, a good chin and endurance (Margarito for example), or through developing a great skillbase. (JMM, Hopkins. Not saying they are unathletic, just that they aren't super athletes, and their success came off the back of technique and skill)
So athleticism is helpful, sure, but in boxing it isn't always about the best athlete. Unlike some other sports where you really can't hang with the best unless you have that superior athletic ability, boxing has a place for some guys who aren't great athletes. This is a fight, not a vertical jumping contest, a 100m sprint, or a strongman contest.
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