What makes a special boxer?

[b Murphington]

I don't want to turn this into a boxer di*k riding or bashing of a certain boxer event. So I want to refrain from actually mentioning certain boxers, to avoid the topic at getting derailed. The question just popped into my mind today. I just want to get a discussion going on what we look for in traits when describing a special fighter. A top p4p fighter. What does it take to get to that point? Superstar status so to speak.

I think it takes the ability to show different looks in the ring. The versatility. I think that's a pivotal trait or skill. To change styles mid fight. Make that mid fight adjustment. A lot of times, I see boxers who are good, but they tend to fall into the same pattern of style over and over again. They give the same look. They'll look good, but then they face a certain style that gives them trouble and then they lose. They can't crack the code and that takes me to the next point.

The ability to bounce back from adversity. The fighter who gets hurt and outboxed early, but ends up winning in the end. We see it a lot where something happens to a boxer, and it's like a switch is flipped. The momentum shifts and they're composure goes out the window. It's the mental fortitude. It's either a cut, or they get hurt at a point in the fight, recover, but then seem timid the rest of the fight, just looking to avoid further punishment and survive. A boxer who can face these moments and come out on top, that I think is special.

Also there's going into a fight as the clear underdog and winning. Maybe a boxers going up against the current boogeyman that everyone's afraid of. He sticks to the gameplan and keeps his cool and wins.

It's not just one of these things that the boxer must have. It's everything put together in one package and he also needs to be able to do these things consistently.

[Reloaded]

The 3 Ds.

Desire Determination Dedication.

Then beat every guy they put in front of you.

[The Gambler1981]

It is a mixture of things that have to pretty much all come together in some fashion.

Physical athletic talent (rare), training, a desire to train and constantly get better (very rare), mental toughness, good health, and a good tactical mind that allows for solving of problems on the fly (very rare).

That allows someone to do many things well and use all the tools they do have to the fullest extent possible. The mixture can change slightly but someone truly special is pulling something from every aspect of this list to a degree.

[Doctor_Tenma]

Before anything else, like their physical attributes and whatnot, they need to have heart. Not Margarito-like heart where you take punishment and smile on, I've seen Margarito-likes, it means nothing. It's to have heart AND the mental fortitude to stay composed when facing adversity and know which punches to run. Marquez is a perfect example of that.

Then beating all the top guys, one doesn't necessarily need to be well rounded, we've all seen fighters limited in certain areas achieve greatness.

[Tony Trick-Pony]

Any fighter who continually learns and progresses from where they begin. Unless they've had a ton of amateur fights, they're all pretty ordinary when they turn pro. However, if they make consistent improvements and don't rely on one particular strength and instead work to improve their own flaws, that's a sign of greatness.

However, a lot of superstar things happen outside the ring IMO. If they speak English and make regular appearances on TV and commercials, that's a huge step in the superstar money direction. It's a different topic in a way, but a superstar has to be willing to do it all IMO.