MENTAL TOUGHNESS/FORTITUDE... Can it be trained/improved on?

[S.I.L.V.A]

I believe these traits are innate. You can try to improve these qualities but when confronted by a person who was born with it will possibly always beat you.

[Someone88]

Yes. The kind of life you lead will show in your mentality. If you choose to take the easy way out each time then you can't expect to last in a hard fight. It's a choice, not a natural born talent.

Unfortunately a lot of people make the wrong choice.

Circumstances can also be a factor. If we say that Joe Frazier, may he rest in peace, was born while having everything handed to him, he would not have learned that toughness which made him great. He always had it in him, but he would not have required it if he never had to test himself.

Some people have lived under hard circumstances too but don't have the toughness Frazier has, it's similar to physical attributes some people are more athletic than others but hard work helps it's similar for mental attributes

[Doctor_Tenma]

Suzuki "Guts" Ishimatsu. He even formally changed his name to remind himself to be tough.

Roberto Duran was thought of as a quitter against Leonard the second time and went onto show great heart against the likes of Hagler, Barkley and even Castro while nearly 50 years old.

Willie Pep quit against Sandy Saddler, yet showed great heart in winning a decision over him while cut and bleeding all over the place.

Sam Langford quit against Jackson and Jeannette, and later went onto be recognized as one of the toughest fighters of his era.

Riddick Bowe was criticized as "soft" after the Olympics.

Jersey Joe Walcott was a part-time boxer early on, was rarely in shape and usually quit as the going got tough. That is until dedicating himself to the sport and becoming known as one of its toughest competitors.

Vitali Klitschko?

Still, it's a rare occurrence in the sport right? Although quitting is quitting and this shouldn't be justified...Duran's was more out of frustration. If he was taking a serious beating that night best believe he would have stuck in there.

Still, I'll try and check out some of these fights, I got time to kill...

[Phil Ivey]

upbringing and environment is the biggest factor imo, that's why Mexicans are tough as nails and its no coincidence that Tijuana breeds some tough fighters. But it's also part genetics imo. But changes have to occur very early on so by the time fighters turn amateur or professional its too late.

[fishman]

Just like any other qualities some are genetically predisposed to certain things but of course can be learned to a certain degree. Havent you ever trained? Ever get in a groove for a while where your focused and like a machine? And then a period where you get a little lazy, and too distracted? Mental toughness is learned over time, some have it more then others naturally, just like any other trait, but even if the mentally toughest dude gets cushy and lazy, he will learn that behavior to a degree and get a little softer. IMO, obviously.

[TheGreatA]

Some people have lived under hard circumstances too but don't have the toughness Frazier has, it's similar to physical attributes some people are more athletic than others but hard work helps it's similar for mental attributes

I'm not saying everybody is as tough as Frazier because Frazier was about the toughest man who ever lived. What I'm saying is that if Frazier never had any need for that toughness and had everything handed to him in life then he wouldn't have been the man he was.

Tougher times, tougher people. Some 50 years back it was almost unthinkable to quit in a fight unless you had very legitimate reasons to do so. If you bailed out of a fight, you didn't get paid. A simple incentive like that will automatically make you tougher. Taking a fall with a million dollars in the bank isn't so difficult.

Therefore it is fair to say that toughness has much to do with choices and circumstances.

[Tiozzo]

Suzuki "Guts" Ishimatsu. He even formally changed his name to remind himself to be tough.

Roberto Duran was thought of as a quitter against Leonard the second time and went onto show great heart against the likes of Hagler, Barkley and even Castro while nearly 50 years old.

Willie Pep quit against Sandy Saddler, yet showed great heart in winning a decision over him while cut and bleeding all over the place.

Sam Langford quit against Jackson and Jeannette, and later went onto be recognized as one of the toughest fighters of his era.

Riddick Bowe was criticized as "soft" after the Olympics.

Jersey Joe Walcott was a part-time boxer early on, was rarely in shape and usually quit as the going got tough. That is until dedicating himself to the sport and becoming known as one of its toughest competitors.

Vitali Klitschko?

Rocky Marciano actually lost his first amateur fight by kicking a guy after being frustrated by not being able to get at him. This taught him never to enter another fight out of shape.

good stuff